From the heights of the Grand Slams to a near six nations whitewash in 2000, one factor has remained constant in Scottish rugby - its huge resource of characters. Jeff Connor set out on a mission to track down some of Scotland's best-known players - the true giants of the game - and to discover whether there is life after international rugby. The result was 40 exclusive interviews featured in this book with legends such as Ken Scotland, Jim Telfer, Sandy Carmichael and Andy Irvine. There is the Hawick humour of Jim Renwick, the history of Finlay Calder's greatest wind-ups and the emotive story of Gordon Brown's battle with his most vicious opponent of all, cancer. Bruce Hay's confrontation with the Duke of Edinburgh, Iain Paxton's disgust at the attitude of some English players on a British Lions tour and David Leslie's fearsome pre-match preparations are all decribed, along with frankly expressed views from active modern-day players like Gregor Townsend.

Author Biography

Jeff Connor played rugby union for Lancashire schools and rugby league for Saddleworth. A keen all-round sportsman, he is a former British professional hill-running veteran champion, a skier and a mountaineer. He has written five books and is rugby correspondent for Scotland on Sunday. Half of the author's royalties from this book will go to the Struan Kerr-Liddell appeal.