Open Side The Official Autobiography..., Sam Warburton
Open Side The Official Autobiography..., Sam Warburton
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
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Open Side: The Official Autobiography

Author: Sam Warburton

Narrator: Thomas Hunt

Unabridged: 10 hr 54 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 10/10/2019


Synopsis

‘A terrific book. No one put their body on the line quite like Sam Warburton.’ Brian O’Driscoll ‘It was an absolute privilege to play against Sam. An inspiring leader with an equally inspiring story to tell.’ Jonny Wilkinson Sam Warburton OBE was not only a titan of Welsh rugby, but an icon of the game. Having represented his country as a player and team captain at all junior levels, he propelled himself to international attention in 2011 when named as the youngest ever captain of Wales for the Rugby World Cup. Despite his tender age, Sam’s immense displays for club and country were recognised still further in April 2013, when, at just 24, he was named the Lions' captain for the extraordinary 2013 tour to Australia. Four years later, after a year ‘in the wilderness’, Sam was named Lions’ captain yet again for the historic tour to New Zealand, thereby becoming the first ever Lions Captain never to lose a series in the professional era. Intelligent, calm, thoughtful – in many ways seemingly the exact opposite of the smash and crash of modern rugby – Warburton’s edge never came with his size, but with his depth of thought, his reading of movement, and his understanding that, to be a uniquely successful leader, one needs to set goals that far exceed the ambitions of even the most ferocious of opponents. In leading other men, and in pitting himself against the world’s best, Warburton was forced repeatedly to push himself to the very edge of his physiological and mental limits, the 21 significant injuries over that period a painful testament to his sacrifice. Open Side Never before has a rugby autobiography given such intimate access not only to the realities of the dressing room and the heroes and villains of the modern game, but to the unique mindset required to make someone a genuinely great leader of men.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Nathan on October 02, 2019

I don't normally write reviews but I feel obliged this time round. Being on Goodreads implies you love books, be it reading or as doorstops. What is rarely discussed are the books we hate, the ones we would not touch. For me, there are two, Sports books and Autobiographical Novels. (I have read one in......more

Goodreads review by Josh on January 11, 2020

Wow. When I first started reading I thought "I didn't expect him to be this arrogant" but the more you read, the more you understand that it's not arrogance at all. It's the desire, the work rate and the confidence that he knows, from all the hard work that he has put in, that he will be the best 7......more

Goodreads review by Jacob on October 23, 2022

If you’re a Welsh rugby fan or just a rugby fan in general, I highly recommend. Enjoyed learning the behind the scenes stuff of the Wales and Lions teams. An additional bit I liked was his leadership insights which felt could be applicable to your own life. Also, his thoughts on the modern game of r......more

Goodreads review by Patrick on June 26, 2020

Got it for Christmas and read it over a few days. Really enjoyed but I am an admirer of Sam Warburton and rugby generally.......more

Goodreads review by Rutger on September 28, 2019

Rugby is a heavy contact sport, which is one of the biggest reasons we love to play and watch it. and Sam Warburton knows all about it. The long time Wales and British and Irish lions captain has seen at least 20 injuries, from a tear in the hamstring to having a metal plate place near his eye. Asid......more


Quotes

‘A terrific book. No one put their body on the line quite like Sam Warburton.’ Brian O’Driscoll ‘It was an absolute privilege to play against Sam. An inspiring leader with an equally inspiring story to tell.’ Jonny Wilkinson ‘I'm so accustomed to doing these rugby/football book serialisations and most of the time am left somewhat underwhelmed. But from start to finish I feel Warburton really delivers. Really candid, takes you inside the dressing room, behind the scenes anecdotes few know about and nicely written in chatty fashion.’ Head of Sport, WalesOnline ‘He will go down as one of the great players but an even better captain for his ability to exhort his team-mates to new heights.’ Rugby World ‘[An] impressive memoir… Warburton’s account of his career, cut short by persistent injuries at the age of 29, is full of passion and candour and takes the reader right into the dressing room.’ The Times