Geoff Cooke

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Geoff Cooke O.B.E. (born 11 June 1941) is a former England Rugby coach. Cooke led the England Rugby team in 49 international matches between 1987 and 1994, during which time they won successive Grand Slams in the 5 Nations Championship, were runners-up in the 1991 World Cup and winners of the 1993 World Cup Sevens. During his playing career he played mainly as a Center/Fly Half 1962-72 and captained his Club and his County. He was coach to Bradford RFC 1973-5, coach to Yorkshire Rugby Football Union 1975-9, then Chairman of Selectors from 1980-85. He was a North of England selector from 1979-1987. Cooke was appointed Manager of the England Rugby Union Team in October 1987. He led England in two tours to Australia/Fiji and one to Argentina. England achieved unparalleled success during this period including two successive Grand Slams (European Championship) in 1991 & 1992; reached the final of the World Cup in 1991. He was awarded the OBE for services to Rugby Football in June 1992. In 1993 he was made Manager of the British Lions rugby union tour to New Zealand. He has two books (Rugby Union - 1981 EP Sport & Skilful Rugby Union - 1991 A & C Black) to his name and is the author of numerous articles on sports coaching. In recent years he has been Chief Executive and Director of Rugby at Bedford Rugby Club guiding them to promotion to the Premiership in 1998 and Chief Executive at Worcester Rugby Club until his retirement from full-time employment in April 2002. Now back in the amateur ranks he has rejoined his former club, Bradford & Bingley as Director of Rugby, guiding them to promotion to North One in his first season and then taking them straight through in 2003-04 to a second successive promotion to National League Three.

He is married to Susan with two sons, one with an unknown name (born 1972) and David (born 1976).