James Grindal
Encyclopedia
James Grindal is a rugby union
footballer who plays scrum-half for Leicester Tigers
. He has been capped by England
at Under-21 level.
He attended King Henry VIII School in Coventry
where he partnered Andy Goode
, who he also partnered with at Leicester some years later.
Grindal joined Coventry R.F.C.
but before long he was off to Leicester Tigers
where he made his first-team debut in October 1999, aged 19. He could not quite break into the first-team at Leicester, only making 11 full appearances and 10 substitute appearances in the 3 years he was at the club.
This prompted Grindal to made a move to another Guinness Premiership
(then called the Zurich Premiership) in the summer of 2002. Since then, he has made 106 first-team appearances (43 of which as a substitute). At Newcastle, Grindal has been partnered with World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson
, an England
rival of his former half-back partner, Andy Goode
.
He was called into the England Saxons
side that defeated Ireland A
on 1 February 2008.
On 25 June 2009 it was confirmed that he would return to his former club from the Newcastle Falcons to replace the departing Julien Dupuy.
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...
footballer who plays scrum-half 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...
. He has been capped by 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...
at Under-21 level.
He attended King Henry VIII School in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
where he partnered Andy Goode
Andy Goode
Andrew James Goode is a rugby union footballer who plays fly-half for Worcester and England.-Career:...
, who he also partnered with at Leicester some years later.
Grindal joined Coventry R.F.C.
Coventry R.F.C.
Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries....
but before long he was off to 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...
where he made his first-team debut in October 1999, aged 19. He could not quite break into the first-team at Leicester, only making 11 full appearances and 10 substitute appearances in the 3 years he was at the club.
This prompted Grindal to made a move to another 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...
(then called the Zurich Premiership) in the summer of 2002. Since then, he has made 106 first-team appearances (43 of which as a substitute). At Newcastle, Grindal has been partnered with World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson
Jonny Wilkinson
Jonathan Peter "Jonny" Wilkinson OBE is an English rugby union player and member of the England national team. Wilkinson rose to acclaim from 2001 to 2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup and was acknowledged as one of the world’s best rugby players...
, an 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...
rival of his former half-back partner, Andy Goode
Andy Goode
Andrew James Goode is a rugby union footballer who plays fly-half for Worcester and England.-Career:...
.
He was called into the England Saxons
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...
side that defeated Ireland A
Ireland A national rugby union team
The Ireland Wolfhounds are the second national rugby union team behind the Irish national side. They have previously competed in the Churchill Cup together with the England Saxons and the full national teams of Canada and the United States as well as selection of other nations' 1st, 2nd and 3rd...
on 1 February 2008.
On 25 June 2009 it was confirmed that he would return to his former club from the Newcastle Falcons to replace the departing Julien Dupuy.