Why on earth would a political website carry a review of a book about amateur rugby?

Well, in pitching my review of ‘My Life as a Hooker’ to the editors I make two points. The first is that the author – Steven Gauge – is a seasoned Liberal Democrat campaigner. The second is that the book itself contains lessons that reach far beyond the gates of Warlingham Rugby Club car park. I doubt the book will ever replace Milton’s Areopagitica as the enduring symbol of Liberal values. But its underlying philosophy of self-help, communal activity, tolerance, respect and beer make it a powerful manifesto for the modern liberal.

The book describes how Steven stumbles into amateur rugby in response to the gathering storm of a mid-life crisis. It is well written, funny and warm hearted. It opens with a great joke and builds seamlessly from there.

Mentions of party politics are sparse. It’s not until near the end of the book that Steven reveals his role in running Nick Clegg’s 2010 election tour. But, just like Robert M. Pirsig, Steven builds an entire philosophy of life into his 230 page narrative.

Rather like Steven, my first contact with rugby was at school. I had no aptitude for sports (although I gained an undeserved reputation as a decent cross country runner because all the genuine athletes in my year would duck out of the race mid way through for a cigarette break). I broke a nail trying to catch a rugby ball once and decided that my preferred position was as far away from the game as possible.

When my own son reached the age to start playing, though, I discovered something quite astonishing. Here was a whole community that was built on principles of voluntarism, comradeship and mild mickey taking. It was as though the Yeomanry of England had packed away their pikes at the end of the Civil War and founded a sports club. Formidably dedicated coaches gave their time to mould young lads into a team that worked hard for each other, enjoyed victory but respected the opposition and, above all, rejected the destructive nihilism of Sunday morning soccer.

Steven comes to rugby in middle age (I dispute his definition: he was only in his mid thirties!) His book recounts his personal experiences with the game and the team but it contains deeper truths for Liberal Democrats. It even has a chapter on the perils of trying to run a committee.

I have often watched the amateur rugby community at my son’s club and wondered what the Lib Dems would have to do to win them over. It has always struck me that their values should make them natural supporters of the party. Yet I suspect that many of them would not see the connection. Maybe it’s because we often appear to the outside world more like an episode of Clare in the Community than the Sunday rugby community. I hope it is not because we have lost touch with the values that ought to be so appealing to them. Who knows, maybe this is exactly the group of people we will reconnect with by successfully playing our part in the five year rolling maul that is the coalition government.

The laws of rugby have always struck me as more complex than any motorcycle maintenance manual. But maybe if you want to build a team, the Zen of this book is what you are looking for. Or maybe it will just entertain you for a few hours on a quiet weekend. Either way I am sure Steven will be grateful for the royalties because he is now busy working hard for Brian Paddick’s mayoral campaign so, come May, I am pretty sure he will deserve a decent holiday.

My Life as a Hooker is published by Summerdale. Steven Gauge will be signing copies at Croydon Waterstones this Thursday (16^th Feb) from 6pm.