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Blink Publishing, a non-fiction imprint of Bonnier Books UK, has acquired what it describes as the "definitive account" of the 2003 Rugby World Cup, The Boys of Winter: England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup Win, As Told By The Team, by former England Captain Lawrence Dallaglio and chief sports writer for the Times Owen Slot.
Publisher Matt Phillips acquired world all language rights from David Luxton at David Luxton Associates. The Boys of Winter will be published in hardback, audio and e-book on 31st August 2023, with the paperback following in 2024.
The publisher says: “Twenty years on, England legend Lawrence Dallaglio and writer Owen Slot tell the definitive inside story of England’s historic 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph through interviews with all those involved, revealing how the team planned it and executed it: the iconic memories as well as the unseen moments.
“The book also reveals what has become of those heroes of our youth – how the tournament has shaped the lives of those involved, for better or worse.
"For many it was the pinnacle, for some a missed opportunity and for others a curse from which they never recovered. This is the definitive account of a legendary sporting moment and an examination of the costs of our dreams.”
Phillips said: “Lawrence and Owen have written an unmissable treasure trove of a book for rugby fans and all those who remember that iconic Jonny Wilkinson drop goal. The book features unprecedented access to everyone who was involved, with the drama on the pitch only matched by the incredibly powerful and poignant stories of the band of brothers who lived it and what has happened to them since."
Lorenzo Bruno Nero Dallaglio, known as Lawrence Dallaglio, is an English retired rugby union player, former captain of England, and 2016 inductee of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. He played as a flanker or number eight for London Wasps and England, for whom he played 85 times.
Dallaglio said: “This is a book about a special group of people that worked so hard to achieve our dream. It has been a privilege to look back on these cherished memories in conversations with all my teammates and the staff that were there at the time. None of our lives were ever the same afterwards and this book has taken me on a journey of discovery about that event and the impact it had on all of us. I can’t wait to share it.”
Slot commented: “Covering England’s 2003 World Cup was one of the highlights of my life as a sportswriter. What a privilege to go back and revisit it but from the inside, with the hindsight, honesty and bared souls that, 20 years later, add layers to one of the greatest national sports stories.”