Director of Elite Rugby Rob Andrew
On August 18th, 2006, after a thorough selection process, Rob Andrew was announced as the first director of elite rugby for the Rugby Football Union. One of this country’s best known rugby administrators and consummate internationals Rob cut his playing teeth alongside his future fellow international Rory Underwood at Barnard Castle School, Durham.
In 1982 he entered Cambridge University where he became a double Blue at rugby and cricket. As a cricketer he was a fine left-handed batsman but a right-armed medium-paced bowler. At Cambridge he gained a Master of Arts Degree that helped him in his later commercial life as an Associate Director of real estate advisers DTZ Debenham Thorpe.
Having initially joined Nottingham RFC before moving to Wasps he made his England debut in January 1985 against Romania dropping a goal after just 50 seconds. And, it was against Romania, four years later, that he first captained his country in Bucharest winning 58-3. That year also saw him called up to the British & Irish Lions team for their tour of Australia where he played in two Tests and, later in the year, also captained the Lions in a non-cap game against France.
England star
An automatic choice at fly half for England he played a key role in their back-to-back Grand Slams of 1991 and 1992 and he was also in the side beaten by Australia, 9-6, in the 1991 final of the IRB World Cup at Twickenham. The following year he played a season with Toulouse before returning to Wasps and in 1993 featured in all three Tests on the Lions tour to New Zealand. Having equalled Didier Camberabero’s then world record with 30 points in the 1994 win over Canada he then played in every international during 1995 as England notched their third Five Nations Grand Slam in five years and reached the semi-finals of the World Cup.
His efforts were also recognised in that year when he was awarded the MBE having retired from international rugby and also agreed to join Newcastle as playing rugby development director.
He even came out of international retirement in 1997, the year he signed Inga Tuigamala in a world record deal worth £1 million, when he came on as replacement in England’s March win over Wales.
A decade at Newcastle
It was also the year Newcastle Falcons won promotion into the Allied Dunbar Premiership and then took the Premiership by storm winning the title at their first attempt in 1998. Under Rob’s shrewd guidance Falcons also claimed some silverware beating Harlequins and Sale Sharks respectively in two RFU Knock Out Cup Finals.
After 10 years at Newcastle Falcons, Rob Andrew joined the RFU in September 2006 as Elite Rugby Director with the key responsibility of developing young rugby talent through the Elite Player Pathway. The process starts with the National Academy with the successful player moving through the England U18 and England U20 teams, England Sevens, Saxons and finally the England Senior EPS squad.
In his three years in charge Rob has overseen an unbeaten U18 side in 2009/10, the U20 squad reaching consecutive IRB Junior World Championships finals and England reaching the final of the Rugby World Cup in 2007. The senior England squad also secured successive RBS 6 Nations runners-up spots in 2008 and 2009. Sports Science, Medical Protocol and the Elite Referee unit, from which all of the Guinness Premiership matches receive their officials, also fall under Rob’s remit.
Rob played a key role in reaching an eight year agreement between the RFU and Premier Rugby Ltd, which took effect from June 2008 and ensured closer communication between the two parties and the England Senior EPS squad having more time training and preparing prior to major tournaments and matches throughout the season.