Damian Hopley
Encyclopedia
Damian Hopley born 12 April 1970 in London
, is a former rugby union
player for London Wasps
and England
.
Hopley's position of choice was on the wing or in the centres.
He was a member of the successful England sevens team that won the Melrose Cup
in the inaugural IRB
1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens
at Murrayfield.
Hopley won 3 caps for England and retired in 1998 after injuries forced him to retire at the age of 27. He is the founder and chief executive of the Professional Rugby Players' Association, launched in August 1998, as the representative body and collective voice of professional rugby union players in England. The PRA was set up to look after the interests of all professional players, from Academy players to the Superstars of the International game. The PRA is a not-for-profit registered trade union.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, is a former 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 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...
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...
.
Hopley's position of choice was on the wing or in the centres.
He was a member of the successful England sevens team that won the Melrose Cup
Melrose Cup
The Melrose Cup is the main prize of the Rugby World Cup Sevens. The trophy is named after the town of Melrose, Scotland, the birthplace of rugby sevens. The trophy has been presented to the winner of the world cup since the inaugural tournament in 1993. The only teams to have held the trophy are...
in the inaugural IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens
1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens
The inaugural 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens was held at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Scotland, in April 1993. The International Rugby Board invited the established rugby union nations but also were keen to involve emerging nations in the event, recognising the fact that Sevens was providing the bridge...
at Murrayfield.
Hopley won 3 caps for England and retired in 1998 after injuries forced him to retire at the age of 27. He is the founder and chief executive of the Professional Rugby Players' Association, launched in August 1998, as the representative body and collective voice of professional rugby union players in England. The PRA was set up to look after the interests of all professional players, from Academy players to the Superstars of the International game. The PRA is a not-for-profit registered trade union.