Overview

A rugby genius, yet 'only' a one-cap wonder. A young thug, who received a bravery award while in prison. A misfit, yet a cult hero to some. Jekyll and Hyde in rugby boots. David Bishop saved two people's lives, overcame a broken neck, and inspired Pontypool to new heights. On the flip side was violence, prison and a huge, career-defining WRU ban. His League career didn't play out smoothly, nor did a stint coaching Pooler, and then came drug addiction, divorce, depression and a stroke. Undeterred, he picks his way through a tumultuous life looking for answers, laughing and crying in equal measure. An extraordinary, no-holds-barred account, laced with humour, warmth and a rare candour. A rugby book like no other.

Full Product Details

9781912631605

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Bishop is the best player in the northern hemisphere... He is a team in his own right, and that says it all... He's magic."" - Brian Thomas, Neath and Wales ""David Bishop is the best scrum half in Welsh rugby since World War Two. Surely there has never been a more dynamic and deadly attacker among scrum halves... the complete one-man army."" - John Billot, Western Mail ""The best one-cap wonder in the history of Rugby Union or Rugby League. Or probably any other sport for that matter. His display against Gloucester in 1982 was the best example of a one-man team performance I have ever seen on a rugby field."" - Peter Jackson, Daily Mail ""Genius sportsmen and women are often complicated individuals, and my friend David Bishop certainly comes under both those headings!"" - Craig Bellamy, Wales footballer and manager ""There lurked throughout the land a horde of players guilty to a man of sins far more heinous than the punch thrown by David Bishop."" - Eddie Butler, Pontypool, Wales and Lions ""Playing outside The Bish, you had the ultimate armchair ride... He was a comic book hero sort of player."" - Mark Ring, Cardiff, Pontypool and Wales ""David Bishop is the greatest Welsh scrum half I ever saw at club level, and by a distance. He was better than Gareth [Edwards] at club level because he was brilliant all the time... The game was denied something special by the refusal of Wales to pick him."" - Bobby Windsor, Pontypool, Wales and Lions

“Bishop is the best player in the northern hemisphere… He is a team in his own right, and that says it all… He’s magic.” – Brian Thomas, Neath and Wales “David Bishop is the best scrum half in Welsh rugby since World War Two. Surely there has never been a more dynamic and deadly attacker among scrum halves… the complete one-man army.” – John Billot, Western Mail “The best one-cap wonder in the history of Rugby Union or Rugby League. Or probably any other sport for that matter. His display against Gloucester in 1982 was the best example of a one-man team performance I have ever seen on a rugby field.” – Peter Jackson, Daily Mail “Genius sportsmen and women are often complicated individuals, and my friend David Bishop certainly comes under both those headings!” – Craig Bellamy, Wales footballer and manager “There lurked throughout the land a horde of players guilty to a man of sins far more heinous than the punch thrown by David Bishop.” – Eddie Butler, Pontypool, Wales and Lions “Playing outside The Bish, you had the ultimate armchair ride… He was a comic book hero sort of player.” – Mark Ring, Cardiff, Pontypool and Wales “David Bishop is the greatest Welsh scrum half I ever saw at club level, and by a distance. He was better than Gareth [Edwards] at club level because he was brilliant all the time… The game was denied something special by the refusal of Wales to pick him.” – Bobby Windsor, Pontypool, Wales and Lions

Author Information

David Bishop came back from a broken neck to become a huge talent for Pontypool RFC in Rugby Union in the 1980s before going on to switch codes and play for Hull KR in League (see synopsis). Co-author Brendan Gallagher, an award-winning sports journalist, was the 'Pontypool man' for the South Wales Argus and South Wales Echo in Bishop's Rugby Union heyday between 1985 and 1988. A graduate of Hayter's sport agency, he was a sports correspondent, columnist and feature writer at the Daily Telegraph for almost 20 years and has covered 45 sports in over 50 countries, focusing especially on rugby, cycling, athletics, basketball and all things Olympics. He has also written official histories of the Rugby World Cup, the Giro D'Italia and Great Britain's involvement with the Olympics, and is co-author of autobiographies from Brian O'Driscoll and cycling legends Nicole Cooke and Bradley Wiggins.

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