The Magnificent Seven: The Autobiography - Tapa dura

Determined, dedicated and dogmatic, Martyn Williams is the inspiring number seven lynchpin who has steered club and country to victory in inimitable style. In his action-packed autobiography, he writes for the first time about his love for the sport he has made his own. Starting out with home-town team Pontypridd, he made his Wales debut aged just 20 and won the Welsh league title with Pontypridd the following year, repeating the feat in his first season after joining Cardiff, whom he went on to captain for three years. Twice a British Lion, his finest hour came as the award-winning role in Wales' Six Nations championship Grand Slam of 2005. But there is far more to Martyn than his seemingly smooth career path from valleys rugby to international stardom. He speaks candidly about the double personal tragedies of losing both his mother and brother to cancer and of the challenges of combining his sporting commitments with being a husband and father to his two children. Full of surprises, he also reveals his passion for both American football and soccer. A diehard Liverpool fan, he was a talented centre-half himself in his teenage years. In his autobiography, Martyn speaks for the first time about the controversial departure of Mike Ruddock as coach of the national team, the drinking culture in Welsh rugby in the early years of professionalism, the infamous Battle of Brive and why he turned down the chance to captain Wales at the 2003 World Cup. He also gives his views on the influx of southern hemisphere coaches like Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, plus the lowdown on how he prepares and trains and what really goes on in the dressing room. With coverage of the 2007 RBS Six Nations and revealing portraits of his team-mates and opponents, this honest, witty, informative and entertaining autobiography is a must for fans and any sports lover.

Martyn Williams was born in 1975. One of the leading rugby players in Wales, he made his name with his home-town club, winning his first cap in 1996, he moved to Cardiff in 1999. Martyn has captained both Cardiff and Wales and been on two tours with the British Lions. Martyn lives on the outskirts of Cardiff with his wife and two children. Simon Thomas has worked as a journalist in south Wales since 1989, specialising in covering rugby for the last thirteen years. He spent time with the South Wales Echo, before moving to the Western Mail as rugby correspondent. Simon lives in Cardiff with his wife and two children.