Talk of the Toony: The Autobiography of Gregor Townsend

Talk of the Toony: The Autobiography of Gregor Townsend
Gregor Townsend

Gregor Townsend is one of rugby’s true greats. The most capped Scotland international of all time, a captain of his country and a winning British Lions tourist, Townsend’s time in the game has spanned continents, cultures and the amateur and professional eras. Always worth the admission money, his own story provides a unique perspective on rugby.The game of rugby has taken Gregor Townsend from the Scottish border town of Galashiels to the great playing fields of the world: Twickenham, Stade de France, Newlands, Stadium Australia and Eden Park. No current player can provide as comprehensive and objective a perspective on rugby culture as Townsend.‘Frustratingly mercurial,’ says one expert commentator of Scotland’s most celebrated fly-half. ‘He can empty bars with his brilliance,’ waxes another in contrast. But no-one can question his commitment as a pioneer of the cosmopolitan rugby life.From year-round seasons playing for both Gala and Australian side Warringah, he joined the Ian McGeechan revolution at Northampton – alongside England greats Matt Dawson, Paul Grayson and Tim Rodber – becoming a fan’s favourite. He has featured in some of the biggest matches in the sport – Grand Slam showdowns with England in 1995 and 1996, World Cup quarter-finals in 1999 and 2003 against New Zealand and Australia, British Lions Test victories, and European and French Cup Finals.Along the way, Townsend recounts his experiences of working alongside some of the greats of the world game – Gavin Hastings, Clive Woodward, Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Jim Telfer, Ian McGeechan, and many more.He reveals how a team-mate tried to persuade the entire Scottish XV to sign up for rival Kerry Packer’s professional league. He details his shock at being omitted from the 2001 Lions squad, and the infamous 1994 Scotland tour to Argentina where he was blasted for his performances and almost gave up the sport. And he discloses for the first time the controversial circumstances behind his enforced international retirement.From his candid descriptions of the fierce political battles of selection to the events leading to professionalism that almost destroyed union, Gregor Townsend shows what it has meant to have experienced a lifetime playing, thinking and living rugby.

Copyright (#ulink_09362a83-093e-5b78-9d6b-942d46fbbf67)

HarperCollinsPublishers

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First published in 2007 by HarperSport an imprint of HarperCollins London

© Gregor Townsend 2007

Gregor Townsend asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Source ISBN 9780007251131

Ebook Edition © MARCH 2015 ISBN: 9780008140663

Version: 2015-03-13

Dedication (#ulink_7b017b07-c953-528d-8cda-22d8d879b8f5)

Dedicated to rugby in the Borders, and the hope that it can rise again.

Have you ever stopped and wondered why

Border rugby is so strong

I’ll tell you how it started, just listen to my song

How the Reivers wrought disorder

And the rule of law was lame

And the Bonnie Scottish Borders became

The Kingdom of the Game

Frae Gala, Hawick and Melrose

The Gospel quickly spread

The magic of its spell rose

Frae Selkirk don tae Jed

Frae Kelsae doon on Tweedside

Tae the muckle toon they came

And they fought tae find the best toon

In the Kingdom of the Game

Their features carved in granite

Their hearts as stout as stone

They won the ball and ran it

They made the game their own

Now many Border Callants

Bring honour and great fame

Tae the heartbeat of the Nation

Tae the Kingdom of the Game

‘The Kingdom of the game’ (Henry Douglas)

Contents

Cover (#u8448f285-773e-536e-9955-db68aff3d1ec)

Title Page (#uf5054192-1a57-530a-beeb-f5cdce884563)

Copyright (#ulink_605b8962-ee4a-523b-a25c-e31985f1c563)

Dedication (#ulink_b823956e-783a-5712-8a99-a63da924ea1f)

Preface (#ulink_49d7938b-c60d-551b-8711-6f6c1d758513)

1. Borders Crossing (#ulink_e296b472-029a-5528-a9ed-fdfac9b183cc)

2. Odyssey (#ulink_6fb82ab3-40b1-5dfe-982c-9b6c748a6a90)