Steve Bates
Encyclopedia
Steve Bates is a former English
rugby union
player and current rugby coach. He played at scrum-half for London Wasps
, where he formed a successful partnership with fly-half Rob Andrew
. He was capped once for England, against in Bucharest
in 1989, and toured South Africa
with England in 1994.
In 1995, when Andrew left Wasps to become Director of Rugby at Newcastle Falcons
, Bates followed him, becoming the Falcons' head coach. Under Bates, Newcastle were promoted to the Premiership
at the end of the 1996–97 season and went on to top the league at the first attempt, in 1997–98; they reached the final of the Tetley's Bitter Cup in 1999 and won the trophy (by then known as the Powergen Cup in 2001. Bates left Newcastle in March 2003 and, a year later, was appointed as head coach of Border Reivers
, taking over from New Zealander Tony Gilbert, who was returning home. Bates successfully guided Borders back into the Heineken Cup in 2006–07 and, during his time with the club, also coached Scotland A to the final of the 2006 Churchill Cup
, which they lost to the New Zealand Māori
, after wins against England Saxons
and .
When the Scottish Rugby Football Union announced that Border Reivers was to be disbanded at the end of the 2006–07 season, Bates was headhunted by Newcastle Falcons to become their Coaching and Technical Director and rejoined the club in June 2007.
In January 2008, the Rugby Football Union
announced the appointment of Bates as head coach of England Saxons
on a part-time basis.
Steve Bates is happily married with two children Lottie 20 and Emma 18.
During his days as a player, in the amateur era, Bates was a schoolteacher at Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire, where one of his pupils was the young Jonny Wilkinson
and he was instrumental in attracting the fly-half to Newcastle in the summer of 1997.
As of September 2011 Bates is now the director of sport at Fettes College in Edinburgh where he coaches the 1st XV
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 and current rugby coach. He played at scrum-half for London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
, where he formed a successful partnership with fly-half Rob Andrew
Rob Andrew
Christopher Robert "Rob" Andrew MBE , nicknamed "Squeaky", is a former English rugby union footballer and currently Director of Operations at the RFU. He was formerly the Director of Rugby of Newcastle Falcons. As a player, Andrew was assured in his kicking and defensive skills off both feet...
. He was capped once for England, against in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
in 1989, and toured South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with England in 1994.
In 1995, when Andrew left Wasps to become Director of Rugby at Newcastle Falcons
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...
, Bates followed him, becoming the Falcons' head coach. Under Bates, Newcastle were promoted to 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...
at the end of the 1996–97 season and went on to top the league at the first attempt, in 1997–98; they reached the final of the Tetley's Bitter Cup in 1999 and won the trophy (by then known as the Powergen Cup in 2001. Bates left Newcastle in March 2003 and, a year later, was appointed as head coach of Border Reivers
Border Reivers (Rugby)
Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' and also known as 'The Borders' were one of four professional rugby union teams in Scotland, alongside Edinburgh, Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors....
, taking over from New Zealander Tony Gilbert, who was returning home. Bates successfully guided Borders back into the Heineken Cup in 2006–07 and, during his time with the club, also coached Scotland A to the final of the 2006 Churchill Cup
2006 Churchill Cup
The 2006 Churchill Cup is a Rugby Union competition, typically between the second teams of various top tier international Rugby nations and the first teams of traditionally less prominent teams, such as Canada and the USA. It first began on June 3, 2006 and ended on June 17. The 2006 competition...
, which they lost to the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
, after wins against 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...
and .
When the Scottish Rugby Football Union announced that Border Reivers was to be disbanded at the end of the 2006–07 season, Bates was headhunted by Newcastle Falcons to become their Coaching and Technical Director and rejoined the club in June 2007.
In January 2008, the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
announced the appointment of Bates as head coach of 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...
on a part-time basis.
Steve Bates is happily married with two children Lottie 20 and Emma 18.
During his days as a player, in the amateur era, Bates was a schoolteacher at Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire, where one of his pupils was the young 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...
and he was instrumental in attracting the fly-half to Newcastle in the summer of 1997.
As of September 2011 Bates is now the director of sport at Fettes College in Edinburgh where he coaches the 1st XV