The Hurt is an unflinching account of the physical and mental demands of rugby, told by one of England’s most successful captains. Exploring his love of the game, his journey to international fame and the injury that ultimately forced him into retirement, Hartley’s book is both an inspirational and harrowing depiction of the cost of stardom.
'Rugby is great for the soul,' he writes, 'but terrible for the body.'
Rugby hurts. It demands mental resilience and resistance to pain. It explores character, beyond a capacity to endure punishment.
Dylan Hartley, one of England's most successful captains, tells a story of hard men and harsh truths. From the sixteen-year-old Kiwi who travelled alone to England, to the winner of ninety-seven international caps, he describes with brutal clarity the sport's increasing demand on players and the toll it takes on their mental health, as well as the untimely injury that shattered his dreams of leading England in the 2019 World Cup.
The Hurt is rugby in the raw, a unique insight into the price of sporting obsession.
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN: 9780241348970
Number of pages: 336
Weight: 262 g
Dimensions: 198 x 109 x 22 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'One of the best rugby books for years ... Unswervingly honest' - The Times
'Few have had more twists and turns in a pro rugby career than the now-retired Dylan Hartley. Never a one dimensional character on or off the field and led England to some famous wins.' - Robert Kitson
'Anyone wanting to understand England under the coaches Martin Johnson, Stuart Lancaster and Eddie Jones, as well as the mental and physical strains professional rugby take on its players, should start here' - Sports Book of the Year, The Sunday Times
Anyone who cares about the game, in which he won 97 caps for England and played 250 times for Northampton, should read Hartley's book' - Don McRae
'Forthright and striking' - The Guardian
'Fascinating ... No one should underestimate his impact' - Rugby World
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