Johnny Sexton - the man who pulled the strings for the Lions - gives an intimate insight into the rugby life in Becoming a Lion. With three Heineken Cups and one British and Irish Lions tour victory under his belt, Johnny Sexton is by some distance the leading fly-half in the northern hemisphere. Over the course of the Lions' first victorious Test series in sixteen years, Sexton was the man pulling the strings. His try in the third test was the decisive blow, and his joyous celebrations after scoring were echoed in homes across Britain and Ireland. Becoming a Lion is an intimate portrait of life at the highest levels of the professional game - at Leinster, with Ireland, and on tour with the Lions. 'Bracing and fascinating in equal measure' Malachy Clerkin, Irish Times 'Riveting ... Opens a remarkable window into the stresses, hurts and insecurities of a professional life in rugby' Vincent Hogan, Irish Independent 'Captures all the jagged edges that make Sexton one of Irish sport's most compelling characters' Sunday Times 'Sets a great benchmark for sports autobiographies, given that it is so honest' Matt Cooper, Today FM 'Engrossing' Rugby World Ireland 'If you crave an insight into the life of a professional rugby player ... Becoming a Lion is a must' Donal Lenihan, Irish Examiner 'Intensely revealing' Irish Daily Mail

No Irish rugby player has ever achieved more, or been a source of more inspiration to teammates and fans alike, than Johnny Sexton. All of this would have seemed highly unlikely as late as May 2009, when – approaching his 24th birthday – he was nowhere near first choice at Leinster, and still uncapped by Ireland.

In his hotly anticipated autobiography, Johnny will tell the story of his life, and explore the sources of his unmatched will to win. The Sexton era – marked by four European Cups, four Six Nations championships (including two Grand Slams), unprecedented victories in the Southern Hemisphere, two stints for Ireland at number 1 in the world, and the World Player of the Year award – was above all the time when Leinster and Ireland went from being underachievers to being overachievers.

Always outspoken on and off the field, Sexton will offer an honest look at his childhood, his sometimes unpromising-seeming early experiences in club and professional rugby, his relationships with key teammates and coaches (including Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell), and his ideas about the game.