'A rollicking read and a mighty achievement' - Donald McRae, The Guardian

'Magnificent' - Owen Slot, The Times

The 1997 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa is one of the most iconic in rugby history. Written off at home and abroad, Martin Johnson's men were given no hope of success against the world champion Springboks in their own backyard. But a combination of brilliant coaching, astute selections and outstanding players laid the foundations for the touring side's outstanding attacking mindset and brutal stonewall defence.

On the other side was a team expected to stamp their authority on the tourists and confirm their place as the best side on the planet. But with political, racial and economic scandals swirling around the Springbok camp, plus a rookie coach parachuted into office just before the tour began, the hosts were under huge pressure.

In a Test series that will go down in legend as one of the most compelling of all time, the sides could barely be separated. This is the inside story from both camps as they battle for supremacy, lifting the lid like never before as a huge cast of characters look back on those extraordinary weeks and the impact it had on their lives and careers thereafter. Hilarious, insightful and spine-chilling, Tom English and Peter Burns provide the perfect read for all Lions fans.

About the Author

Tom English is an award-winning BBC Sport writer and broadcaster. A former Irish rugby correspondent with the Sunday Times and chief sports writer with Scotland on Sunday, he was voted Scottish Sports Feature Writer of the Year six times. He won Rugby Book of the Year at the 2011 British Sports Book Awards for The Grudge, before claiming the prize again in 2016 for No Borders: Playing Rugby for Ireland. He is a co-author of the best-selling Behind The Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions and When Lions Roared: The Lions, the All Blacks and the Legendary Tour of 1971.

Follow him on Twitter: @TEnglishSport

Peter Burns has been a sports editor for over ten years. He is the author of eight books, including Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland; Behind the Ryder Cup: The Players' Stories; Scottish Rugby 101: A Pocket Guide in 101 Moments, Characters and Games; and White Gold: England's Journey to World Cup Glory. Like Tom, he is a co-author of Behind The Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions and When Lions Roared: The Lions, the All Blacks and the Legendary Tour of 1971.

Follow him on Twitter: @PeterEBurns

Reviews

'Magnificent'

-- Owen Slot * The Times *

'The 1997 British & Irish Lions expedition to South Africa was among the greatest of modern tours. This Is Your Everest, full of evocative memories and riveting detail, soars high above the average rugby book. Compelling stuff'

-- Robert Kitson * The Guardian *

'brilliant and powerful . . . chock-full of fascinating insights and delicious detail'

-- Alan Pearey * Rugby World *

'Hard to beat stories from the horse's mouth. Quite a stampede here. A riveting account of a ground-breaking tour'

-- Brendan Fanning * The Sunday Independent *

'beautifully captured'

-- Alasdair Reid * The Times *

'phenomenal'

-- Alex Payne * The Good, The Bad and The Rugby *

'A brilliantly evocative recreation of the 1997 tour, put together with great skill ... rawness and emotion drips from the pages'

-- Peter O'Reilly * The Times Ireland *

'probably the grestest rugby book of all time'

-- Andy Rowe * The Rugby Pod *



Book Information
ISBN 9781913538125
Author Tom English
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Polaris Publishing Limited
Publisher Polaris Publishing Limited
Weight(grams) 639g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 160mm * 35mm