Danny Grewcock
Encyclopedia
Daniel Jonathan Grewcock MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 (born 7 November 1972) is a retired English
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...

 rugby lock who played for Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions. He also spent time at Coventry RFC and Saracens.

Early life

He was born 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...

 and attended Templars Primary School in Tile Hill then the secondary in Eastern Green Woodlands School, Coventry
Woodlands School, Coventry
The Woodlands School and Sports College is a boys school situated in west Coventry in the West Midlands, England. The school was purpose-built in 1954 as one of the first comprehensive schools in the country, by the collaboration of two local educational establishments, Templars School and Coventry...

, during his secondary education (September 1984 to July 1989). His career started with Barkers Butts and Coventry
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....

 and playing for the Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...

 U21 side at age 19.

He is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...


Rugby career

In 1996–97 he moved into the professional ranks with Coventry
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....

.

He played for 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...

 for the first time in 1997 on the tour to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

, scoring his first international try in the test in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

. He was sent off during England's 1998 trip to New Zealand. He joined Saracens later that summer but switched to Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

 for the 2001–02 season.

He played in all three Test matches for the Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...

 against the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...

 and in 6 of the 10 tour matches. The tour brought out the best in Grewcock and he matched the performances of fellow lock Martin Johnson with his own strongest performances.

He was only able to make one appearance on the pitch during the 2003 World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...

 after breaking a hand in the Uruguay
Uruguay national rugby union team
The Uruguay national rugby union team is the representative side of Uruguay, governed by the Unión de Rugby del Uruguay. They have been playing international rugby since 1948. Their jersey is blue and black and they are known as Los Teros. They qualified twice for the Rugby World Cup, in 1999 and...

 match and missing earlier games in the competition due to a toe injury incurred during a bout of 'happy stamping'. His injuries left head coach 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...

 with no choice but to fly out Simon Shaw
Simon Shaw
Simon Dalton Shaw MBE is an English rugby union player who plays at lock for Toulon and England.-Biography:...

 as a replacement, although Simon Shaw played no active part in England's World Cup campaign. He finally received his World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....

 medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...

 in December 2004.

Grewcock returned to domestic rugby union with Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

 and produced some outstanding rugby, which led to his international recall as the successor for Martin Johnson in the Six Nations. He was arguably England's player of the tournament, while his club form remained superb. He started in all three Autumn 2004 tests.

He was selected for the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand
2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
In 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...

. He was suspended for two months after being found guilty of biting 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....

 hooker Keven Mealamu
Keven Mealamu
Keven Mealamu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays at hooker for the Blues in the Super 14, Auckland in the National Provincial Championship, and the New Zealand national team, All Blacks....

 during the first Test on 25 June.

Grewcock continued to play for England in the Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....

, where he received a yellow card against Ireland. Grewcock's excellent performances for his clubside Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

 made him a favourite for the 2007 World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...

, however he received a suspension that ruled him out of the World Cup.

Grewcock has signed a new 1 year extension to his Bath contract, which will keep him there until the end of the 2010/11 season. His quality performances show no signs of relenting, which many feel deserve him an England recall.

Incidents on international duty

He earned a five-week ban for a kicking offence after being sent off in 1998 at Carisbrook and six years later he copped a six-week suspension after being found guilty of reckless use of his boot on Daniel Carter. When he returned in 2005 with the Lions, Grewcock was banned for two months for biting Keven Mealamu's finger, which had somehow found its way into Grewcock's mouth. The suggestion that Mealamu had been in the process of hooking Grewcock's mouth was not proven, but the length of suspension given to Grewcock was way below that usually given to a player found guilty of biting.

Incidents with Bath Rugby

On 8 September 2002 he was sent-off following a clash with his one-time flatmate Kyran Bracken
Kyran Bracken
Kyran Paul Patrick Bracken MBE is a former English rugby union footballer who played at scrum-half for Saracens, Bristol and Waterloo R.F.C....

 in Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

's 28-3 Zurich Premiership
2002–03 Zurich Premiership
The 2002-03 Zurich Premiership was the 16th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.The Zurich Championship which had been competed for in seasons 2000–01 and 2001–02 was dropped from this season.-Table:...

 defeat to Saracens. Despite Bracken claiming that the incident was an accident, Grewcock was initially banned for five-weeks after being found guilty of reckless use of his boot. Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

 elected to appeal the ban with Bracken agreeing to appear on Grewcock's behalf in the appeal hearing. With Bracken's support and new photographic evidence of the incident, the appeal was successful and Grewcock's ban quashed. In March 2003, he was cited by the RFU of two counts of striking another player during Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

's 27-10 Zurich Premiership
2002–03 Zurich Premiership
The 2002-03 Zurich Premiership was the 16th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.The Zurich Championship which had been competed for in seasons 2000–01 and 2001–02 was dropped from this season.-Table:...

 home defeat to Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....

 on 15 March 2003. Grewcock was found not guilty of both striking charges but the unsporting behaviour complaint, where he was accused of ripping up the scrum-cap of Northampton lock Mark Connors
Mark Connors
Mark Connors is an Australian rugby union footballer. He is currently the Queensland Reds most capped player ever, playing 134 games for the side...

, was upheld and a fine of £500 issued. An eventful season culminated with the receipt of a red card, for punching Lawrence Dallaglio
Lawrence Dallaglio
Lorenzo Bruno Nero "Lawrence" Dallaglio, OBE is a retired English rugby union player and former captain of the English national team. He played as a flanker or number eight for London Wasps and never played for another club, having arrived at Sudbury as a teenager...

, in Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

's 30-48 European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...

 final defeat to 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...

 on 25 May 2003. A post match disciplinary hearing saw Grewcock suspended for 14-days, with the suspension commencing on 1 June 2003 and consequently ruling him out of the New Zealand leg of 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...

's summer tour
2003 England rugby union tour of Australasia
-Matches:...

 of Australasia. Consequently, having originally been named in the original 37 man touring party, he was replaced in the touring party by Tom Palmer
Tom Palmer (rugby player)
Tom Palmer is an English rugby union footballer. He is a lock for Stade Français in the Top 14.-Early career:...

.

Following a citing, Grewcock pleaded guilty to stamping on Nathan Bonner-Evans
Nathan Bonner-Evans
Nathan Bonner-Evans is a Wales A international rugby union player. A number 8 forward, he has played for Ospreys and for Sale Sharks. In December 2008 he signed for London Welsh RFC.-External links:*...

 in Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

's 18-16 home Guinness Premiership victory over Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...

 on 22 December 2006. He received a one-week suspension for the offence. The same season saw him cited a second time, this time for an alleged punch on Thibault Privat in Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

's 22-16 defeat by Clermont Auvergne in the European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...

 final on 19 May 2007. He was found guilty and suspended for the period 8 June - 15 September 2007 which, taking into account the close season of inactivity, meant that he was suspended from playing rugby for a period of seven weeks, the start of his season being judged to be 4 August 2007. He lodged an appeal against the ban but was unsuccessful.

After remaining trouble-free for over two years, he was cited for allegedly striking Neil de Kock
Neil de Kock
Neil de Kock is a rugby union footballer who plays at scrum half for Saracens. He has claimed ten caps for South Africa...

 in Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

's home Guinness Premiership 11-12 defeat to Saracens on 31 October 2009. He pleaded guilty to the charge and received a two-week suspension. On 23 January 2010, Grewcock received his third red card in Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

's colours when he was dismissed for stamping on the forearm of Ulster's
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...

 Stephen Ferris in the club's 10-28 home Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...

 defeat; the dismissal would see him receive a seven week suspension.

Honours

Grewcock was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2003 New Year's Honours list, along with other players from Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...

 – Iain Balshaw
Iain Balshaw
Iain Robert Balshaw, MBE is a rugby footballer who plays on the wing or at full back for Biarritz.-Early life:...

, Mike Catt
Mike Catt
Michael John "Mike" Catt OBE is a South African-born former English rugby union footballer who played for London Irish and Bath. He earned 75 international caps for England and played in three World Cup Finals, in 1995, 2003 and 2007...

 and Mike Tindall
Mike Tindall
Michael James Tindall, MBE is an English rugby player who plays outside centre for Gloucester Rugby and has captained the England team...

.

Personal life

He is a supporter of Coventry City FC
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...

.
He is also a black belt in karate

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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