Chris Pennell
Encyclopedia
Chris Pennell is an English rugby union
player. He currently plays for Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a fullback.
The son of former England cricketer Graham Dilley
, after his parents' marriage broke down, his mother remarried a British Army
soldier, and Chris took his surname. The family moved to Portadown
, Northern Ireland
, where he was educated at Millington Primary School, and was a member of the victorious Gilpin cup side in 1999. Returning to England, he was educated at Old Swinford Hospital
School in Stourbridge
where he played a key part in their successful campaign to the semi finals of the Daily Mail Cup
. Although head boy, he turned down the chance to captain the cricket first XI because of his A levels.
Having been offered a professional contract at Worcester Warriors, he delayed his offer of a university place, making his Guinness Premiership debut against Bath Rugby in 2007/08, and representing England at Under 19 level. He became a key performer for the club during the 2008/09 campaign, until he suffered a serious knee injury in Europe. He returned to full fitness, and grabbed tries against Connacht Rugby and Olympus Rugby XV Madrid in Europe during the 2009/10 season, making 16 appearances during the campaign and scoring five tries.
After signing a new two-year deal in February 2010, he became club captain for the 2010/2011 RFU Championship campaign.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He currently plays for Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a fullback.
The son of former England cricketer Graham Dilley
Graham Dilley
Graham Roy Dilley was an English cricketer, whose main role was as a fast bowler. He played first-class cricket for Kent and Worcestershire, and appeared in 41 test matches and 36 ODIs for England...
, after his parents' marriage broke down, his mother remarried a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
soldier, and Chris took his surname. The family moved to Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, where he was educated at Millington Primary School, and was a member of the victorious Gilpin cup side in 1999. Returning to England, he was educated at Old Swinford Hospital
Old Swinford Hospital
Old Swinford Hospital is a selective voluntary aided boys' boarding school in Oldswinford, Stourbridge, West Midlands, England that has been in continuous operation since the 17th century.- History :Old Swinford Hospital opened in the late summer of 1667...
School in Stourbridge
Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
where he played a key part in their successful campaign to the semi finals of the Daily Mail Cup
Daily Mail Cup
The Daily Mail RBS Cup is the annual English schools' rugby union cup competition. The semi-finals are now held at Broadstreet Rugby Club. The final is held at Twickenham Stadium. Competitions are held at the U18 and U15 age group levels...
. Although head boy, he turned down the chance to captain the cricket first XI because of his A levels.
Having been offered a professional contract at Worcester Warriors, he delayed his offer of a university place, making his Guinness Premiership debut against Bath Rugby in 2007/08, and representing England at Under 19 level. He became a key performer for the club during the 2008/09 campaign, until he suffered a serious knee injury in Europe. He returned to full fitness, and grabbed tries against Connacht Rugby and Olympus Rugby XV Madrid in Europe during the 2009/10 season, making 16 appearances during the campaign and scoring five tries.
After signing a new two-year deal in February 2010, he became club captain for the 2010/2011 RFU Championship campaign.