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Tackling My Truth
Dafydd James(Author)
Trystan Bevan(Co-Author)
St David's Press
Will be published approx. on 27. November 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-1-904609-24-7 (ISBN)
Description
Offloading - Tackling My Truth is the powerful and deeply personal memoir of former Wales and Lions rugby international Dafydd James, who poignantly and courageously reveals the human cost of achieving success in an elite sport that demanded everything.
Capped 48 times for Wales, and in all three Lions Tests on the 2001 tour of Australia, Dafydd enjoyed a highly distinguished 15-year playing career with three Welsh regions - Celtic Warriors, Scarlets and Cardiff Blues - and five first-class clubs - Bridgend, Pontypridd, Llanelli, Harlequins and Sale - during which he scored 129 tries and played in two Rugby World Cups.
At its heart, this is a very emotional story told with striking honesty, in which Dafydd provides a fascinating insider's view of professional rugby's early years and his immense pride at playing for Wales, but also discloses how the heavy mental toll of chasing greatness resulted in perpetual self-doubt and deep psychological insecurities that changed his life.
Capped 48 times for Wales, and in all three Lions Tests on the 2001 tour of Australia, Dafydd enjoyed a highly distinguished 15-year playing career with three Welsh regions - Celtic Warriors, Scarlets and Cardiff Blues - and five first-class clubs - Bridgend, Pontypridd, Llanelli, Harlequins and Sale - during which he scored 129 tries and played in two Rugby World Cups.
At its heart, this is a very emotional story told with striking honesty, in which Dafydd provides a fascinating insider's view of professional rugby's early years and his immense pride at playing for Wales, but also discloses how the heavy mental toll of chasing greatness resulted in perpetual self-doubt and deep psychological insecurities that changed his life.
Reviews / Votes
"Dafydd James' story is a powerful reminder that we are never finished - that we are far bigger than who we think we are, and that anything is possible if we are courageous enough and willing enough to keep stepping forward into our vulnerability and into the unknown."Jonny Wilkinson, from the Foreword
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cardiff
United Kingdom
Illustrations
70 colour & b/w
Dimensions
Height: 155 mm
Width: 233 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
348 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-904609-24-7 (9781904609247)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
12/2025
St. David's Press
€19.49
Available for download
Persons
A coach, colleague and confidant of Dafydd James for over 15 years, Trystan Bevan is a highly regarded elite performance coach who, over two decades, achieved considerable domestic and European success with the Cardiff Blues and Wasps, and is credited with developing hundreds of rugby players, including many British & Irish Lions. Trystan has a BA in Welsh Literature from Aberystwyth University, an MSc in Sports Science from Michigan State University, and authored Darren Campbell's memoir, Track Record (St. David's Press) in 2020.
Content
Acknowledgements
Foreword by Jonny Wilkinson
Prologue
1. Out of Africa
2. Kenfig Hill
3. Professionalism
4. Pontypridd RFC
5. South Africa
6. Rock Bottom to Rejuvenation
7. Beating England at Wembley
8. Malbec and Pinotage
9. Rugby World Cup 1999
10. Llanelli Scarlets
11. Lions 2001
12. Test Lion
13. Bridgend RFC
14. Hansen
15. The Celtic Warriors
16. Scarlets Revisited
17. Rugby World Cup 2007
18. Collision Course
19. Self-disclosure
20. Deprivation
Epilogue
Career Statistics and Honours
Index
Foreword by Jonny Wilkinson
Prologue
1. Out of Africa
2. Kenfig Hill
3. Professionalism
4. Pontypridd RFC
5. South Africa
6. Rock Bottom to Rejuvenation
7. Beating England at Wembley
8. Malbec and Pinotage
9. Rugby World Cup 1999
10. Llanelli Scarlets
11. Lions 2001
12. Test Lion
13. Bridgend RFC
14. Hansen
15. The Celtic Warriors
16. Scarlets Revisited
17. Rugby World Cup 2007
18. Collision Course
19. Self-disclosure
20. Deprivation
Epilogue
Career Statistics and Honours
Index