Simon Amor
Encyclopedia
Simon Daniel Edward Amor (born 25 April 1979 in Kingston upon Thames
) is an English
rugby union
footballer who plays at scrum-half or fly-half for London Scottish
and is a former captain of the England Sevens
squad. He is regarded as one of the greatest rugby sevens players in the history of the game.
Amor was educated at Hampton School
, St Mary's University College and Cambridge University. At Cambridge he earned a blue playing in the 2000 varsity rugby match against Oxford University at Twickenham Stadium and went on to graduate with a degree in Management Studies.
Amor started his rugby career at London Irish
where he played as a junior before joining the senior squad. During the summer of 2002, Amor signed a professional contract with Gloucester
. He has previously played for Harlequins
, London Irish
, Blackheath
, Coventry
and Rugby Lions
.
In August 2002, Amor represented England in sevens
at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
In December 2004, Amor was the inaugural IRB Sevens Player of the Year
.
In August 2005, Amor was instrumental in Gloucester
's victory at the Middlesex 7s
.
In May 2006, Amor joined Wasps
, as replacement for their retiring scrum-half, Matt Dawson
.
In August 2006, Amor was the key playmaker in London Wasps
's victory at the Middlesex 7s
.
In 2008, Amor signed as a player/coach for London Scottish FC
and Head Coach of the England Women Sevens team for the 2009 World Cup
campaign. He became a Performance Advisor at UK Sport
and was appointed on to the Advisory Board of Ultimate Rugby Sevens.
In May 2010, Amor has taken over the role of Head Coach for London Scottish as they press for the RFU Championship in the 2010/2011 season.
In Nov 2011, Amor has taken over the role of Director of Rugby for London Scottish who now play in the RFU Championship from 2011/2012 season.
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
rugby union
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...
footballer who plays at scrum-half or fly-half for London Scottish
London Scottish F.C.
London Scottish Football Club is a rugby union club in England. It is a member of both the Rugby Football Union and the Scottish Rugby Union.-History:...
and is a former captain of the England Sevens
England national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
squad. He is regarded as one of the greatest rugby sevens players in the history of the game.
Amor was educated at Hampton School
Hampton School
Hampton School is an independent boys' day school in Hampton, London, England.-History:In 1556, Robert Hammond, a wealthy brewer who had acquired property in Hampton, left in his will provision for the maintenance of a 'free scole' and to build a small schoolhouse 'with seates in yt' in the...
, St Mary's University College and Cambridge University. At Cambridge he earned a blue playing in the 2000 varsity rugby match against Oxford University at Twickenham Stadium and went on to graduate with a degree in Management Studies.
Amor started his rugby career at London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
where he played as a junior before joining the senior squad. During the summer of 2002, Amor signed a professional contract with Gloucester
Gloucester RFC
Gloucester Rugby are a professional English rugby union club situated in the west country city of Gloucester. The club plays in the domestic Aviva Premiership...
. He has previously played for Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
, London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
, Blackheath
Blackheath R.C.
Blackheath Football Club is a rugby football club based in Blackheath in south-east London, now playing at the Rectory Field . It was founded in 1858 and is the oldest open rugby club in the world...
, Coventry
Coventry R.F.C.
Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries....
and Rugby Lions
Rugby Lions
Rugby Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is a rugby union club based in Rugby, Warwickshire in England . Rugby currently compete in National League 3 Midlands...
.
In August 2002, Amor represented England in sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
In December 2004, Amor was the inaugural IRB Sevens Player of the Year
IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
The IRB International Sevens Player of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year. It was first awarded in 2004.-List of winners:* 2004: Simon Amor * 2005: Orene Ai’i * 2006: Uale Mai * 2007: Afeleke Pelenise...
.
In August 2005, Amor was instrumental in Gloucester
Gloucester RFC
Gloucester Rugby are a professional English rugby union club situated in the west country city of Gloucester. The club plays in the domestic Aviva Premiership...
's victory at the Middlesex 7s
Middlesex 7s
The Middlesex Sevens is a rugby union sevens tournament held annually at Twickenham stadium in London, England. It was first held in 1926, and started by Dr J.A. Russell-Cargill, a London based Scot...
.
In May 2006, Amor joined Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
, as replacement for their retiring scrum-half, Matt Dawson
Matt Dawson
Matthew James Sutherland "Daws" Dawson, MBE is a retired English rugby union player who played scrum half for Wasps and Northampton Saints. During his international career he toured with the British and Irish Lions three times and was part of England's 2003 Rugby World Cup winning side...
.
In August 2006, Amor was the key playmaker in London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
's victory at the Middlesex 7s
Middlesex 7s
The Middlesex Sevens is a rugby union sevens tournament held annually at Twickenham stadium in London, England. It was first held in 1926, and started by Dr J.A. Russell-Cargill, a London based Scot...
.
In 2008, Amor signed as a player/coach for London Scottish FC
London Scottish F.C.
London Scottish Football Club is a rugby union club in England. It is a member of both the Rugby Football Union and the Scottish Rugby Union.-History:...
and Head Coach of the England Women Sevens team for the 2009 World Cup
Rugby World Cup Sevens
The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the premier international Rugby sevens competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the men's national sevens teams every four years. The inaugural tournament was held in 1993 in Scotland, the...
campaign. He became a Performance Advisor at UK Sport
UK Sport
UK Sport is the UK Government's organisation for directing the development of sport within the home countries.-History:The Sports Council previously had been formed in 1972, and had the motto Sport for All. There was also the Central Council of Physical Recreation. In July 1994 it was decided to...
and was appointed on to the Advisory Board of Ultimate Rugby Sevens.
In May 2010, Amor has taken over the role of Head Coach for London Scottish as they press for the RFU Championship in the 2010/2011 season.
In Nov 2011, Amor has taken over the role of Director of Rugby for London Scottish who now play in the RFU Championship from 2011/2012 season.