Barry John: The King

Considered by many to be the greatest rugby player of his generation, Barry John possessed the pop-star image—tall, dark, and handsome. John caused one of the sporting shocks of the century, however, when he quit the game he loved at the height of his dazzling career, aged just 27. He never fully explained the reasons for his abrupt departure until now. In this book, John talks in great detail about why he had to step out of the limelight, and reveals the huge pressures that led him to quit the game at his peak. He divulges fascinating and often hilarious anecdotes about the celebrity circles in which he mingled with fellow sport superstars, like Bobby Moore, Jackie Stewart, and Tony Jacklin, with showbiz legends, including Richard Burton and Richard Harris, and even with prime ministers. He talks openly about his hard-hitting views on the modern game, of the professional explosion, and about his fears of rugby union's very future.