Clive Woodward Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Sir Clive Ronald Woodward (born 6 January 1956 at Ely in Cambridgeshire) is a former English rugby union international who was the coach of the England rugby team from 1997 to 2004.
| Table of contents |
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2 Playing career 3 Emigration 4 Coaching career 5 England resignation 6 External link |
Early life
The son of a RAF pilot, Woodward was educated at HMS Conway School Ship where he played rugby at centre alongside a fly-half Iain Duncan Smith who would later become leader of the Conservative Party. He attended Loughborough University where he gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports science followed by a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE).
Playing career
He played as a centre for Leicester Tigers from 1979 to 1985. He made his England debut against Ireland on January 19 1980, as a replacement and went on to gain 21 caps for his country, playing his last game March 17 1984 against Wales. He toured South Africa with the British Lions in 1980. He is most noted for his partnership with fellow Tiger Paul Dodge.
Emigration
In 1985 he emigrated to Australia, where he played for Manly. There he learned about Australian rugby which was considered to be at a more advanced developmental stage than that in Britain.
Coaching career
He returned to the UK in 1990. After a short but successful spell coaching at London Irish, he became assistant coach at the Tigers' arch enemies Bath under Andy Robinson. When Jack Rowell retired as coach of the England team in 1997, Woodward acquired the job almost by default.
He had the job of transforming the England side from the amateur era into the professional one. He would admit that he made many mistakes in doing so, but attention to detail and gains in experience. His team crashed out of the 1999 World Cup to South Africa and Jannie de Beer's drop goals, and his job was questioned. The team developed and subsequently won a Grand Slam in 2003 followed by the 2003 World Cup, beating the reigning champions Australia in the final. He was knighted (KBE) in the 2004 New Year's honours.
He was subsequently hired to manage the 2005 British and Irish Lions to New Zealand.
Woodward's contract with England was due to run until 2007, but following the high profile departure of the stalwarts of his team such as Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson, and that he was not allowed to spent as much time as he wanted with the England players who also had clubs to play for, Woodward was linked with a possible switch to football (soccer). Initially the rumours of this switch of games was denied, but on September 1 2004, Woodward announced that he would be quitting his job as England coach. In an interview just prior to this, he had said:
England resignation
Initially, a move to Southampton Football Club looked likely, as Woodward is known to be friendly with chairman Rupert Lowe. Lowe discussed this possibility with the board on September_2,2004. However, in his resignation press conference, Woodward said that his stated intention is to take the Football Association's Grade Two coaching badges after the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand:
- I have been talking to Rupert Lowe for a long time. He contacted me a couple of years ago, but certainly I'm not involved in anything to do with the first team. I will take no paid position until the Lions tour is over.
- I am 100% committed to the Lions [tour in 2005]. My commitment to them is absolute. I am taking no job from anyone until that is finished.
- I have loved every minute of it, but I will be leaving rugby at end of the Lions tour.
- I'm interested in football, I intend to do the awards but I may end up coaching Maidenhead under-nines. You have to start at the bottom and I intend to do that.
External link
| Preceded by: Jack Rowell | English national rugby coach 1997-2004 | Followed by: Andy Robinson (acting coach, likely to be given job) |
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