Heads Held High

A unique collection of 160 images from the tournament's official photographers, Getty Images. Foreword by Phil Bennett; afterword by Max Boyce.

Click the extracts above for two sample shots from the tournament: Mike Phillips' wonder-try against France, and Alun Wyn Jones celebrating breaching the Springboks' line.

For two weeks in October, Wales held its breath. In the Rugby World Cup, playing probably the most exciting rugby in the competition, Wales dispatched Ireland in the quarters to set up a semi-final with misfiring France. Wales believed: over 60,000 people watched the game at the Millennium Stadium. But injuries, missed kicks, and skipper Sam Warburton's red card meant that Wales came up just short. Narrow defeat against Australia left Wales fourth.

Yet this was still a time for celebration. It couldn't have been closer, and the Wales squad could return home confident for the future, with heads held high.

Max Boyce is a comedian, singer and cultural icon, closely associated with Wales' national sport. Phil Bennett is one of Wales' most famous fly-halves. He played for Llanelli, Wales, the Barbarians and the British Lions. He is now a television commentator and newspaper columnist.