Don McRae
@donmcrae.bsky.social
670 followers 99 following 160 posts
Author of 14 books about fighters, surgeons, trial lawyers, South Africa and real life. https://www.donaldmcrae.com/ Interviewer for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/profile/donaldmcrae https://www.donaldmcrae.com/
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
donmcrae.bsky.social
I have been working on The Last Bell for a long time but, finally, it's done. You can read about it here & pre-order a copy bit.ly/3UOUjYb. Out in March, this is my last boxing book. Thanks @amandakelley.bsky.social
for the majestic painting on the cover and to all at
Simon & Schuster UK
The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing: Amazon.co.uk: McRae, Donald: 9781398504189: Books
Buy The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing by McRae, Donald (ISBN: 9781398504189) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
bit.ly
donmcrae.bsky.social
It's always interesting to interview Geraint Thomas and, this time, we spoke about suffering, winning, the ones that got away, being normal, longevity, doping stories, retirement, finding a new way by working with riders in his upcoming job and his last ever race

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...
‘I’m the total opposite to Cav and Brad’: Geraint Thomas on how a normal bloke won the Tour de France
The two-time Olympic gold medallist tells Donald McRae about the grit and sacrifice needed to succeed for two decades in elite cycling
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
I appreciated Jos Buttler talking so openly about the passing years, as a 35-year-old, the death of his father, helping England pass 300 in a T20 world first, the pain of captaincy, shedding that burden, new ambitions and why his bat still says 'fuck it'...

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...
Jos Buttler: ‘A big burden has been lifted – I wasn’t the same leader after the 2023 World Cup’
The England white-ball veteran tells Donald McRae about his post-captaincy career, his Ashes struggles and the recent death of his father
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
It means a lot to be on this list with some very good books. Thanks to the @BookiePrize for their constant support of sports books....it helps so many writers.
donmcrae.bsky.social
It was fascinating talking to Ben Youngs as he explained the guilt that meant he was always looked down in shame when being praised as English rugby's most capped player. He was just as honest addressing the coaching limitations of Borthwick, Lancaster and Gatland
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...
‘I didn’t get empathy from Borthwick’: Ben Youngs on family trauma and why he rates Eddie Jones
The former scrum-half tells Donald McRae why family illnesses made him feel guilty about being England’s most-capped player
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Don McRae
london.gov.uk
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.

Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Graphic with the headline “London is the greatest city in the world” set against a bright view of the River Thames with the Shard, Tower Bridge and the city skyline.

The text celebrates what makes London special: regularly voted the number one city in the world, incredible diversity with over 300 languages spoken, world-class transport, world leader in finance tech and life sciences, best museums and galleries many free to visit, world-leading nightlife, food sport and music for every taste, host to the world’s best sporting events, home to seven Premier League clubs, globally-ranked universities, a city where you can be yourself and love who you love, and a place for everyone.
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks Martin O'Neill for being so honest and interesting as he spoke about being sacked from his final job at Forest, Marinakis, Nuno, being interviewed for England, the "nonsense" of expected goals and sporting directors and why he still loves football...

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
‘Expected goals is a clueless development’: Martin O’Neill on the changing world of management
Martin O’Neill tells Donald McRae about how he was sacked by Forest, the role of data in football and not getting the England job
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks so much Scott. I appreciate it
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks so much Sachin
donmcrae.bsky.social
Only the memories of Mike Tyson at his most destructive in sparring can rival the vivid images I carry of the young Ricky Hatton training in an old hat factory. He was utterly lost in boxing. It all felt so pure. Ricky was unforgettable then – and remains so now

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...
Unforgettable Ricky Hatton turned boxing into a spectacle for his vast army of fans
The ‘Hitman’ was extraordinary in his fleeting prime with his career bringing adoration and the demons of fame
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
When we decided to try and predict a winner between Canelo and Crawford, Bryan Graham and I could both easily have gone the other way and swapped choices. But here we have a stab at picking who might win tonight

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...
Canelo v Crawford: our experts predict the winner of Saturday’s big fight
Will Canelo’s power or Crawford’s precision prove decisive in their Las Vegas summit meeting? Our writers set out the arguments on both sides
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks, appreciate it!
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks to Georgia Stanway for such an interesting interview about winning the Euros for a second time, overcoming adversity on and off the pitch, injury battles, the absurd taboo around gay footballers in the men's game, giving back to others and tattoos...

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Georgia Stanway: ‘If England win the World Cup I’ll happily retire – that’s all my dreams’
Lionesses and Bayern Munich midfielder opens up to Donald McRae about ‘stressful’ Euro 2025 success, ‘world-class’ Sarina Wiegman and online abuse suffered by players
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
I enjoyed talking to Holger Rune about his hopes and aims of winning grand slams and becoming World No1, his good record against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the need to become more consistent, working with Andre Agassi and dealing with regular death threats

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...
‘I’m so driven to find a way’: Holger Rune on what it takes to beat Alcaraz and Sinner
The 22-year-old has recruited the ‘legend’ Andre Agassi on his search for grand-slam winning form before the US Open
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
I enjoyed talking to Zoe Aldcroft, the England rugby captain, about the World Cup, being laser-focused on the pitch and kooky off it, her Jonny Wilkinson obsession, her husband wearing shorts to their wedding and how she loves making bad feet feel good...

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...
Zoe Aldcroft: ‘This World Cup has the potential to change women’s rugby for ever’
Zoe Aldcroft tells Donald McRae the Red Roses have the chance to change women’s rugby for ever if they can win the World Cup in England
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Don McRae
jackimmcrae.bsky.social
Ahead of the return of the #PremierLeague tonight, I wrote this about Arsenal.

Three second-place finishes and #AFC fan hysteria had made me hesitant to get swept up by excitement.

But, as ever, I have succumbed to the horrible state of anguish: hope.
jackimmcrae.com/2025/08/15/s...
Second again, again, again… and again?
Pressure is on Mikel Arteta to deliver silverware this season. Photograph: WIkimedia Commons/Prime Video AU & NZ It is difficult to know how to feel about Arsenal. After being burned by three c…
jackimmcrae.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks Neil Warnock for our interview in which he remembered how data analytics stopped him from signing Virgil van Djik, while he also reflected on his bromance with Pep Guardiola, mutual respect with Arsène Wenger and falling out bitterly with Alex Ferguson

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
‘It’s a lonely job’: Neil Warnock on management, Guardiola and his ire for Ferguson
Veteran manager tells Donald McRae about his 45-year-career, upcoming tour and missing out on Virgil van Dijk
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
Thanks Sachin....good to see you the other day!
donmcrae.bsky.social
It was late and he was tired but his stunning defeat of Daniel Dubois needed to be explained. So, in a second language, Oleksandr Usyk revealed the truth of his savage alchemy in a few simple words: "No, bro. Motivation is good but discipline is better.”

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...
The essence of Usyk: motivation and discipline key to Dubois destruction
The undisputed heavyweight champion explains how he learned from his previous win against the Briton and introduces ‘Ivan’, the clinching left hook
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
Oleksandr Usyk was far too skilled, too smart, too seasoned for Daniel Dubois. He is the most impressive man in boxing, a savage scientist and a symbol of searing defiance in Ukraine. I felt lucky to be ringside to see another burst of Usyk’s undisputed majesty

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...
Usyk defeats Dubois to become undisputed heavyweight champion once more
Oleksandr Usyk is the undisputed world heavyweight champion again after a fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois at Wembley
www.theguardian.com
donmcrae.bsky.social
Boxing stories are like nothing else. Don Charles was a child soldier in Biafra, a toilet cleaner, a road sweeper, a florist and a bouncer. Keiran Farrell lost 30% of his brain as a boxer. Together, using psychology and diplomacy, they have unlocked Daniel Dubois

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...
Meet the unlikely double act who have found key to unlock real Daniel Dubois
One is a former child soldier, the other lost 30% of his brain to a boxing injury, and together they’ve built the Briton into fighter who can challenge Usyk
www.theguardian.com