Dorian West
Encyclopedia
Dorian Edward West MBE
(born October 5, 1967 in Wrexham
, Wales
) nicknamed "Nobby" is a former English international rugby union
footballer.
Born in Wrexham
, his family moved to England when he was young. Before professionalism, he was a police officer
with the Leicestershire Constabulary's armed response unit.
He made his debut at Leicester Tigers
and played for them as a flanker
but a move to Nottingham in 1991 saw him convert to hooker. He rejected the offer of a trial for Wales.
He moved back to Leicester in 1996 where he became an understudy to Richard Cockerill
. His form improved and he was noticed by England
coach Clive Woodward
during matches when Cockerill was away on international duty. This resulted in him being picked on the England
bench for the 1998 match against France
, coming on to replace Cockerill. The next week Cockerill was injured, but second-choice Mark Regan
who had been injured for the match against France
was fit again, so West was again selected on the bench, and came onto win his second cap.
Cockerill's loss of form would see West gradually replace him as first-choice hooker at Leicester, and West had another run of caps in the England starting line-up in 2001. He played in the 2001 Six Nations, and was selected for the England
tour to Canada and the USA, where he added 3 caps. After the end of the tour he was called up whilst on holiday as a replacement for the British & Irish Lions and performed so well he was on the bench for the final two tests. He failed to keep his shirt to Northampton Saints
' hooker Steve Thompson
, but was a useful squad member.
West was captain of England for the world cup warm-up game against France in Marseilles in August. During the Rugby World Cup, West was included in the 22 man squad for five of the games, playing in two; starting against Uruguay and coming on as a replacement for the semi-final against France. He was also on the bench for the final, and since his return has been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours.
He announced his retirement from international rugby after the end of the 2003 World Cup and turned to coaching becoming forward coach for the England U21s.
On 8 June 2007, it was announced he had signed as forwards coach to recently relegated Northampton Saints
alongside former England Saxons head coach, Jim Mallinder
.
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 October 5, 1967 in Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
) nicknamed "Nobby" is a former English international 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...
footballer.
Born in Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, his family moved to England when he was young. Before professionalism, he was a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
with the Leicestershire Constabulary's armed response unit.
He made his debut at 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...
and played for them as a flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
but a move to Nottingham in 1991 saw him convert to hooker. He rejected the offer of a trial for Wales.
He moved back to Leicester in 1996 where he became an understudy to Richard Cockerill
Richard Cockerill
Richard Cockerill is a former English rugby union footballer who played as a hooker.Cockerill was born in Rugby. Joining Leicester Tigers, he established himself as the B of the "ABC club" alongside Graham Rowntree and Darren Garforth .He made his England debut against Argentina in 1997 and...
. His form improved and he was noticed 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...
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...
during matches when Cockerill was away on international duty. This resulted in him being picked on the 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...
bench for the 1998 match against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, coming on to replace Cockerill. The next week Cockerill was injured, but second-choice Mark Regan
Mark Regan
Mark 'Ronnie' Regan MBE is an English rugby union player. He has played as a hooker for Bristol, Bath, Leeds Tykes as well as England and the British Lions.-Career:...
who had been injured for the match against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
was fit again, so West was again selected on the bench, and came onto win his second cap.
Cockerill's loss of form would see West gradually replace him as first-choice hooker at Leicester, and West had another run of caps in the England starting line-up in 2001. He played in the 2001 Six Nations, and was selected for the 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...
tour to Canada and the USA, where he added 3 caps. After the end of the tour he was called up whilst on holiday as a replacement for the British & Irish Lions and performed so well he was on the bench for the final two tests. He failed to keep his shirt 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....
' hooker Steve Thompson
Steve Thompson (rugby player)
Steve Thompson MBE is a rugby union player who plays at hooker for London Wasps and England.He is England's most capped hooker, and has played for the British and Irish Lions.-Northampton Saints:...
, but was a useful squad member.
West was captain of England for the world cup warm-up game against France in Marseilles in August. During the Rugby World Cup, West was included in the 22 man squad for five of the games, playing in two; starting against Uruguay and coming on as a replacement for the semi-final against France. He was also on the bench for the final, and since his return has been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours.
He announced his retirement from international rugby after the end of the 2003 World Cup and turned to coaching becoming forward coach for the England U21s.
On 8 June 2007, it was announced he had signed as forwards coach to recently relegated 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....
alongside former England Saxons head coach, Jim Mallinder
Jim Mallinder
Jim Mallinder is the coach of Northampton Saints and the former head coach of Sale Sharks, England Under 21s and England Saxons.-Biography:In his playing days, Mallinder was a fullback at Sale Sharks, where he stayed for 15 years as a player and a coach...
.
External links
- Profile at Leicester Tigers’ Website
- International Stats at Scrum.com
- Photos at Sporting-Heroes.com