Chapter Reveal for Undefeated by Stuart Reardon & Jane Harvey-Berrick
It’s a beautiful game.
It’s a hard game.
And even on a good day your body is battered and bruised. It’s a brutal game with blood, mud and dirt.
See this scar on my cheek? Rugby.
See this scar running through my eyebrow? Rugby.
I have a lot of scars.
I have 13 scars on each arm from keyhole surgery, knee surgery, scars on my forehead and the back of my head, scars on my knuckles, broken fingers. I’ve had both eyelids stitched, surgery on both shoulders, suffered a broken nose twice and spiral fractures in my hands, I’ve broken my fingers so many times, I don’t event count those. I’ve had cartilage cleaned out of my left knee, two medial ligament grade two tears on each knee, three lots of surgery for Achilles tendon injuries, and once I put my bottom teeth through my top lip. Getting stitches in your mouth isn’t much fun. They tug when you eat or speak.
There’s nothing nice about rugby. Maybe that’s why I bloody love it.
Chicks dig scars? Yeah, I’ve heard that, too.
In my experience, they’re not so keen on being around while you’re healing. Being the loser who’s benched, not so sexy. Being the guy who’s career went down the toilet … I’m looking a lot less appealing now.
Trusting a woman when you’re at your lowest—dumbest, stupidest thing ever.
Beat me, break me, butcher my heart.
I’m coming for you. And this time…
I’m going to win.
Stuart is a retired England International Rugby League player who’s career spanned 16 years as a professional playing for several top League clubs. He has had several major injuries that nearly ended his career just as in Undefeated, the amazing collaboration with Jane.
Currently he is a Personal trainer living in Cheshire, and has an online fitness program: Fear Nothing Fitness.
I enjoy watching surfers at my local beach, and weaving stories of romance in the modern world, with all its trials and tribulations.
It’s been the best fun working with Stu on this story. And yes, he did think about joining the Marines once.
