Rowland Phillips
Encyclopedia
Rowland David Phillips is a former rugby union
back row forward for Wales
where he won 10 caps between 1987-90. He also played rugby union for Neath RFC
before moving to rugby league, playing for Warrington
, and Workington Town
.He also played for Wales and Great Britain rugby league teams. In 2003 he took over as coach of Neath RFC
from Lyn Jones.
Due to his success at the club he is regarded as a local hero, leading Neath RFC
to four Premiership titles in successive years and three cup final wins.
In the Summer of 2009 he joined Ebbw Vale RFC
as Head Coach. After an unsuccessful season which saw Ebbw Vale relegated, he joined new Italian rugby team Aironi
, originally as a defence coach, a position he previously filled with the Ospreys and Wales
. He became Head Coach on 7 November 2010 after Franco Bernini was sacked after not winning any of their games up to that point.
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...
back row forward for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
where he won 10 caps between 1987-90. He also played rugby union for Neath RFC
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
before moving to rugby league, playing for Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
, and Workington Town
Workington Town
Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
.He also played for Wales and Great Britain rugby league teams. In 2003 he took over as coach of Neath RFC
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
from Lyn Jones.
Due to his success at the club he is regarded as a local hero, leading Neath RFC
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
to four Premiership titles in successive years and three cup final wins.
In the Summer of 2009 he joined Ebbw Vale RFC
Ebbw Vale RFC
Ebbw Vale Rugby Football Club is a Welsh Rugby Union Club based in the town of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, South Wales. The club currently play in the WRU Division One East and the SWALEC Cup. It also acts as a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons....
as Head Coach. After an unsuccessful season which saw Ebbw Vale relegated, he joined new Italian rugby team Aironi
Aironi
Aironi Rugby are an Italian professional rugby club competing in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup. They represent the Italian regions of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna.- Home ground :...
, originally as a defence coach, a position he previously filled with the Ospreys and Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. He became Head Coach on 7 November 2010 after Franco Bernini was sacked after not winning any of their games up to that point.