{"product_id":"from-rucks-to-redemption-my-life-changing-story","title":"From Rucks to Redemption: My life-changing story","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAutobiography\u003c\/strong\u003e by Chris Jones. His is a \u003cstrong\u003estory of redemption, faith, and overcoming your worst nature.\u003c\/strong\u003e Known as a \u003cstrong\u003eviolent hard man\u003c\/strong\u003e during his colourful playing career with Treorchy RFC, he then \u003cstrong\u003eturned coach\u003c\/strong\u003e and helped take Treorchy from the \u003cstrong\u003erugby doldrums to the top of the old Welsh Premiership and qualification for Europe\u003c\/strong\u003e, triggering a \u003cstrong\u003eBBC TV documentary series\u003c\/strong\u003e about the team: ‘The Dream’. He went on to coach Pontypridd RFC, introducing the likes of Neil Jenkins and Dale McIntosh into senior rugby.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe had built a \u003cstrong\u003ereputation for violence on the pitch and off\u003c\/strong\u003e and for producing violent rugby teams, and is the only player ever to have been \u003cstrong\u003ebanned for life twice!\u003c\/strong\u003e His free time was full of \u003cstrong\u003edrink, drugs and brawling\u003c\/strong\u003e. No-one could have predicted the remarkable turnaround his life would take when, wrongly accused of stabbing a police officer, he \u003cstrong\u003eturned to God in a police cell\u003c\/strong\u003e in Brecon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe embraced his new faith and was challenged by it to provide a \u003cstrong\u003epositive role model to the children of the Rhondda\u003c\/strong\u003e. He has been Rhondda Schools Rugby Development Officer for over 30 years, during which time the Rhondda U15s have won the prestigious Welsh Schools Dewar Shield ten times and been losing finalists six times, having never won it before. Since 1997, dozens of players who have come up through the system he heads have represented Wales at age group and senior levels, including \u003cstrong\u003e12 full internationals, a Wales captain and a British \u0026amp; Irish Lion\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57510152143221,"sku":"9781912631674","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781912631674.jpg?v=1787130481","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/from-rucks-to-redemption-my-life-changing-story","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}