Jack Rowell

Jack Rowell OBE (born 1937) is a former coach of rugby union sides including Bath and England.

Rugby career

Coaching

Between 1978 and 1994 Rowell coached Bath during their golden era, winning eight John Player/Pilkington Cups and five League Championships.

Between 1995 and 1997, Rowell was the coach of the England rugby team. He took over from Geoff Cooke, announcing that England would give up the forward-dominated, risk-free strategies that had won so many Five Nations Championship titles in the past, instead adopting a 'running rugby' style. Rowell's England won twenty-one of their twenty-nine matches, including the 1995 World Cup quarter-final against Australia. In percentage terms of games won Rowell is England's most successful rugby union coach.

In 2002 he returned to Bath as director of rugby.

Administration

In 1998 Rowell became a non-executive director on the board of Bristol, when millionaire businessman Malcolm Pearce saved the club from extinction. In September 2000 he became Managing Director.

Business career

Rowell is Chairman of Celsis plc, Chairman of UK products Ltd which is quoted on AIM and Chairman of Turleigh Ltd, a private company.

He has acted as chairman of a number of companies in the public and private sectors, mainly in food. He was previously an executive director on the board of Dalgety plc with responsibility for the consumer foods division.

Honours

Rowell was awarded the OBE for services to the game of Rugby Union.

In 1994, he was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) by the University of Bath.

External links

• Jack Rowell profile Bath Rugby

Preceded by Geoff Cooke

English national rugby coach 1994-1997

Succeeded by Clive Woodward