Clive Woodward, Sir OBE

Sir Clive Woodward obtained a degree in Sports Science from Loughborough University where he captained the Loughborough University rugby XV. He joined Harlequins and then Leicester, where he formed a formidable centre partnership with Paul Dodge and represented England on twenty-one occasions, touring twice with The British Lions.

Retiring after an outstanding international rugby career, Rank Xerox posted him to Sydney where he became captain of the Manly club. Returning to England five years later with his wife and family, he began his remarkable career as a rugby coach with the nearby Henley club.

After coaching London Irish, Bath and the England Under 21s, he was appointed by the Rugby Football Union as England’s Rugby’s Head Coach in 1997. He immediately transformed the traditional practices of previous set-ups, introducing business principles, setting long term goals, paying attention to detail and planning the personal development of individuals in the basic skills, tactics and strategy of modern rugby.

The resulting transformation of the national side led to England beginning to regularly beat southern hemisphere teams and becoming ranked No.1 in the world, ultimately winning the greatest prize in rugby, the World Cup, in November 2003. On his return from the World Cup victory, Clive Woodward was rewarded with a knighthood.

Following his resignation from the England post in September 2004, Sir Clive committed himself fully to the next greatest challenge in world rugby – leading the British and Irish Lions when they went to New Zealand in 2005.

Later that year, Sir Clive entered the world of football, joining Southampton FC as Technical Director. Less than six months into his new role, he was promoted to the position of Director of Football, a position he held until September 2006, when he accepted the newly created and tremendously exciting full time position with the British Olympic Association as their Director of Sport. The new role saw Clive working in partnership with UK Sport and the 35 Olympic disciplines and their respective athletes, coaches and performance directors to maximize the success of Team GB at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Winter Olympics, and culminating in Team GB’s success at the London 2012 Olympics.