Nicknamed 'the Silent Assassin', Richard Hill is often most noticed when he isn't playing, as somehow his teams never perform as well without him as they do when he's around. This was shown both in the Lions tour of Australia in 2001 and in England's 2003 World Cup campaign. In his autobiography, he looks back across his hugely successful career as one of the last players in the game who has known both the amateur and professional eras. He provides revealing portraits of his team-mates and opponents, as well as explaining the keys to England's triumphs. He also discusses his frustration at the injuries that have blighted his career over the last two years. Hugely admired by rugby fans for his no-nonsense attitude to the game, only Martin Johnson in the recent era has earned such respect from fans and opponents alike.

For the nation's legions of rugby fans, this is a great read about one of the most admired players in the game. A top literary try. The Sun

Richard Hill has won 71 caps for England as a flanker since making his debut in 1997, and is widely regarded as the greatest player in his position in the world. He was a key part of England's World Cup-winning squad in 2003. He has played on the last three Lions tours, winning five caps. He plays his club rugby for Saracens.