Blackie

It is in rugby, however, that he has really made his mark. His involvement in the game began when he took up his post with Newcastle Falcons at the inception of the 'rugby revolution', which catapulted him into a different sphere. He was then signed up by Graham Henry as the conditioning coach for the Welsh national side. Following this, he was selected for the British Lions tour of Australia in 2001, which was the pinnacle of his career. More recently, he has been named as one of the key factors behind Rugby World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson's success. However, Black's story could have been very different. From the age of 16, he worked as a bouncer for a variety of rough pubs in Newcastle upon Tyne, but differed from the herd in that he followed a strict religious and moral code. When the pub scene became increasingly violent, Black bowed out and went to college, where he attained an honours degree in sports science, then embarked upon a career in sport. This engaging autobiography documents Black's journey from life as a bouncer on the streets of Newcastle to the global sporting achievements that followed."Blackie" is an inspirational read for anyone who seeks success, be it in sport or life in general.