Graham Rowntree
Encyclopedia
Graham Christopher Rowntree (born 18 April 1971) is a former English
rugby union
player. He played loosehead prop for Leicester Tigers
and England
. He was capped 54 times for England, despite having to compete for his position with the world's second most capped player, Jason Leonard
.
Rowntree was born in Stockton-on-Tees
. He was educated at John Cleveland College
, which has produced other rugby union players, and was known as "Wiggy" because of his haircut.
In 1988 he joined Leicester Tigers
from Nuneaton
and made his first-team debut against Oxford University in 1990. For much of that time he was in harness with the famous ‘ABC club’ alongside Richard Cockerill
and Darren Garforth
.
In 1993 he made his England A, Barbarians
and Midlands debuts, and on 18 March 1995 he gained his first full England cap against Scotland in the Five Nations tournament as a temporary replacement for Jason Leonard. He subsequently played in the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup. He also made the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa, playing six games and the 99 World Cup.
After the 1999 World Cup Graham was not capped for almost 2 years until a series of fine performances for his club forced him back into international contention. He was selected for the England squad to tour Canada and the USA in 2001, participated in all that season's Autumn internationals — being named as man of the match in England's 21–15 Cook Cup victory over Australia — and was capped in each of the 2002 Six Nations games.
He was prominent throughout the pre-World Cup years, starting in all of England's Six Nations games in 2002 and in England's 15–13 win over New Zealand in Wellington in 2003. He put in a particularly memorable performance against the All Blacks
when England's pack was reduced to just 6 men. Despite playing in the 2003 pre-World Cup trial match in France, Rowntree was omitted from Clive Woodward
's squad, which won the tournament. Clive Woodward
admitted that leaving Rowntree behind was one of the hardest decisions he had to make in his time as England head coach.
Rowntree returned to the England side in the 2004 Six Nations and was the first-choice loosehead prop for the 2004 Autumn internationals.
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 played loosehead prop for 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...
and 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...
. He was capped 54 times for England, despite having to compete for his position with the world's second most capped player, Jason Leonard
Jason Leonard
Jason Leonard OBE , also known as "The Fun Bus", is an English former rugby union prop forward who held the world record for winning the most international caps until 2005, when it was surpassed by Australia's scrum-half George Gregan...
.
Rowntree was born in Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
. He was educated at John Cleveland College
John Cleveland College
John Cleveland College is a state Comprehensive school in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England.-Admissions:The school also comprises a sixth form with approximately 470 students, and a nursery with around 50 infants...
, which has produced other rugby union players, and was known as "Wiggy" because of his haircut.
In 1988 he joined 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...
from Nuneaton
Nuneaton R.F.C.
Nuneaton RFC is an English rugby union club. They were founded in 1879 and play at Liberty Way in Nuneaton. They currently play in National League 2 North.-History:...
and made his first-team debut against Oxford University in 1990. For much of that time he was in harness with the famous ‘ABC club’ alongside Richard Cockerill
Richard Cockerill
Richard Cockerill is a former English rugby union footballer who played as a hooker.Cockerill was born in Rugby. Joining Leicester Tigers, he established himself as the B of the "ABC club" alongside Graham Rowntree and Darren Garforth .He made his England debut against Argentina in 1997 and...
and Darren Garforth
Darren Garforth
Darren Garforth is a former international rugby union footballer who played tighthead prop for Leicester Tigers and England....
.
In 1993 he made his England A, Barbarians
Barbarian 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 Midlands debuts, and on 18 March 1995 he gained his first full England cap against Scotland in the Five Nations tournament as a temporary replacement for Jason Leonard. He subsequently played in the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup. He also made the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa, playing six games and the 99 World Cup.
After the 1999 World Cup Graham was not capped for almost 2 years until a series of fine performances for his club forced him back into international contention. He was selected for the England squad to tour Canada and the USA in 2001, participated in all that season's Autumn internationals — being named as man of the match in England's 21–15 Cook Cup victory over Australia — and was capped in each of the 2002 Six Nations games.
He was prominent throughout the pre-World Cup years, starting in all of England's Six Nations games in 2002 and in England's 15–13 win over New Zealand in Wellington in 2003. He put in a particularly memorable performance against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
when England's pack was reduced to just 6 men. Despite playing in the 2003 pre-World Cup trial match in France, Rowntree was omitted from 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...
's squad, which won the tournament. 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...
admitted that leaving Rowntree behind was one of the hardest decisions he had to make in his time as England head coach.
Rowntree returned to the England side in the 2004 Six Nations and was the first-choice loosehead prop for the 2004 Autumn internationals.