Throwing the Book by Wayne Barnes

There aren’t many people who can say they’ve been the 31st man on the pitch during a World Cup humdinger, or a Grand Slam decider, or a Premiership or European Cup final; listened to the sobs of a 20-stone prop as he tries to belt out his national anthem; heard bones crunch after the mightiest of hits; or been yards away from the greatest players of the last 20 years, doing almost impossible things with a rugby ball. Especially when you’re a working-class lad from the Forest of Dean, wondering how you ever got there. ‘Throwing the Book’ will be the definitive account of what it is to be a rugby referee.