The Best Welsh Biography Books of All Time

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 operations over that period a painful testament to his sacrifice. Open Side is therefore not simply a chronology of events or a celebration of statistics. Written in a compelling but soul searching style, this is an astoundingly personal book exploring the nature of leadership, the value of self-control, the precision of mindset and of course the future of the game.  It is also a deeply personal meditation on the sacrifice of body, the torment of injury and the pain of retirement, a decision Sam was forced to make in July 2018, at just 29 years old. 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.

Authorised biography of John Barnard Jenkins. A former British Army officer turned leader of Welsh nationalist paramilitary organisation Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru, he masterminded their 1960s bombing campaign, protesting British state oppression and exploitation of Wales’ natural resources in the wake of the Tryweryn scandal and in the run-up to the Investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales. The campaign led to a ten-year prison sentence for Jenkins, but also to increased public awareness of the issues and demand for devolved powers for Wales.

A reclusive revolutionary, John Jenkins has been extremely guarded about his life and the bombing campaign, and until now little has been made public. Here he finally goes on record to tell the full story. After decades of speculation, this book finally opens the door on one of the most fascinating periods of Welsh history and one of the most intriguing, iconic and controversial figures of recent Welsh history. The sensational new material in the book generated UK-wide coverage in print, TV and digital media, with radio and TV documentaries on the BBC. Of special interest in light of the growing debate about Welsh independence. Table of Contents. Acknowledgements; Foreword; Introduction; Chapter 1: An idyllic childhood; Chapter 2: Oh, you’re a Welshman!; Chapter 3: If you want the revolution to be successful, you must bide your time; Chapter 4: Heavy is the head that wears the crown; Chapter 5: ‘They got me for anything’; Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

This is the long-awaited biography of Tony Borg, award-winning boxing coach whose life has been as challenging outside of the ring as it has within it. From the tough streets of Splott, Cardiff, Tony began boxing at the age of seven and enjoyed a successful amateur career that saw him fight and win in over one hundred bouts.The sudden death of his mother, Megan, when he was seventeen, saw his life change dramatically as he faced a very different world with no father and two younger sisters to look after.

As he struggled to fulfil the role of parent, his dreams of boxing were beset by further tragedy that saw him finally hanging up the gloves despite a making a brave comeback.Over 25 years later he is now at the top of the game as a highly-respected coach with a stable-full of Welsh Champions that have put St. Joseph's gym in Newport well and truly on the map. Lee Selby and Gary Buckland to name just two.His is a story of hardship and hope that will resonate with all those who dare to dream and make the magic happen!