Will Greenwood
Encyclopedia
William John Heaton "Will" Greenwood, MBE
(born 20 October 1972 in Blackburn, Lancashire
) is an English
former rugby union
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s.
He played in the centres, mainly at inside-centre, although he was able to play at outside-centre.
He played his club rugby for the Harlequins, having also played for Preston Grasshoppers
, Waterloo
and Leicester Tigers
. He graduated with a BA in Economics from Hatfield College
, Durham in 1994.
His father Dick Greenwood
played at flanker
for and later coached the England Rugby Union
team. He left Harlequins and moved to Leicester Tigers
in 1996 because the presence of England centre Will Carling
meant he could not get first team rugby.
He was overlooked by the England coach Jack Rowell
, but was selected for the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa
still uncapped, and ahead of then England captain Phil de Glanville
. During the tour, he swallowed his tongue on the pitch after a collision and stopped breathing for several minutes, and did not play in any of the tests. This was one of the few games where Greenwood, contrary to his superstition, wore a number 12 jersey. He also toured with the Lions in 2001 but injury again prevented him from playing.
Subsequently picked by new England coach and ex-Tigers centre Clive Woodward
he became an important part of that team, notably establishing a centre partnership with Jeremy Guscott
. In 2000 he moved back from Tigers
to 'Quins after succumbing to poor form, not helped by the arrival of Australian Pat Howard
that prevented him from getting first team rugby. His match-winning try to defeat Brive
, in the European Shield quarterfinal (27 January 2001), was voted the club's 2000/01 'Try of the Year'. He had already picked up an RFU Cup winner's medal with Tigers but this time tasted defeat in the final of the same competition with NEC Harlequins, at the hands of Newcastle Falcons
in 2001.
He rebounded and was involved in all but one of England's games in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
, scoring England's only try against South Africa, when he followed up to touch down after a Lewis Moody
charge down. His try against Wales in the quarter-final in Brisbane turned the match for England in a tight game. He finished the tournament as joint top try scorer with five.
He was made vice captain under Lawrence Dallaglio
for the 2004 Six Nations
tournament. He reached the 50 cap landmark against Ireland and played in all of England's Six Nations matches. At the start of the 2004/5 season he stood on 30 tries. He won the last of 55 England caps against Australia in 2004.
In 2005 Greenwood was injured for the Six Nations, but was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
, his third Lions tour. He replaced Brian O'Driscoll just two minutes into the first test against New Zealand and also played in the third test.
In 2006, after 55 England English
rugby union
caps and 31 tries he announced his retirement at the end of the 2005/6 season and he currently works as an analyst for Sky Sports and regularly appears on 'The Rugby Club' and live premiership matches. During the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Greenwood was employed by ITV as an analyst for live matches.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 20 October 1972 in Blackburn, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former 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 of the 1990s and 2000s.
Career
Greenwood was educated at Sedbergh School where he was in the fist team for Rugby and Cricket.He played in the centres, mainly at inside-centre, although he was able to play at outside-centre.
He played his club rugby for the Harlequins, having also played for Preston Grasshoppers
Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.
Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from Preston, Lancashire. It was founded on 28 September 1869 at a meeting held at the Bull Hotel, Preston making one of the oldest 'northern' rugby union teams....
, Waterloo
Waterloo R.F.C.
Waterloo Football Club is an English Rugby Union team based at St Anthonys Road, Blundellsands, Merseyside. It celebrated its 125th season in 2007/08, having been founded in 1882 by brothers Sidney and Harry Hall and George Abercrombie. From 1882 until 1884 the club was known as Serpentine after...
and Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
. He graduated with a BA in Economics from Hatfield College
Hatfield College
Hatfield College is a college of the University of Durham in England. Founded in 1846 by the Rev. David Melville, it is the second oldest of Durham's colleges, and was originally called Bishop Hatfield's Hall...
, Durham in 1994.
His father Dick Greenwood
Dick Greenwood
John Richard Heaton Greenwood is a former rugby union international flanker, captain of Waterloo, Cambridge University, Lancashire and England as well as national coach...
played at flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
for and later coached the England Rugby Union
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
team. He left Harlequins and moved to Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
in 1996 because the presence of England centre Will Carling
Will Carling
William David Charles Carling, OBE is a former Rugby union player for Harlequins, and a former captain of England from 1988 to 1996, winning 72 caps.-Early life:...
meant he could not get first team rugby.
He was overlooked by the England coach Jack Rowell
Jack Rowell
Jack Rowell OBE is a former coach of rugby union sides including Bath and England.-Coaching:Between 1978 and 1994 Rowell coached Bath during their golden era, winning eight John Player/Pilkington Cups and five League Championships....
, but was selected for the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa
1997 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa was a series of matches played by the British and Irish Lions rugby union team in South Africa.This tour followed the Lions' 1993 tour to New Zealand and preceded their 2001 tour to Australia....
still uncapped, and ahead of then England captain Phil de Glanville
Phil de Glanville
Philip Ranulph de Glanville is a former English rugby union player who played at centre for Bath and England.-Rugby career:...
. During the tour, he swallowed his tongue on the pitch after a collision and stopped breathing for several minutes, and did not play in any of the tests. This was one of the few games where Greenwood, contrary to his superstition, wore a number 12 jersey. He also toured with the Lions in 2001 but injury again prevented him from playing.
Subsequently picked by new England coach and ex-Tigers centre Clive Woodward
Clive Woodward
Sir Clive Ronald Woodward OBE is an English former rugby union player and coach. He was coach of the team from 1997 to 2004, managing them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is currently the British Olympic Association's Director of Elite Performance.-Early life:Woodward was born in Ely...
he became an important part of that team, notably establishing a centre partnership with Jeremy Guscott
Jeremy Guscott
Jeremy Clayton Guscott is a former rugby union outside centre who played for Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions. On rare occasions, he has also appeared for England on the wing....
. In 2000 he moved back from Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
to 'Quins after succumbing to poor form, not helped by the arrival of Australian Pat Howard
Pat Howard
Patrick William Howard, usually known as Pat Howard or Paddy Howard is an ex-head coach at Leicester Tigers and a former Australian rugby union international who played centre or fly-half. He was educated at Queensland University.He was born in Sydney...
that prevented him from getting first team rugby. His match-winning try to defeat Brive
CA Brive
Club Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
, in the European Shield quarterfinal (27 January 2001), was voted the club's 2000/01 'Try of the Year'. He had already picked up an RFU Cup winner's medal with Tigers but this time tasted defeat in the final of the same competition with NEC Harlequins, at the hands of Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
in 2001.
He rebounded and was involved in all but one of England's games in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
, scoring England's only try against South Africa, when he followed up to touch down after a Lewis Moody
Lewis Moody
Lewis Walton Moody MBE is an English rugby union rugby player who currently plays for Bath Rugby and was part of the 2003 World Cup winning side. He is renowned for his commitment to the physical aspects of the game....
charge down. His try against Wales in the quarter-final in Brisbane turned the match for England in a tight game. He finished the tournament as joint top try scorer with five.
He was made vice captain under Lawrence Dallaglio
Lawrence Dallaglio
Lorenzo Bruno Nero "Lawrence" Dallaglio, OBE is a retired English rugby union player and former captain of the English national team. He played as a flanker or number eight for London Wasps and never played for another club, having arrived at Sudbury as a teenager...
for the 2004 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....
tournament. He reached the 50 cap landmark against Ireland and played in all of England's Six Nations matches. At the start of the 2004/5 season he stood on 30 tries. He won the last of 55 England caps against Australia in 2004.
In 2005 Greenwood was injured for the Six Nations, but was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
In 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...
, his third Lions tour. He replaced Brian O'Driscoll just two minutes into the first test against New Zealand and also played in the third test.
In 2006, after 55 England English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
caps and 31 tries he announced his retirement at the end of the 2005/6 season and he currently works as an analyst for Sky Sports and regularly appears on 'The Rugby Club' and live premiership matches. During the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Greenwood was employed by ITV as an analyst for live matches.