‘Studs and Spikes’ is the title of a new book – written by Limerick man Des Ryan with the support of the subject’s nephew John – chronicling the sporting career of Denis Cussen, Newcastle West.
Dr. Cussen blazed trails in athletics, rugby and sports medicine. Born in 1901, Denis was a force of nature.
Internationally, Cussen earned 15 caps for Ireland in rugby from 1921 to 1927, contributing to two Irish Five Nations triumphs. He also donned the famous Barbarians hoops three times in 1926 and 1927.
But Denis’ prowess extended far beyond the rugby pitch.
At the 1924 Tailteann (Athletics) Games, he dazzled crowds. In 1928, he became the first Irishman to break 10 seconds for 100 yards with a record-shattering 9.8 seconds, a record that stood for almost 60 years. That same year, he represented Ireland at the Amsterdam Olympics.
After qualifying as a doctor in 1925, he relocated to London, and retired from sport a few years later. His impact endured: a founding member of the British Association of Sport and Medicine and the British Institute of Sport, he served as Chief Medical Officer for the British Olympic teams in 1956 and 1960, and the English Commonwealth Games team in 1958.
“Denis Cussen embodied the grit and versatility of early 20th-century Ireland. In a time of partition and civil war, Cussen united communities through sport. Readers will sprint through his triumphs and reflect on how one man’s speed reshaped medicine and athletics,” said Des.
Published by TTT Press, ‘Studs and Spikes’ blends meticulous research, rare photographs, and some astounding rugby and athletics relics.
The book will launch this weekend, on the centenary of his two tries for Ireland against England in the then-Five Nations Rugby Championship of 1926.
It is available via Amazon and other online retailers, and will be in selected shops locally in the coming weeks.