BOOK REVIEW: THE CREAM OF THE CROP ~ A Century of Twickenham Legends

A Century of Twickenham Legends celebrates Twickenhams centenary and its best and most well-known Rugby Union players

In 1910, Billy Williams former cabbage patch staged its first rugby international in Twickenham and the Headquarters of the 15-a-side game in England was established. To help mark Twickenhams 100th birthday, the World Museum of Rugby set up the Wall of Fame, to pay homage to the top 100 players from 11 rugby-playing nations who have appeared on the ground over those 10 decades. Two of the most notable are Englands Freddie Chapman, who scored his first international try at Twickenham in the first match played there, and Martin Johnson, who crowned his distinguished playing career by captaining the team to Rugby World Cup victory in Australia in 2003. Among the other players inducted onto the wall are Jonah Lomu, Ronnie Poulton Palmer and Will Carling. Author David Llewellyn, who has 30 years experience of reporting rugby and cricket, commemorates this list in A Century of Twickenham Legends. He profiles each player, providing biographical and background information and records their memories of the famous stadium; there are some previously unheard anecdotes, ranging from amusing to downright audacious. The book kicks off with a characteristically amusing and witty foreword from The Independents Rugby Union Correspondent Chris Hewett. After discussions with the Museum curators, I felt the virtual reality of the Wall of Fame deserved a more solid base. The worthiness of the original project begged for there to be a book! says David of his motivation to write the book. A Century of Twickenham Legends is a must-read for all rugby fans. The glory of this book is its capacity to stir, to provoke, to celebrate. Chris Hewett, Rugby Correspondent, The Independent Author of The First Lady of Mulberry Walk Matador, 2010 DAVID LLEWELLYN played Rugby Union at school and then for a year in France. He began reporting the sport, first for the Western Daily Press in his home town of Bristol, then for the Observer. He worked for 11 years for the Daily Express, also covering soccer and cricket, and for the last 20 years has worked as a freelance reporter, covering Rugby Union and cricket for The Independent. He is married to Hilary, a GP, and now lives in Kent.
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ISBN: 9781848765634 Price: £24.99