Dorian West

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dorian West
Full name	Dorian West
Date of birth	1967-10-05
Place of birth	Wrexham, Wales
Height	1.80 m
Weight	100 kg
Rugby union career
Position	Hooker
Professional clubs		Caps	(points)
1997-2004	Leicester Tigers	78	(45)
correct as of 13 Sept 2006.
National team(s)
1998-2003	England	21	(15)
correct as of 13 Sept 2006.
Other Information
Occupation	Rugby union coach

Dorian West (born October 5, 1967), nicknamed "Nobby" is a former English international rugby union footballer.

Born in Wrexham, Wales his family moved to England when he was young. Before professionalism, he was a police officer with the Nottinghamshire Constabulary's armed response unit.

He made his Leicester Tigers and played for them as a flanker but a move to Nottingham in 1991 saw him convert to hooker. He rejected the offer of a trial for Wales.

He moved back to Leicester in 1996 where he became an understudy to Richard Cockerill. His form improved and he was noticed by England coach Clive Woodward during matches when Cockerill was away on international duty. This resulted in him being picked on the England bench for the 1998 match against France, coming on to replace Cockerill. The next week Cockerill was injured, but second-choice Mark Regan who had been injured for the match against France was fit again, so West was again selected on the bench, and came onto win his second cap.

Cockerill's loss of form would see West gradually replace him as first-choice hooker at Leicester, and West had another run of caps in the England starting line-up in 2001. He played in the 2001 Six Nations, and was selected for the England tour to Canada and the USA, where he added 3 caps. After the end of the tour he was called up whilst on holiday as a replacement for the British & Irish Lions and performed so well he was on the bench for the final two tests. He failed to keep his shirt to Northampton Saints' hooker Steve Thompson, but was a useful squad member.

Dorian West was captain of England for the world cup warm-up game against France in Marseilles in August. During the Rugby World Cup Dorian was included in the 22 man squad for five of the games, playing in two; starting against Uruguay and coming on as a replacement for the semi-final against France. He was also on the bench for the final, and since his return has been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours.

He announced his retirement from international rugby after the end of the 2003 World Cup and turned to coaching becoming forward coach for the England U21s.

[edit] External links

v • d • e

British and Irish Lions - 2001 Australia tour

	Forwards:	Back • Bulloch • Charvis • Corry • Dallaglio • Davidson • Greening • Grewcock • Hill • Johnson (c) • Leonard • McBryde • Morris • Murray • O'Kelly • Quinnell • Smith • Taylor • Wallace • West • Williams • Wood • Vickery • Young
	Backs:	Balshaw • Catt • Cohen • Dawson • Gibbs • Greenwood • Healey • Henderson • Howe • Howley • James • Jenkins • Luger • Nicol • O'Driscoll • O'Gara • Perry • Robinson • Taylor • Wilkinson
	Coach:	Henry

v • d • e

England squad - 2003 Rugby World Cup

	Forwards:	Back • Corry • Dallaglio • Hill • Grewcock • Johnson (c) • Kay • Leonard • Regan • Moody • Thompson • Vickery • West • White • Worsley • Woodman
	Backs:	Abbott • Balshaw • Bracken • Catt • Cohen • Dawson • Grayson • Gomarsall • Greenwood • Lewsey • Luger • Robinson • Tindall • Wilkinson
	Coach:	Woodward