World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward is to be inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame.
Former Leicester Tigers centre Sir Clive guided England to their World Cup triumph in 2003 and will be honoured at the RPA Players’ Awards on Wednesday, May 9.
The 62-year-old will join an illustrious list of previous inductees, including former Tigers, England and British & Irish Lions captain Martin Johnson.
As England coach, Sir Clive won three Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2003, before winning the World Cup against hosts Australia.
As a player, he made 148 appearances for Tigers, scoring 43 tries, four conversions and five drop goals. He also won 21 England caps and two for the Lions.
Following his World Cup triumph, Sir Clive took on the role of head coach of the British and Irish Lions for the 2005 tour of New Zealand before being appointed director of sport for Team GB where he played a pivotal role in the success of the London 2012 Olympics.
Sir Clive said: “It is a great honour to be inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame, alongside some wonderful players and personalities who have contributed so much to the game.
“I still consider myself a player first and a coach second. It was my experiences as a player that have shaped my approach to coaching. I still view the game through a player’s eyes and I am sure that is why I love the game now as much as ever.
“I would like to thank Damian and the RPA for their tireless support to players and for this great honour. I would also like to thank all those team mates, players, coaches, colleagues and friends who have made rugby so special for me.”
RPA group CEO, Damian Hopley, said: “Sir Clive remains the only Northern Hemisphere coach to lift the Webb Ellis Cup and his achievements with the national side have rightfully enshrined his place in English rugby history. Many of the infamous class of ’03 have been inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame and it is rightly fitting that Sir Clive joins them.”
