Number Nine Dream: An Autobiography

by Rob Howley

Robert Howley was a late developer in terms of playing international rugby, but by 28 he was the captain of Wales. In this account, he looks back at his own injury heartache, his late development, the pain of seeing a friend temporarily paralysed and the various scrapes with officialdom he has been involved in throughout his career. He talks in detail about the teething problems of professionalism and how he, one of Welsh rugby's all-time great players, has on more than one occasion been issued with an ultimatum by the Welsh Rugby Union.
Now a seasoned international and a British Lion, Howley tells a story of pride, passion and extreme personal pain. The book is a recollection of events both on and off the pitch and highlights what goes on in rugby's corridors of power and behind the changing-room doors.

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know a damn thing about rugby, but the writing is quite fine and the author comes across as likable. Good read.

[Clive Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that takes the reader from the players youth up to the 1999 Rugby Union World Cup. Rob takes us through some of the worst years in Welsh Rugby and gives an account that binds other books in this genre, together. He talks about the rebel years with Cardiff and Swansea playing English clubs but this time from the Cardiff perspective rather than Scott Gibbs' Swansea perspective (see Scott Gibbs - Getting Physical). He talks of his international combination with Neil Jenkins at number 10 which can be compared with 'Neil Jenkins - Life At Number 10' The foreword for this book is written by Graham Henry and there is a chapter on the arrival of Graham Henry from New Zealand from the player's perspective rather than Henry's (see Graham Henry - The X Factor)

It is always good to get as many views on events as possible and when these views come from an insider, a player, a captain, they are even more invaluable. I read the three books mentioned above before this one and saw this one as pulling the others together beautifully. Highly recommended.

Since originally writing this review Rob has gone on as one of the trainer/coaches of both Wales and The British and irish Lions.