Jim Mallinder
Encyclopedia
Jim Mallinder is the coach of Northampton Saints
and the former head coach of Sale Sharks
, England Under 21s and England Saxons
.
, where he stayed for 15 years as a player and a coach. He was formerly a P.E and Mathematics teacher at William Hulme's Grammar School in Manchester before the game turned professional.
When he retired from playing in 2001, after nearly 400 games for Sale and two England caps, he was appointed as the Sharks' head coach. In his first season he took the Sharks from 11th to 2nd in the Premiership and their first Heineken Cup
qualification. In 2002 he led Sale to the Parker Pen Shield, now the European Challenge Cup
, and their first silverware.
In 2004 Mallinder left Sale to take up a post in the RFU's National Academy. There he worked with Brian Ashton and Dorian West
, he still works with dorien now in his capacity as forwards coach at the saints, as he masterminded the England Under 21s into winning the Under 21s' version of the Six Nations
in 2006 with a clean sweep of six wins out of six. He was also named by UK Sport in their prestigious Elite Coach scheme.
He was subsequently handed the reins of the England Saxons
, where he had an impressive record of 15 wins from 16 matches. His last match in charge saw the Saxons defeat the New Zealand Maori
at Twickenham
to win the Churchill Cup
.
In June 2007, Mallinder took up the post of head coach at the recently relegated Northampton Saints
. In his first year there, he led the Saints straight back to the Guinness Premiership
with an undefeated "perfect" season. On 25/06/2008, he signed a new 3 year contract to remain at Franklin's Gardens until at least the end of the 2010/11 season.
In preparation for the 2008-09 season, Mallinder raided his former club Sale Sharks
, signing Ben Foden
, Chris Mayor
, Christian Day
and Ignacio Fernández Lobbe
where they joined other former Sale colleagues, Barry Stewart
and Nick Johnson
.
In addition Mallinder brought players like Roger Wilson and Neil Best to the Saints from Ulster, and the squad he put together achieved a creditable eighth position in their first year back in Premiership Rugby. The Saints also reached the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh Cup - where they were beaten by eventual champions Cardiff Blues - but the team really shone in the European Challenge Cup. An unbeaten pool campaign brought home advantage in the knockout stages, and after beating Connacht and Saracens the Saints defeated Bourgoin at the Twickenham Stoop to lift their first piece of major silverware in a decade and secure a place in the Heineken Cup in the process.
The 2009/10 season was another campaign of progression for the Saints, who won their first major domestic trophy, the Anglo-Welsh Cup, by beating Gloucester at Worcester's Sixways Stadium. In Premiership Rugby the Saints won more league games than anyone else to finish second in the table, but were beaten with just a few minutes of the semi-final remaining. In the Heineken Cup the Saints reached the quarter finals, when they pushed Munster all the way at Thomond Park.
2010/11 saw Mallinder become the first coach to guide a team unbeaten through the Heineken Cup pool stages and all the way to the final. At the Millennium Stadium the Saints put in their best first half performance in many years, but were pegged back by Leinster and eventually lost the game. It was one of the best finals in years and will live long in the memory.
Mallinder's feats in recent years have led him to be one of the bookies' favourites to replace Martin Johnson as the top man with the England team.
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
and the former head coach of Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
, England Under 21s and England Saxons
England Saxons
England Saxons is the current name of England's men's second national rugby union team. The team has previously been known by a number of names, such as England B, Emerging England and, most recently, England A...
.
Biography
In his playing days, Mallinder was a fullback at Sale SharksSale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
, where he stayed for 15 years as a player and a coach. He was formerly a P.E and Mathematics teacher at William Hulme's Grammar School in Manchester before the game turned professional.
When he retired from playing in 2001, after nearly 400 games for Sale and two England caps, he was appointed as the Sharks' head coach. In his first season he took the Sharks from 11th to 2nd in the Premiership and their first Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
qualification. In 2002 he led Sale to the Parker Pen Shield, now the European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
, and their first silverware.
In 2004 Mallinder left Sale to take up a post in the RFU's National Academy. There he worked with Brian Ashton and Dorian West
Dorian West
Dorian Edward West MBE nicknamed "Nobby" is a former English international rugby union footballer.Born in Wrexham, his family moved to England when he was young...
, he still works with dorien now in his capacity as forwards coach at the saints, as he masterminded the England Under 21s into winning the Under 21s' version of the Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
in 2006 with a clean sweep of six wins out of six. He was also named by UK Sport in their prestigious Elite Coach scheme.
He was subsequently handed the reins of the England Saxons
England Saxons
England Saxons is the current name of England's men's second national rugby union team. The team has previously been known by a number of names, such as England B, Emerging England and, most recently, England A...
, where he had an impressive record of 15 wins from 16 matches. His last match in charge saw the Saxons defeat the New Zealand Maori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
to win the Churchill Cup
Churchill Cup
The Churchill Cup was an annual rugby union tournament, held in June, contested by representative men's teams from Canada, England, the United States, and other invited teams from a wide array of countries....
.
In June 2007, Mallinder took up the post of head coach at the recently relegated Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
. In his first year there, he led the Saints straight back to the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
with an undefeated "perfect" season. On 25/06/2008, he signed a new 3 year contract to remain at Franklin's Gardens until at least the end of the 2010/11 season.
In preparation for the 2008-09 season, Mallinder raided his former club Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
, signing Ben Foden
Ben Foden
Benjamin Foden is a rugby union footballer who plays for Northampton Saints and England. He plays at fullback or scrum-half, but can also operate on the wing...
, Chris Mayor
Chris Mayor
Chris Mayor born 19 May 1982 in Wigan, England is a former Rugby League player for Wigan Warriors and currently a rugby union player for the London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership....
, Christian Day
Christian Day
Christian Day is a rugby union player for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership. Day previously played all of his professional career at Sale except for a 3 month temporary contract at French giants Stade Français.He previously captained England Under 21s and also has represented England at...
and Ignacio Fernández Lobbe
Ignacio Fernández Lobbe
Carlos Ignacio Fernández Lobbe is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays with English side, Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership...
where they joined other former Sale colleagues, Barry Stewart
Barry Stewart
Barry Stewart Northampton Saints rugby union player, position prop. He also played for the Scotland rugby union team and won five caps.-References:...
and Nick Johnson
Nick Johnson
Nicholas Robert Johnson is an American Major League Baseball first baseman.He previously played for the New York Yankees , Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals , and the Florida Marlins...
.
In addition Mallinder brought players like Roger Wilson and Neil Best to the Saints from Ulster, and the squad he put together achieved a creditable eighth position in their first year back in Premiership Rugby. The Saints also reached the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh Cup - where they were beaten by eventual champions Cardiff Blues - but the team really shone in the European Challenge Cup. An unbeaten pool campaign brought home advantage in the knockout stages, and after beating Connacht and Saracens the Saints defeated Bourgoin at the Twickenham Stoop to lift their first piece of major silverware in a decade and secure a place in the Heineken Cup in the process.
The 2009/10 season was another campaign of progression for the Saints, who won their first major domestic trophy, the Anglo-Welsh Cup, by beating Gloucester at Worcester's Sixways Stadium. In Premiership Rugby the Saints won more league games than anyone else to finish second in the table, but were beaten with just a few minutes of the semi-final remaining. In the Heineken Cup the Saints reached the quarter finals, when they pushed Munster all the way at Thomond Park.
2010/11 saw Mallinder become the first coach to guide a team unbeaten through the Heineken Cup pool stages and all the way to the final. At the Millennium Stadium the Saints put in their best first half performance in many years, but were pegged back by Leinster and eventually lost the game. It was one of the best finals in years and will live long in the memory.
Mallinder's feats in recent years have led him to be one of the bookies' favourites to replace Martin Johnson as the top man with the England team.
External links
- http://www.rugbyrugby.com/COUNTRY_BY_COUNTRY/England/Country_News/story_49803.shtml
- RFU article
- Northampton Saints profile