100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

Auckland Bookstore open Saturday & Sunday ๐ŸŽ‰ Don't forget Father's Day is next weekend ๐Ÿ“…

The Jersey

The All Blacks: The Secrets Behind the World's Most Successful Team
3.65 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 309 ratings, 28 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Jersey is the definitive story behind the legendary All Blacks, the greatest sports team on the planet. With exclusive interviews from icons such as Richie McCaw, Steve Hansen, Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter, author Peter Bills explores how New Zealand, a nation of just 4.8 million, conquered the rugby world. Drawing on over forty years of international rugby reporting and conversations with more than ninety key figures, the book chronicles the journey from the first settlers and the 'Originals' to the modern All Blacks. It reveals the secrets behind their unparalleled success and examines the deep national identity intertwined with the teamโ€™s legacy.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2999

International Supplier

This title is in-stock with overseas suppliers. While it is not available locally, we fly books in weekly from the US and UK to our Auckland warehouse for immediate dispatch.

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This captivating biography is perfect for rugby enthusiasts, sports historians, and anyone interested in New Zealand culture. Its detailed interviews and rich storytelling appeal to both dedicated fans of the All Blacks and readers seeking insight into one of the worldโ€™s most successful sports teams.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Based on exclusive interviews with past and present All Blacks, The Jersey reveals the secrets behind how the New Zealand All Blacks have dominated the game of rugby.

The first ever account of how the New Zealand All Blacks have dominated the game of rugby, and what lessons we can learn from them about how to achieve excellence in all fields.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

This paperback edition contains a new chapter bringing the All Black story up to date.

The phenomenal international number one bestseller with exclusive interviews with Richie McCaw, Steve Hansen, Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter, The Jersey is the first definitive story behind the greatest sports team on the planet.

'Extremely well written. Compelling, accurate, insightful and brilliant in the way it captures the New Zealand way' - John Hart, former All Blacks coach.

With a better winning record than any other sports team in history, they stand head and shoulders above their nearest rugby rivals. How did a country of just 4.8 million people conquer the world?

Peter Bills, who has reported on international rugby for more than forty years, was given exclusive access to all the key figures in New Zealand rugby as he set out to understand the secrets behind the All Blacks success. From Steve Hansen to Beauden Barrett, Richie McCaw to the late Sir Colin Meads, Peter Bills talked at length with over ninety people, both in New Zealand and around the world, with intimate knowledge of what makes the All Blacks tick.

This is a story of the first settlers, and the 'Originals' who forged the All Blacks legacy, right through to modern times. It draws heavily on the contributions made by all New Zealanders: players, coaches, officials, supporters and those who have worn the most recognised jersey in the world. Intrinsically, The Jersey goes to the heart of the All Blacks success. It is also an epic story of not just a rugby team but a nation, whose identities are inextricably linked. Additionally, it debates a question, terrifying for any of their opponents. Could the All Blacks get even better?

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Nick Mallett, former South Africa and Italy head coach, praises it as a "wonderful description" with a "spot on" assessment and "beautifully written" prose. John Hart, ex-All Blacks coach, calls it "compelling, accurate, insightful," and brilliantly reflective of the New Zealand way. Conrad Smith, 94-times capped All Black World Cup winner, describes it as "a great read." Sir Graham Henry, 2011 World Cup winning coach, commends the book, especially praising the schools chapter. The Southern Star calls it "one of the most talked about and brilliantly written rugby books for many years."

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509856718

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 August 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Pan Books

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 298g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Peter Bills is a world-renowned rugby journalist who has reported and written on the sport for more than forty years. He was given unprecedented access to the All Blacks to research The Jersey.

Also by Peter Bills

View all
  • Triumphs, Trophies and Troubles
    'An entertaining and whimsical search for "the soul of Irish rugby"... Peppered with astute observations' - Irish Times Triumphs, Trophies and Troubles has got Irish rugby just right in this the 150th anniversary season of the IRFU' - Willie John McBride FOREWORD by former Ireland fly half Ollie Campbell 'In a world going all too fast, Peter Bills has the...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Le Coq
    'An impassioned tour around France which is best enjoyed with a bottle of red ... or two.' - The Sunday Times 'I've known Peter for some years and I'm sure you will enjoy his personal journey to the heart of rugby in this superb country.' - Dan Carter, Former All Black and Rugby World Cup winner 'Bills' wondrous travelogue features...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Le Coq
    From French rugby's origins in Le Havre, as an English export in the late nineteenth century, to the Catalan coast, acclaimed rugby writer Peter Bills travels the length and breadth of this vast country. He visits not only the big cities but also those regional heartlands of the game such as Toulouse, Bordeaux and Clermont, as well as clubs in...
    Hardback
    Sold Out

More from Biography & Memoir

View all
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Famesick
    Chronicling the tumultuous decade between the premiere of Girls to her 2021 shotgunย wedding (minus the baby, because she has no uterus), Lena Dunham takes us through herย journey with her trademark mix of humor, unsparing honesty, and keen eye for detail. We peek behind the scenes - of her work, her family, her relationships, and her battle to reclaim her body...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Book cover for 'Swan Song: Diana, my sister' by Charles Spencer, featuring a black-and-white portrait of Diana with white and gold text on a gray background.
    Pre-order
    Swan Song
    Beautiful. Beloved. Hunted. The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles โ€“ available to pre-order now. โ€˜When asked, โ€˜What was it like, growing up with Diana?โ€™, my first thought is always, But I donโ€™t know what it was like not to grow up with herโ€ฆโ€™ In September 1997, Charles Spencer stood in Westminster Abbey before...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    Pre-order
    Out 23 Sep 2026
  • Dogs, Boys and Other Things I've Cried About
    From the social media superstar behind @SimonSits, Isabel Klee--known for her heartwarming tales of dog rescue--comes an utterly winning memoir about a twentysomething woman's search for true love in New York City and the dogs who helped her find it. A Jersey girl by birth, Isabel Klee had always wanted to live in New York City. At age 20, she...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Signed Copy
    New Release
    Stakes
    Read our interview with author Noelle McCarthy! A darkly funny, sparkling follow-up to the authorโ€™s bestselling memoirย Grand. You have to invite him in. You have to want the vampireโ€™s badness in the house with you. Growing up in Catholic Ireland, Noelle McCarthy is captivated by Bram Stokerโ€™sย Dracula. The vampire is a risk-free fantasy, a suave alternative to the fraught realities...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Built for This
    Raised among strong women, butcher's benches, and hard ideas about what men are meant to be, Brad Poulter grows up knowing he's different long before he has the words for it. But in late '90s small-town New Zealand, 'different' isn't discussed, it's managed. Joining the Royal New Zealand Navy offers escape, certainty, and belonging. The rules are clear, the uniform...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Even the Good Girls Will Cry
    Thanks to a thrown beer bottle and a fan letter to a P.O. box, Melissa Auf der Maur's first band scored an opening slot for the Smashing Pumpkins in her bohemian home town, Montreal. Sensing Melissa's talent, Billy Corgan recommended her to Courtney Love. Whisked from her local scene, Melissa joined Hole just after the deaths of Kurt Cobain and...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    An Ocean and a Day
    An utterly riveting, moving and poignant memoir of grief and loss that will speak to anyone who's ever lost someone they love. An Ocean and a Day is Hannah Richell's personal account of losing her husband, Matt, in a surfing accident on Tamarama beach in 2014. It is the story of the grief journey she travelled over the first two...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    A Place to Stand
    A Place to Stand by Clare Ward is a profound memoir that delves into the life of a country doctor living and working in the Hokianga Harbour area in the far north of Aotearoa New Zealand. This region is sparsely populated and poses numerous health challenges. This thoughtful account details Clareโ€™s thirty-year career, highlighting the people she works with and...
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Rule of Lies
    Written with all the pace and energy of a John Grisham novel โ€ฆ An incredible true story and a great read! BILL BROWDER, author of Red Notice and Freezing Order An American lawyerโ€™s brilliant, propulsive story of witnessing and playing a part in the transformation of Russia under Yeltsin and Putin. A true tale of fascinating personalities, criminal intrigue, harrowing...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Rory
    Theย New York Timesย bestseller The #1ย Irish Timesย bestseller The definitive biography of Rory McIlroy, the most important, popular and confounding player of the post-Tiger era. Rory McIlroy contains multitudes. The child of a working-class family from a small town in a war-torn homeland now commutes to work in his own private jet and counts billionaires as confidants. He can overwhelm a golf...
    Paperback
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $4199
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Te Kaikaukau | The Swimmer
    Novelist, memoirist and playwright Witi Ihimaera โ€“ author of Pounamu, Pounamu and The Whale Rider โ€“ decided, at the age of eighty, to dive back into the water and spend a year full-time at Te Wฤnanga Takiura, immersing himself in his own language, in te reo Mฤori. This book tells the story of this kaikaukau, this swimmer, and his year...
    Paperback
    $3500
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.