William Brian Ashton MBE (born 3 September 1946 in Leigh, Lancashire) is a former rugby union player and the current Head Coach of the England national rugby union team. is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... , Leigh a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, is 11 miles (18 km) west of Manchester, and 6 miles (10 km) south east of Wigan. ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... In sports, a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of an athletic team or of individual athletes. ... For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ... First international (also the worlds first)  Scotland 4–1 England  (27 March 1871) Largest win  England 134–0 Romania  (17 November 2001) Worst defeat  Australia 76–0 England  (6 June 1998) World Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 2003 The England national rugby union team represents... A normal Rugby union team formation illustrating each of the positions and their respective numbers. ... A normal Rugby union team formation illustrating each of the positions and their respective numbers. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Orrell Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union team from Orrell, in Greater Manchester. ... Official website www. ... Amatori Rugby Milano is an Italian rugby union team, based in Milan, Italy. ... First international (also the worlds first)  Scotland 4–1 England  (27 March 1871) Largest win  England 134–0 Romania  (17 November 2001) Worst defeat  Australia 76–0 England  (6 June 1998) World Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 2003 The England national rugby union team represents... Official website www. ... The England Saxons are the second national rugby union team behind the English national side. ... Official website www. ... Official website www. ... Kings Bruton is an independent co-educational secondary school based in Bruton, Somerset, England. ... First international (also the worlds first)  Scotland 4–1 England  (27 March 1871) Largest win  England 134–0 Romania  (17 November 2001) Worst defeat  Australia 76–0 England  (6 June 1998) World Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 2003 The England national rugby union team represents... Stonyhurst College is an independent, Roman Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... , Leigh a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, is 11 miles (18 km) west of Manchester, and 6 miles (10 km) south east of Wigan. ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ... In sports, a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of an athletic team or of individual athletes. ... First international (also the worlds first)  Scotland 4–1 England  (27 March 1871) Largest win  England 134–0 Romania  (17 November 2001) Worst defeat  Australia 76–0 England  (6 June 1998) World Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 2003 The England national rugby union team represents...

Biography

Ashton was born in Leigh, Lancashire to a textile weaver mother and coal miner father Albert, who played professional Rugby League on the weekends for Leigh RLFC in 1940.^[2] Bright enough to earn a place at Grammar school, he attended Lancaster Royal Grammar School - one of the few local schools to teach and play Rugby Union over Rugby League. Surface coal mining in Wyoming in the United States of America. ... Rugby league football is a full-contact team sport played with a prolate spheroid-shaped ball by two teams of thirteen on a rectangular grass field. ... Leigh Centurions are a professional rugby league club based in Leigh, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. ... A grammar school is a school that may, depending on regional usage as exemplified below, provide either secondary education or, a much less common usage, primary education (also known as elementary). Grammar schools trace their origins back to medieval Europe, as schools in which university preparatory subjects, such as Latin... Lancaster Royal Grammar School (LRGS) is a voluntary aided, selective grammar school (day and boarding) for boys in Lancaster, England. ... For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ...

Playing history

After leaving school, Ashton started working for Trustee Savings Bank in their international banking division. His old games master from Leigh Grammar Keith Elleray took him to Tyldesley RUFC, where Ashton played fly-half in his first season in 1965/6, before Elleray retired and Ashton took over his preferred position of scrum-half for 1966/67.^[2] It has been suggested that Trustee Savings Bank be merged into this article or section. ... A normal Rugby union team formation illustrating each of the positions and their respective numbers. ...

Although offered professional terms by various Rugby League clubs, Ashton moved to Fylde - where his team-mates included Roger Uttley and Bill Beaumont - and then to Orrell from 1973 to be closer to his Leigh home.^[2] On finding his chances limited, he started training as a school teacher, where his first post was at Ashton High School, Preston brought about by the head masters requirement to introduce rugby.^[1] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Roger Miles Uttley OBE MA is a former English rugby_union player. ... Bill Beaumont, born 9 March 1952, was captain of the England rugby union team at a time when they struggled to win games. ... Orrell Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union team from Orrell, in Greater Manchester. ... In education, teachers are those who teach students or pupils, often a course of study, lesson plan, or a practical skill, including learning and thinking skills. ... This article is about Preston, Lancashire. ...

Ashton never represented England — the closest he came was as an unused bench replacement on 15 March 1975 against Scotland. He played representational rugby for Lancashire, England North, England tourists and the Barbarians. is the 74th day of the year (75th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... First international (also the worlds first)  Scotland 4 - 1 England  (27 March 1871) Largest win  Scotland 100 - 8 Japan  (13 November 2004) Worst defeat  Scotland 10 - 68 South Africa  (6 December 1997) World Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1987) Best result Semi-finals, 1991 The Scotland national rugby union... First match Hartlepool Rovers 4 - 9 Barbarians (27 December 1890) Largest win Scotland 31 - 74 Barbarians (24 May 2001) Worst defeat Scotland 66 - 19 Barbarians (31 May 2006) {{country data {{{country}}} | country flagicon2 | variant = | size = 999x30px }} The original Barbarians The Barbarian Football Club, typically referred to as Barbarians and nicknamed...

His friend Dick Greenwood - England international and later father of Will Greenwood - persuaded Ashton to extend his career by playing in France for AS Montferrand,^[1] and then in Italy with Roma and Milan: which as a result of the later two, he speaks Italian.^[3] Dick Greenwood (born 11 September 1940) is a former England Rugby international flanker who also coached the side. ... William John Heaton Greenwood MBE (born October 20, 1972 in Blackburn, Lancashire) is a former English rugby union player. ... Official website www. ... Italian is a Romance language spoken by about 70 million people, most of whom live in Italy. ...

Coaching career

Ashton has coached rugby at club and international level, and has a reputation as one of the best backs coaches in world rugby.

He was persuaded to return to England in 1980 to take up the position of history teacher and rugby master by then assistant-bursar Dick Greenwood at Stonyhurst College^[4] where Kyran Bracken was a pupil at the time and to whom he taught history.^[5] His local teaching counterparts included Ray French.^[2] He met Jack Rowell in the summer of 1985, when he toured New Zealand as assistant coach with England A. Four years later Ashton was offered an accepted a job as backs coach job at Bath Rugby, resultantly moving to teach history and coach various sports at King's School, Bruton, Somerset from 1989, where his wife also worked as a teacher. A Bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university. ... Stonyhurst College is an independent, Roman Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition. ... Kyran Paul Patrick Bracken MBE (born 22 November 1971 in Dublin, Ireland) is a former rugby union footballer who played at scrum-half for Saracens, Bristol and Waterloo R.F.C. He won a total of 51 England caps and captained the team on three occasions, retiring from international rugby... Ray French is a former Rugby Union and Rugby League player who achieved the rare honour of representing his country at international level in both codes of the game. ... Jack Rowell (born 1937) is the Director of Rugby at Bath. ... The England Saxons are the second national rugby union team behind the English national side. ... Official website www. ... Kings Bruton is an independent co-educational secondary school based in Bruton, Somerset, England. ... This article is about the county of Somerset in England. ...

Ashton, built his credentials on an expansive approach. In his first spell as Head Coach, led Bath to their last domestic trophy in 1996. As Assistant Coach of Bath, under Jack Rowell, he helped establish Bath as the dominant team in English rugby for a decade to the mid-1990s. The head coach in sports coaching is the coach who is in charge of the other coaches. ... Official website www. ... Jack Rowell (born 1937) is the Director of Rugby at Bath. ...

He had a brief and unsuccessful spell as National Coach of Ireland from 1997–98. Ashton had been awarded a six year contract by the IRFU but resigned 12 months later after a series of disappointing results,^[6] and against a background where private arguments or disagreements with the team manager, Pat Whelan, were frequently aired in public.

Ashton was Sir Clive Woodward's assistant from 1998 to 2002. Ashton was the RFU's National Academy Manager from 2002 to 2005. In this role Ashton played a key part in the launch of England Rugby’s National Academy system since its inception in 2002, creating the Junior and Senior National Academies to develop the most talented players at England A, Sevens, Under 21 and Under 19 level. Ashton also coached some of these feeder teams, including England A.^[7] Sir Clive Ronald Woodward, CBE (born 6 January 1956 at Ely in Cambridgeshire) is a former English rugby union international who was the coach of the England rugby union team from 1997 to 2004. ...

In 2005, Ashton returned to Bath as head coach, but in January 2006 he was in agreement with Bath appointed as England attack coach from May 2006 to assist head coach Andy Robinson, alongside forwards' coach John Wells and defence coach Mike Ford. Andy Robinson (born 3 April 1964 in Taunton, Somerset) is a former English rugby union footballer who played openside flanker for Bath and England. ... John Wells (born 12 May 1963) is a former rugby union player and captain of Leicester Tigers and presently coach for Leicester and England A. Wells was born in Driffield, Yorkshire. ...

On 20 December 2006 Ashton was appointed England head coach,^[8] following the departure of Andy Robinson.^[9] He chose Phil Vickery as his captain. Ashton won his first two games in charge of the England team, firstly the Calcutta Cup tie against Scotland and secondly beating Italy at Twickenham, but led the English team to a crushing defeat against the Irish National Team on his third outing. The 43–13 defeat by Ireland was England's worst ever defeat by Ireland in the 132 years of competition between the two sides. is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Philip John Vickery MBE (born 14 March 1976) is an English rugby union footballer who plays prop for Wasps and England, and was part of the England side that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. ... Calcutta Cup The Calcutta Cup is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland. ... Twickenham Stadium (usually known as just Twickenham or Twickers[1]) is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. ...

The 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign started badly: the team narrowly beat the amateurs of the United States, and went on to lose 36–0 to South Africa; however, having finished their group as runners up, they went on to record a shock victory over Australia, won a very tight semi-final against France 14–9, and lost a closely-fought final to South Africa in the final 15–6. Although calls for his replacement came from England stalwart Lawrence Dallaglio (which were later withdrawn by Dallaglio saying "it was wrong of me to comment on him like I did"), Ashton was retained by the RFU for the 2008 season. The 2007 Rugby World Cup is the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union world championship inaugurated in 1987. ... Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio (born on August 10, 1972 in London) is an English rugby union player, the former captain of the English national team. ...

Ashton has previously said, "My main strength is as a coach. I see my job as improving players individually, to do the technical work with them, and also to establish the environment, the framework, in which the players operate." Ashton's philosophy is that the backs comprise three creative forces (the scrum-half, the fly-half and the inside-centre) and four penetrative finishers (the outside- centre, the two wings and the full-back). On 20 December 2007, Ashton was reconfirmed as manager of the English national team by the RFU with an indefinite length contract.^[10][11]

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2008 New Year Honours. Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand Cross...

Teams coached

Stonyhurst College is an independent, Roman Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition. ... First international (also the worlds first)  Scotland 4–1 England  (27 March 1871) Largest win  England 134–0 Romania  (17 November 2001) Worst defeat  Australia 76–0 England  (6 June 1998) World Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 2003 The England national rugby union team represents... Kings Bruton is an independent co-educational secondary school based in Bruton, Somerset, England. ... Official website www. ... The England Saxons are the second national rugby union team behind the English national side. ... Mens (right) and womens (left) Barclays Churchill Cup trophies The Churchill Cup (referred to as Barclays Churchill Cup for sponsorship reasons) is an annual rugby union tournament contested by representative mens and womens teams from Canada, England, and the United States, with three invited teams (originally... The 2007 Rugby World Cup is the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union world championship inaugurated in 1987. ...

References

External links

• England profile
• scrum.com statistics