This is the extraordinary biography of Tom "Rusty" Richards - war hero, adventurer and the greatest rugby union player of his day.
One of the few to boast a military cross and an Olympic gold medal, Tom Richards lived and wrote with passion, leaving behind extensive and often gut-wrenching reminiscences through his personal diaries. These brilliant first-hand accounts and Richards' own photography (including on the battlefield) form the basis of this compelling biography.
As the football genius of his time Richards played for the Wallabies, the British Lions and Transvaal in South Africa. As a soldier he waded to shore with the first ANZAC soldiers on April 25, 1915 and was later decorated for distinguished service on the Western Front. As an adventurer Richards travelled the world overwhelmed with wanderlust. He played football in Bristol, followed the gold trail from Charters Towers to Johannesburg, introduced surfing into France, negotiated the wilds of Papua New Guinea and swagged his way through Europe.
From the lush turf of Twickenham to the blood-drenched terrain of Gallipoli, Richards never stood still. His descriptions of football and war are among the most poignant ever written.
