Craig Gillies
Encyclopedia
Craig Gillies is an English
rugby union
player. He currently plays for Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a lock.
Gillies was born in Paisley
and grew up in Tiverton, Devon
. He joined Bath Rugby
following a trial in April 1994 and made three first team appearances during the 1995–1996 season. He moved on to join Richmond
for the 1997–1998 season with the then Bath coach Andy Robinson
feeling that the club's signing of the Argentian
international German Llanes would prevent Gillies from getting the sufficient game time to allow him to fully develop his potential. Gillies moved on to join Llanelli
before signing for Warriors in the summer of 2002.
Gillies was a key part of the unbeaten National Division One promotion winning team of 2003–04
and became a key part of the team, playing in the Guinness Premiership
.
Gillies, who played for England A
in 1998, has experience in both National Division One and the Premiership
with Warriors and signed a new three year contract with the club during 2008.
He is regarded as one of the best Line-out operators in the top-flight, and has been one of Worcester’s most consistent players since arriving at the club.
Gillies lost all his body hair to alopecia
in 2002.
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...
player. He currently plays for Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a lock.
Gillies was born in Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
and grew up in Tiverton, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He joined Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
following a trial in April 1994 and made three first team appearances during the 1995–1996 season. He moved on to join Richmond
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
for the 1997–1998 season with the then Bath coach Andy Robinson
Andy Robinson
Richard Andrew 'Andy' Robinson OBE is an English rugby union coach and retired player. He is currently the head coach of Scotland.Robinson played as an openside flanker for Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions...
feeling that the club's signing of the Argentian
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
international German Llanes would prevent Gillies from getting the sufficient game time to allow him to fully develop his potential. Gillies moved on to join Llanelli
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
before signing for Warriors in the summer of 2002.
Gillies was a key part of the unbeaten National Division One promotion winning team of 2003–04
National Division One 2003-04
The final league table for National Division One for the 2003-04 Season. The final league table for National Division One for the 2003-04 Season. The final league table for National Division One for the 2003-04 Season....
and became a key part of the team, playing in the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
.
Gillies, who played for England A
England Saxons
England Saxons is the current name of England's men's second national rugby union team. The team has previously been known by a number of names, such as England B, Emerging England and, most recently, England A...
in 1998, has experience in both National Division One and the Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
with Warriors and signed a new three year contract with the club during 2008.
He is regarded as one of the best Line-out operators in the top-flight, and has been one of Worcester’s most consistent players since arriving at the club.
Gillies lost all his body hair to alopecia
Alopecia
Alopecia means loss of hair from the head or body. Alopecia can mean baldness, a term generally reserved for pattern alopecia or androgenic alopecia. Compulsive pulling of hair can also produce hair loss. Hairstyling routines such as tight ponytails or braids may induce Traction alopecia. Both...
in 2002.