Clive Griffiths (rugby)
Encyclopedia
Clive Ronald Griffiths is a former Wales
international rugby league
and rugby union player. Born in Loughor
, Swansea
, he was affectionately known as "Clive the Ship" after the family pub in nearby Penclawdd
. Griffiths played club rugby union
for Llanelli
as full back and during this period took up his first senior coaching appointment in 1977 at the age of 25 for Newcastle Emlyn RFC
and on the international scene he was capped once against England
in his last match for his country on 17 March 1979. He had been selected on the bench three times previously during the 1979 Five Nations but was an unused replacement.
in the first round of the Lancashire Cup
on 19 August. In exactly 100 appearances he scored 598 points from 276 goals, 8 drop goals and 11 tries. After playing his last match for the club against Hull KR
On 9 October 1984 he joined Salford
. He also coached at Warrington
before returning to Rugby Union.
led to some creditable performances under his guidance including a World Cup
semi-final match against the eventual winners Australia
with a first half performance that gave Wales a half time lead. He spent 10 years with the Welsh rugby league team
, twice guiding them to the semi-final stage of the World Cup and winning the European Championship for the first time in 57 years. He also enjoyed a spell as Great Britain rugby league coach
in 1996.
as defence coach in 2000. He later joined Mike Ruddock
at the Newport Gwent Dragons
again as defence coach. Griffiths was appointed to the Wales Squad Coaching team on the 1 July 2001 and remained a part of the set up through the 2003 Rugby World Cup
and five Six Nations
campaigns, including the 2005 RBS Six Nations Grand Slam
where he was credited for his part in tightening Wales' defensive line, particularly in their tackling performance against England.
In May 2006 he joined English National League One side Doncaster
as director of rugby on a three-year deal leading them to third place in National Division One.
Clive Griffiths joined Worcester Warriors as Head Coach and assistant to Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock in June 2007 on an initial two-year deal. He currently coaches RGC 1404 North Wales rugby club who are being fast tracked into the Welsh Premiership.
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
international rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and rugby union player. Born in Loughor
Loughor
Loughor is a town in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Loughor. The town has a community council called Llwchwr....
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, he was affectionately known as "Clive the Ship" after the family pub in nearby Penclawdd
Penclawdd
Penclawdd is a village which is situated in the north of the Gower Peninsula in Swansea, Wales. Penclawdd is most famous for its local cockle industry which goes back for many years to Roman times. It falls within the Penclawdd electoral ward. It is one of the larger villages on the Gower Peninsula...
. Griffiths played club 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...
for Llanelli
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
as full back and during this period took up his first senior coaching appointment in 1977 at the age of 25 for Newcastle Emlyn RFC
Newcastle Emlyn RFC
Newcastle Emlyn RFC is a Welsh rugby union club based on the outskirts of the town in the community of Adpar, Ceredigion on the north bank of the River Teifi...
International Rugby Union Career
He represented the BarbariansBarbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
and on the international scene he was capped once against England
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...
in his last match for his country on 17 March 1979. He had been selected on the bench three times previously during the 1979 Five Nations but was an unused replacement.
Rugby League Club Career
On 16 August 1979 he switched codes signing for St Helens Rugby League Club for a record £27,000 and making his debut against WidnesWidnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
in the first round of the Lancashire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
on 19 August. In exactly 100 appearances he scored 598 points from 276 goals, 8 drop goals and 11 tries. After playing his last match for the club against Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
On 9 October 1984 he joined Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
. He also coached at 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....
before returning to Rugby Union.
Rugby League Coaching Career
In September 1986, he returned to the club to take up the position of fitness conditioner and a move into coaching the Wales national rugby league teamWales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
led to some creditable performances under his guidance including a World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
semi-final match against the eventual winners Australia
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
with a first half performance that gave Wales a half time lead. He spent 10 years with the Welsh rugby league team
Wales Rugby League
Wales Rugby League is the national governing body for rugby league football in Wales.In 1907 The Welsh Northern Rugby Football Union was formed in Wrexham, but the English Northern Rugby Football Union refused it affiliation as they wanted the body located in the south of Wales and the Welsh body...
, twice guiding them to the semi-final stage of the World Cup and winning the European Championship for the first time in 57 years. He also enjoyed a spell as Great Britain rugby league coach
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
in 1996.
Rugby Union Coaching Career
His first professional coaching role in union was with London Welsh for three seasons before joining SwanseaSwansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
as defence coach in 2000. He later joined Mike Ruddock
Mike Ruddock
Mike Ruddock, OBE is a Welsh rugby union coach, currently coach of the Ireland Under-20 Rugby Union Team and Lansdowne FC . Ruddock was the coach of the Worcester Warriors until his resignation on 28 April 2010 following their relegation from the Guinness Premiership...
at the Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
again as defence coach. Griffiths was appointed to the Wales Squad Coaching team on the 1 July 2001 and remained a part of the set up through the 2003 Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
and five 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....
campaigns, including the 2005 RBS Six Nations Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
where he was credited for his part in tightening Wales' defensive line, particularly in their tackling performance against England.
In May 2006 he joined English National League One side Doncaster
Doncaster R.F.C.
Doncaster Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing the town of Doncaster. The first XV are known as the Doncaster Knights, and play in the RFU Championship...
as director of rugby on a three-year deal leading them to third place in National Division One.
Clive Griffiths joined Worcester Warriors as Head Coach and assistant to Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock in June 2007 on an initial two-year deal. He currently coaches RGC 1404 North Wales rugby club who are being fast tracked into the Welsh Premiership.