Ronan O'Gara was born in 1977 in Sacramento, California, and educated at Presentation Brothers College and University College Cork, captaining Pres to the Munster Junior and Senior Schools Cup and winning an All-Ireland Under-20 winners' medal with UCC in 1996. For over a decade he played at out-half for Munster and Ireland, winning two Heineken Cups and the Grand Slam, and was a member of the British & Irish Lions touring teams in 2001, 2005 and 2009. O'Gara announced his playing retirement in May 2013 as the most capped player and all-time highest scorer for both Munster and Ireland, while also holding the Heineken Cup record for points. He is now assistant coach at Paris-based Racing Metro.

Gerry Thornley has been the rugby correspondent of the Irish Times since 1997 and is a regular contributor and rugby analyst on both television and radio. His previous book Trevor Brennan: Heart and Soul (Red Rock Press) won the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year in 2007.