Landing on My Feet: My Story

Summary

Having earned his first cap in 1994, Mike Catt is one of England's longest serving rugby internationals. His longevity is due largely to his being one of the best thinkers in the game, a quality which has earned him universal respect from colleagues and critics alike. Although one of his earliest experiences with England was as part of the team mown down by Jonah Lomu, Catt born and bred in South Africa but the son of an English mother is most famous for kicking the ball into touch to signal the end of that unforgettable World Cup final win over Australia in 2003. His appearance as a half-time substitute in the quarter-final against Wales kept England in the tournament. He has been dropped and re-selected by England more times than he can remember during the course of a 67-cap career which he is determined to add to. He has been in an England side booed by fans at Twickenham but more memorably he has received their eternal thanks for coming to their side's rescue, that unforgettable night in Brisbane. From Lomu to World Cup glory, it has been quite a journey, and its far from over yet. Mike Catt's story is unusually revealing and thought-provoking, allowing a fascinating insight into the legendary era of Will Carling's captaincy, and on a more personal note he talks about growing up in apartheid South Africa, about meeting his wife, and, despite a traumatic birth and first few months, the joy of having his daughter Evie.