St Mary’s Appoints Rugby World Cup 2003 Winning Coach Sir Clive Woodward

Rugby World Cup 2003 winning coach, Sir Clive Woodward OBE, has been appointed Visiting Professor at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, joining the School of Sport, Health and Applied Science. Sir Clive will start his role at St Mary’s next month to support high profile research projects related to Rugby and to broaden the international appeal of the University’s online courses. The appointment comes as the UK’s largest Catholic University celebrates its 165th anniversary and plays host to several teams taking part in Rugby World Cup 2015. Prof John Brewer, Head of St Mary's School of Sport, Health and Applied Science, said, “It is great honour to have Sir Clive working with us – his experience in coaching and in business is second to none. He will help us to reach a global audience, particularly in the area of international sport. We very much see this as a two-way appointment, enabling us to support Sir Clive with his work in elite sport, whilst gaining from his expertise in areas such as sport management and leadership.” Sir Clive Woodward said, “St Mary’s is a very well-known name in the field of sport science and has supported many international athletes in their careers. I had no hesitancy in joining the fantastic team of academics here and I hope give as much to the University as I will certainly gain from the experience.”  Sir Clive is one of international rugby’s most successful coaches, leading England to World Cup triumph in 2003. By combining his knowledge and experience in both elite sport and business he is credited with revolutionising the way the Rugby is coached and played. In 2006 Sir Clive joined the British Olympic Association and, as Director of Sport for Team GB, worked in close partnership with all key stakeholders in British sport to support British coaches and athletes to deliver the most successful Olympic Games for Team GB in the modern era. Alongside his work at St Mary’s, Sir Clive will continue his role on the International Olympic Committee Entourage Commission and as a Team GB Ambassador. He is also a member of the Daily Mail sports team and a commentator for Sky Sports and BBC rugby coverage. St Mary’s University is the largest Catholic University in the UK and London's top-performing sports institution, providing a comprehensive sports development programme that focuses on recreational opportunities, performance sport, coaching and events. The University’s Strawberry Hill campus will be a Team Base for South Africa and New Zealand at Rugby World Cup 2015, hosting the teams during the different stages of the Tournament. Just a few minutes from Twickenham Stadium, the home of English Rugby, St Mary’s will be right on the doorstep at of the competition and offers the players world class sporting facilities. During the London 2012 Olympics, athletes from ten nations and a range of different sports chose to train at St Mary’s. Sporting alumni, Mo Farah and Moe Sbihi, won medals and David Weir who trains at St Mary’s won four Paralympic Gold medals. St Mary’s medal tally was enough to place sixth in Podium’s medal table for UK universities and top of the London institutions. This year St Mary’s University, Twickenham celebrates its 165th anniversary. The milestone will be marked by a number of high-profile events, including the co-sponsorship of a series of public lectures on the theme of ‘Ethics in Public Life’ with the Von Hügel Institute (VHI), St Edmund’s College, Cambridge University, and Las Casas Institute at Blackfriars, Oxford University. The University will also host the formal installation of Cardinal Nichols as Chancellor in addition to organising a number of events involving staff, students and the local community at its Strawberry Hill campus.