Roger Uttley
Encyclopedia
Roger Miles Uttley OBE MA is a former English rugby union
player.
back row on the undefeated 1974 tour to South Africa.
Roger was born in Blackpool
, and played first for Fylde then Gosforth
before finishing his career at Wasps
.
He coached the successful London and South East Divisional side in the mid to late 80's before working with Geoff Cooke
to coach and guide the England XV captained by Will Carling
to the final of the 1991 World Cup
He was also assistant coach to the 1989 Lions side that won the test series against Australia.
In 1997 he was asked to manage the England XV, a job he enjoyed doing despite it coinciding with the infamous tour to hell. Due to cutbacks within the RFU the post of manager became financially unviable and he lost his position along with 30 other RFU employees.
His day job has always been in teaching physical education and for the last 20 years he has been Director of that subject at Harrow
School, where in 2008 he retired to look after his wife and was succeeded by Jesse Coulson.
He is a former President of Sparks and a current council member of the same charity. He is an honorary member of Wooden Spoon
the charity for disadvantaged children and young people.
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.
Career
He played 23 games for England both in the second row and the back row, 5 times as captain, 4 tests in the Lions1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1974 the British Lions toured South Africa, with matches in South West Africa and Rhodesia . The tour was a great success, the Lions winning 21 of their 22 matches and drawing the other. After winning the first three test matches, the Lions drew the final test to preserve their unbeaten record...
back row on the undefeated 1974 tour to South Africa.
Roger was born in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, and played first for Fylde then Gosforth
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
before finishing his career at Wasps
Wasps FC
Wasps FC is the amateur side of the Wasps rugby union club formed in 1867. The men's first team was split from Wasps FC at the turn of professionalism, for the 1996-97 season, to become Wasps RFC, owned by Chris Wright, and later became London Wasps in the summer of 1999...
.
He coached the successful London and South East Divisional side in the mid to late 80's before working with Geoff Cooke
Geoff Cooke
Geoff Cooke OBE is a former England Rugby coach.-Early career:During his playing career he played mainly as a Centre/Fly Half 1962-72 and captained his Club and his County. Cooke also attended York St John University. He was coach to Bradford RFC 1973 to 1975, coach to Yorkshire Rugby Football...
to coach and guide the England XV captained by Will Carling
Will Carling
William David Charles Carling, OBE is a former Rugby union player for Harlequins, and a former captain of England from 1988 to 1996, winning 72 caps.-Early life:...
to the final of the 1991 World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
He was also assistant coach to the 1989 Lions side that won the test series against Australia.
In 1997 he was asked to manage the England XV, a job he enjoyed doing despite it coinciding with the infamous tour to hell. Due to cutbacks within the RFU the post of manager became financially unviable and he lost his position along with 30 other RFU employees.
His day job has always been in teaching physical education and for the last 20 years he has been Director of that subject at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
School, where in 2008 he retired to look after his wife and was succeeded by Jesse Coulson.
He is a former President of Sparks and a current council member of the same charity. He is an honorary member of Wooden Spoon
Wooden Spoon Society
Wooden Spoon is a children's charity founded in 1983, when the England rugby team received the Wooden Spoon in the 5 Nations. Spoon is dedicated to helping children and young people who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially by using sport as a method of improving lives while...
the charity for disadvantaged children and young people.