Front Up, Rise Up: The Official Story of Connacht Rugby by Gerry Thornley is an immersive journey into the world of Irish rugby. It’s a Leicester City-like story where Connacht went from the verge of extinction to the Pro12 championship in a little more than a decade. It’s a turnaround that is completely unheard of in the rugby world, until now.
Thornley gives readers a behind-the-scenes look inside of a pro rugby outfit, profiling all of the key figures and events along the way. You truly learn about the coaches, players, and administrators involved with the club’s massive transformation. You’ll hear about their motivations, goals, and background. Simply put, you’ll get to know each and every piece of the Connacht rugby puzzle, learning more about province and country along the way.
It’s definitely a roller coaster of a story, with tons of highs and lows. There were losses; there were wins and everything in between. It’s a complete history of Connacht rugby, and it’s a terribly interesting history at that.
This is a great read from start to finish, an amazing piece of rugby literature. Clubs, inside and outside of rugby, can learn a lesson here, finding the secret recipe to turning around a sports franchise. You’ll learn that it takes great people, a bit of luck, and a lot of time to do things the right way, the Connacht way.
