Willie Anderson (rugby coach)
Encyclopedia
Willie Anderson is a rugby union
coach and former Ireland
international. A lock, Anderson was capped 27 times for the national side between 1984 and 1990, some of which as captain. In one notable appearance as captain against the All Blacks, Anderson led his side into a confrontation with their opponents whilst they were performing the haka
.
After retiring he became assistant coach of Leinster
and later the Scottish national team
, both under head coach Matt Williams
. After a spell as a full-time physical education
teacher and rugby coach at Grosvenor Grammar School
and later at Sullivan Upper School
, Anderson was appointed head coach of Rainey Old Boys
in July 2007.
While on a 1978 tour in Buenos Aires
, Anderson was imprisoned for three months by the Argentinian
authorities after attempting to smuggle a flag
from a government building. He was later cleared of "demeaning a patriotic symbol".
In one of the most memorable moments in sporting history, Anderson along with his French Rugby counterpart Jean Condom
(born 15/08/1960), unwittingly became the subject of a very amusing banner spotted by TV cameras in the crowd during a 5 Nations rugby match at Landsdowne Road in Irelands championship campaign of 1985. The banner proudly read 'Our Willies bigger than your Condom!' Incidentally the match ended 15-15.
Anderson coaches Coolmine R.F.C.'s senior first XV. They play in Division 1 of the Leinster League. On the 22nd March 2011, Willie Anderson led Sullivan Upper School to their second Medallion Shield Victory defeating Limavady Grammar School 17-0.
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...
coach and former Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
international. A lock, Anderson was capped 27 times for the national side between 1984 and 1990, some of which as captain. In one notable appearance as captain against the All Blacks, Anderson led his side into a confrontation with their opponents whilst they were performing the haka
Haka of the All Blacks
The Haka is a traditional Maori war dance from New Zealand. There are thousands of Haka that are performed by various tribes and cultural groups throughout New Zealand. The best known Haka of them all is called "Ka Mate". It has been performed by countless New Zealand teams both locally and...
.
After retiring he became assistant coach of Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
and later the Scottish national team
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
, both under head coach Matt Williams
Matt Williams (rugby coach)
Matt Williams is an Australian rugby union coach from New South Wales.Williams, a teacher by profession, started in coaching at club level with Western Suburbs in Sydney, Australia in 1991...
. After a spell as a full-time physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
teacher and rugby coach at Grosvenor Grammar School
Grosvenor Grammar School
Grosvenor Grammar School is a co-educational controlled Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This inter-denominational school, with an increasingly multi-cultural population and outlook, has a staff of 73 full-time teachers....
and later at Sullivan Upper School
Sullivan Upper School
Sullivan Upper AddressBelfast RoadHolywoodBT18 9EP Phone 9042 8780 from abroadFax 9042 7644HeadteacherMr C J W Peel, M.A., B.Sc., Dip.A.S.Ed.Vice Principals*Mr. I. Ballantine, B.Sc., M.Ed., P.G.C.E....
, Anderson was appointed head coach of Rainey Old Boys
Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club
Rainey Old Boys Rugby Football Club is situated in the market town of Magherafelt, County Londonderry. It is one of the eleven current senior rugby union clubs in Northern Ireland...
in July 2007.
While on a 1978 tour in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Anderson was imprisoned for three months by the Argentinian
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
authorities after attempting to smuggle a flag
Flag of Argentina
The national flag of Argentina is a triband, composed of three equally wide horizontal bands coloured light blue, white and light blue. There are multiple interpretations on the reasons for those colors...
from a government building. He was later cleared of "demeaning a patriotic symbol".
In one of the most memorable moments in sporting history, Anderson along with his French Rugby counterpart Jean Condom
Jean Condom
Jean Condom is a retired French international rugby union player.He played as a lock for Biarritz Olympique....
(born 15/08/1960), unwittingly became the subject of a very amusing banner spotted by TV cameras in the crowd during a 5 Nations rugby match at Landsdowne Road in Irelands championship campaign of 1985. The banner proudly read 'Our Willies bigger than your Condom!' Incidentally the match ended 15-15.
Anderson coaches Coolmine R.F.C.'s senior first XV. They play in Division 1 of the Leinster League. On the 22nd March 2011, Willie Anderson led Sullivan Upper School to their second Medallion Shield Victory defeating Limavady Grammar School 17-0.