PROMOTION
GAME PLAN
Former England rugby star Daniel Grewcock is Oundle School’s Director of Sport
Inspiring the next generation
Daniel Grewcock, who joined Oundle in September 2016,
capped 69 times for England, was selected for two British
Lions tours and was awarded an MBE for services to rugby
What are your career highlights so far? I had a fantastic
career, which spanned 16 years. When I played at
Saracens, I got to meet some legends of rugby including
France’s Phillipe Sella and Australia’s Michael Lynagh
and won the cup with them in 1998. My ten years at Bath
were enjoyable because of the friends I made and my
many playing highlights, which included a Premiership
final and European challenge cup success. Every game
played for England and the Lions was a privilege, my
personal favourite being the England tour to South Africa
in 2000 where we played a two match series and finished
one a piece – both were very physical and well-matched games.
What made you move into the education sector? My mother was
a teacher and, ultimately, coaching is teaching. It was an obvious
transition for me. When I stopped playing, the challenge (as for any
player) was to find a career that would be as satisfying. I get huge
pleasure from passing on my knowledge to the next generation and
seeing pupils learn and improve.
What are your plans for sport at Oundle? Oundle already has great
facilities but our upcoming investment programme, the Sports
MasterPlan, will set a new standard for sports provision in the
schools’ sector. Already underway and due for completion by 2020,
90 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2016
Daniel Grewcock playing for Bath
the development incorporates the building
of a new sports centre housing a 50-metre
swimming pool, an eight-court sports hall, a
high-quality fitness suite and dance studios.
The current athletics track will be relocated
and two additional astroturf pitches will be
installed (making a total of four), as well as
ten natural grass and ten artificial cricket
nets, 12 netball courts and 12 tennis courts.
Even more important to me, however, is
the quality of the teaching staff here at
Oundle. They are all, without exception,
involved in the coaching of an excellent
sports programme. My role is to continue
the development of our coaches, ensuring we
set the optimum learning environment and
appropriate level of challenge for each pupil.
We aim to deliver options that involve every
boy and girl and that stretch each athlete.
Oundle pupils are very active and ambitious
in their sport, which makes it a real pleasure
to work with them.
How does sport play a part in the overall
independent school experience?
The success of any educational programme is
based on the balance it provides and I think
this is what Oundle does best. The structured
combination of academic and co-curricular
opportunities provides a broad range of
choices and experiences for every pupil. Sport
itself plays an important role in developing
the character of our pupils, promoting social
interaction, teamwork and leadership away
from the classroom. It is about encouraging
agile minds and physical fitness to search
for the strategic advantage – after all, we
want intelligent decision makers both in the
classroom and on the sports field.
Giving young rugby players a headstart