'I try to be myself as much as possible' - Simon Zebo on new book

From the streets of Cork to the grand stages of Thomond Park, the Stade Yves-du-Manoir and beyond, Simon Zebo’s journey is one of flair, fire and fearless individuality.

In this candid and captivating memoir, Zebo opens up about his life, from his record-breaking feats with Munster and Ireland to his trailblazing role as the first black man to wear the green jersey.

With trademark wit and warmth, Zebo reflects on the highs and lows of a career that spanned continents, including his unforgettable stint with Racing 92, his Lions tour memories, the moments that made him a fan favourite, and his insightful, exuberant punditry.

Co-written with acclaimed rugby journalist Gerry Thornley, Zeebs is more than a sports memoir: it’s a celebration of self-expression, resilience and the joy of playing the game your way.

The Corkman says the idea of writing a book came roughly two years ago, shortly after retirement. The thought and idea of an autobiography was something that was often pushed Zebo’s way, as he explains.

“It would have been about two years ago, it’s been a long process. The longer it took, the more thought you’re putting in and how genuine you can be. It took a long time to get here and that’s how it panned out really.”

“Gerry Thornley made it a very enjoyable process and an easy one at that and two years of work has been put into it to get here.

“It wasn’t something I was really thinking about but a lot of people had mentioned it to me throughout my career.

“I had a very different upbringing, I had a very different family structure, I had a very different career than a lot of players that you’d traditionally get here in Ireland having gone to France for three years and the circumstances surrounding my international career, there were just a lot of different things.

“The way I played the game, some of the stories, the bit of craic and mischief throughout my career, I was just very different to a lot of other people and people had been mentioning the potential of a book to me.

“Those kind of conversations had been going on for a long time and when the idea got proposed to me I was all for it and hopefully people will enjoy it,” he said.

The 36-year-old says it was although the process of writing a book was tedious at times, there were many highlights throughout.

Those stand-out moments included: re-hashing and recounting old stories, both from his playing days and his childhood days, his days at Racing and meeting with Gerry Thornley regularly.

“The re-hashing of old stories, remembering some of the good times. Some of the childhood stories where childhood friends come into it.

“My time in Racing stood out, there are a lot of good anecdotes from that period. I could’ve written a whole book on my three years in Racing, or equally, my childhood.

“There was plenty of fun moments throughout out it all and meeting up with Gerry face-to-face all the time and having those real, personal encounters were a great highlight.”

Zebo is not the only former Munster great to be releasing an autobiography this autumn, with former Munster captain having released ‘All In’ last month.

Zebo finds the funny side in both he and O’Mahony releasing their books in such close proximity of one another and insists there has been no hint of competition between the pair.

“No! There’s no competition there! Peter would be one of my good friends in rugby and I’ve known him for so long. I think the world of Pete and these things happen all the time!

“I think it happened a while ago between Rob Kearney and Seán O’Brien. You can’t time these things perfectly. I think both of us would love if the other had their own time in the sun but it’s just the way it panned out.

“We have very different stories, very different outlooks on the game so it’s not a case of having to get one book over the other, I think people will enjoy both books!

The Blackrock native will be signing copies of his new book ‘Zeebs’ in O’Mahony’s Bookstore on O’Connell Street this Saturday, October 31 at 1pm and he states that he is ‘buzzing.’

“I’m buzzing for it. I love Limerick, I love the people of Limerick. I love getting back to Thomond Park any chance I get.

“Hopefully I’ll get to meet plenty of Munster fans, sign some jerseys or some books or whatever the fans want to bring. Limerick is my second home and I’m really looking forward to getting back.

“My love for Limerick knows no limits. The people, the supporters and the fanbase in Limerick is just incredible. A lot of my closest friends live there, my sister used to live there, my brother-in-law the same.

“I’ve been back and forth to Limerick my whole life and I’ve a great connection and love for Limerick. I’ve plenty of great memories and enjoy bringing the kids there any chance we get,” he said.

Zebo’s love for Limerick is clear but the former fullback says that affection is put to one side when the Rebels clash with John Kiely’s all-conquering Limerick side.

“The only time I put that affinity to one side is when the hurling is on! It drives me mad how good Limerick are! They’re just so good that it’s painful. Craig Casey gets good enjoyment out of slagging us Cork lads over it.

“It’s the same with Kerry in Gaelic football. I love Kerry and when they beat us in the football it’s the same kind of thing.

“You’d rather it be a Kerry or Limerick that beats you than other counties,” he said.

Zebo, who hung up his boots in 2024, says whilst he is content in retirement admits inter-pro fixtures and Champions Cup ties gets his ‘spine tingling.’

“It’s not a case of “oh I miss the game so much” but you do get that little buzz, especially when it’s inter-pro week and things.

“The buzz around Munster/Leinster games brings back that buzz that I really used to enjoy.

“There’s not many better games to be involved from a Munster point of view, be it home or away, they are the games I really miss the most.

“Not that I’d want to be out there or anything but it just gets you nostalgic and you’d be thinking if there was a fixture to make me put on the boots, it would be Leinster for sure.

“Be it a Champions Cup fixture at Thomond Park or even away from home but more so at Thomond Park, that really gets my spine tingling too.”

Zebo, who made 176 appearances for Munster across two stints, says he has been impressed by what he has seen so far this season from Clayton McMillan’s side.

“I’ve been impressed by what I’ve seen for sure. There’s obviously going to be parts of their game that they’re not happy with and they know they’ll need to improve on those things as the season progresses but early doors, some of the impact that Jared Payne has had, some of the stuff Mossy Lawler is working on. They’ve been really, really stand out.

“The defence has been really impressive as well at times, the way they’re fanning out and getting two-man hits. Dennis Leamy has been a great addition and Clayton has been doing a good job in giving youth a chance,” he said.

“The likes of Charlie O’Shea, Ben O’Donovan, Ben O’Connor and Shay McCarthy, there are a lot of them who are getting opportunities and you mix that with the new coaches on the scene, I think they’re doing well.

“I think they’re doing alright and there are players still to come back too. The likes of Calvin Nash and Jack Crowley. I think they’re building nicely.

“Not every performance has been top drawer but they beat that big Bulls team, they beat Racing. They have a few good performances under their belt and they’re not in a bad position,” he added.

Munster got their Champions Cup journey off to a winning start earlier this month following a 33-25 win over Racing 92 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, a fixture that marked the tenth anniversary of Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley’s tragic death.

Zebo says Munster honoured the memory of ‘Axel’ on a night where those in red ‘represnted the province brilliantly.’

“I thought Munster were brilliant. They worked incredibly hard for each other. It probably wasn’t as comfortable as they would have liked in the end but Racing can do that to any team.

“I know they’re not the Racing of old, they’ve been a bit hit or miss since Stuart Lancaster left but there is a lot of positives to take from that game.

“The way Munster represented the province that night, I thought was brilliant. The crowd were brilliant, they were reciprocating the love the players were showing them through their effort and their hard work.

“That was a big result and to do so whilst honouring Axel and the Foley family was great. I think this fixture will forever be the Axel fixture.

“Whenever these two sides play each other, there’s an awful lot of respect there and Racing have nothing but love for Munster, I know that for a fact. I know the people inside the building there and I know what they think of Munster, it was a great spectacle and I’m delighted Munster got the win,” he said.

Although retired, Zebo is still very much still in the thick of things as a pundit on Premier Sports, something the former Cork Constitution player is ‘really enjoying.’

“I really enjoy it. The team at Premier Sports are so good at making you feel relaxed and at ease. They put on a great production and it’s very easy to adapt to.

“What goes on behind the scenes to make everything look seamless, there’s just a huge amount that goes into it. I’m very lucky and fortunate to get to still enjoy matches and the craic and to still get to see the lads and things like that,” he said.

“From my point of view, it’s just trying to be as honest as you can. I love Munster obviously and I’m rooting for them all the time. I can be critical of them at times but that will never stop my love for them.

“I don’t think hiding that or pretending like that that’s not there is a good thing as well. I think pundits need to be honest, I think they have to have the craic.

“They need to make it enjoyable for the viewers and you have to bring a bit of personality too. When I was watching games when I was younger, it would have been a bit boring at times with people saying the old things.

“They never got off the fence and said what they really thought. I know these people don’t think like this behind the camera so why is there a fear there in keeping up appearances with stuff like that?

“I just try to be myself as much as possible and if people like it, happy days,” he added.

In terms of what can people can expect from ‘Zeebs’, the former British and Irish Lions man says it’s ‘different to your traditional rugby player book.’

“I think people will get a good insight into my personal and my mindset.

“I speak about areas of my life I wouldn’t have spoken about in much detail before. What those three years in Paris were really like and living outside the Irish system.

“My personality and my family life is evident. I’m a big family man and I think there are a lot of things in the book that people wouldn’t get in other books.

“It’s a very different book to your traditional rugby player book,” Zebo concluded.