Willie Anderson (rugby union, born 1955)
| Born | 3 April 1955 Sixmilecross, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||
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| Occupation | rugby union coach | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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Willie Anderson (born 3 April 1955) is a rugby union coach and former Ireland international player. A lock, Anderson was capped 27 times for the national side between 1984 and 1990, some of them as captain.[2]
Playing career
While on a 1980 tour in Buenos Aires, Anderson was imprisoned for three months by the Argentinian authorities after attempting to smuggle a flag from a government building. He was later cleared of "demeaning a patriotic symbol".[3]
In one appearance as captain against New Zealand, Anderson led his side into a confrontation with their opponents while they were performing the haka.[4]
Anderson along with his French opponent Jean Condom, unwittingly became the subject of an amusing banner spotted by TV cameras in the crowd during a 5 Nations rugby match at Lansdowne Road in Ireland's championship campaign of 1985. The banner read 'Our Willie's bigger than your Condom!'.[5]
Anderson attended Omagh Academy. He is the father of fashion designer Jonathan Anderson (JW Anderson) who designed the Super Bowl performance outfit worn by the singer Rihanna in February 2023.[6]
Coaching
After retiring he became assistant coach of Leinster and later the Scotland national team,[7] both under head coach Matt Williams. After a spell as a full-time physical education teacher and rugby coach at Grosvenor Grammar School and later at Sullivan Upper School, Anderson was appointed head coach of Rainey Old Boys in July 2007.[8]
Anderson coaches Coolmine R.F.C.'s senior first XV. They play in Division 1 of the Leinster League.[9] On 22 March 2011, Anderson led Sullivan Upper School to their second Medallion Shield Victory defeating Limavady Grammar School 17–0.
References
- ^ "Willie Anderson". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
- ^ "Anderson given Scots role". BBC News. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
- ^ "NZ tour in turmoil: 6 other tours hit by trouble". The Daily Telegraph. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
- ^ "Anderson bucks the trend". BBC Sport. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
- ^ O'Donnell, John (28 August 2010). "It was a bit of a kip, but it was our kip". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Rihanna chose Jonathan Anderson, the son of former rugby international Willie Anderson, to create a striking Super Bowl outfit". Newsletter.co.uk.
- ^ "Anderson appointed Scotland assistant coach". RTÉ. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Anderson takes over at Rainey OB". BBC Sport. 17 July 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
- ^ "Anderson takes over at Coolmine". 4 February 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
External links