Belonging: The Autobiography
'People think they know him but unless you read this book you will never know the REAL Alun Wyn Jones' – Warren Gatland
‘One of the greatest, and seemingly indestructible, players in history' – A Daily Mail Book of the Year
Belonging is the story about how the boy from Mumbles became the most capped rugby union player of all time. It is the story of what it takes to become a man who is seen by many as one of the greatest ever Welsh players. What it takes to go from sitting cross-legged on the hall floor at school watching the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa, to being named the 2021 Lions captain.
But is it also about perthyn – belonging: playing for Wales, working his way through the age grades and club rugby and his regional side. How to earn the right to be there, and what it feels like to make the sacrifices along the way. Feeling the connection to players who have come before, and feeling the ties to the millions in front rooms and pubs across the country, coast to coast. Knowing that deep down you want to belong, as everyone does.
From playing on the rain-swept pitches of Swansea to making his test debut against Argentina in Patagonia in 2006; from touring with the Lions in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021 to dealing with loss and creating a family – Belonging is the autobiography of one of the most compelling figures in world rugby. Told with characteristic honesty, this is his unique personal story of what it takes and what it means to play for your country: what it means to belong.
Alun Wyn Jones is the most capped rugby union player of all time. He was captain of the Wales national team, and captained the Ospreys for eight years. He is one of only a small group of Welsh players to have won three Six Nations Grand Slams, and has also won two additional Six Nations championships. He was named as the best player of the 2019 Six Nations Championship and in 2021 was picked as captain for the Lions tour of South Africa. Belonging is his memoir.
Tom Fordyce is an award-winning broadcaster and writer. He was the BBC’s Chief Sports Writer for ten years, covering the biggest sporting events in the world, including multiple Six Nations and Rugby World Cups. He has collaborated on bestsellers for Peter Crouch, Geraint Thomas and Jamie Redknapp, among others.