James Grindal

James Grindal (born 1980 in Nuneaton) is an English former rugby union rugby player who played scrum-half for Bristol Rugby. He was capped by England at Under-18, Under-21 and England Saxons level.

James Grindal
Birth nameJames Grindal
Date of birth (1980-08-18) 18 August 1980
Place of birthNuneaton, England
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb) [1]
SchoolKing Henry VIII School, Coventry
UniversityLoughborough University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Bristol Rugby
Youth career
  Nuneaton
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)

1999-2002
2002-2009
2009-2012
2012-14
Leicester Tigers
Newcastle Falcons
Leicester Tigers
Bristol Rugby		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
  England under 18
England Under 21
England Saxons

A former pupil of King Henry VIII School in Coventry, scrum-half Grindal made his first-team debut for Leicester Tigers as a 19-year-old and, between 1999 and 2002 made 27 appearances, and was involved in the first-team squad during three Premiership title wins and the back to back Heineken Cup wins in 2000 and 2001, in a golden era for the club.

Grindal made a move to Newcastle Falcons, under Director of Rugby Rob Andrew, in the summer of 2002. He made 156 first-team appearances for Newcastle between 2002 and 2009, and won the Powergen Cup after victory over Sale Sharks at Twickenham in 2004.[2] Grindal was partnered at half back with World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson, during his time there.

He was called into the England Saxons side that defeated Ireland A on 1 February 2008.[3][4]

On 25 June 2009 it was confirmed that he would return to his former club, Leicester Tigers, from the Newcastle Falcons to replace the departing Julien Dupuy. In his second spell as a Leicester Tigers player, Grindal was in the matchday squad for 2 Twickenham Premiership Finals in 2010 and 2011, picking up an Aviva Premiership winner's medal as a replacement in 2010.[5] He made a further 59 appearances for the first team in these 3 seasons.

He joined Bristol for the 2012/13 season, and was Club Captain for the 2013/14 season, making 43 appearances in his 2 seasons there.

References
  1. "Aviva Premiership Rugby - Gloucester Rugby". web page. Premier Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  2. "Newcastle 37–33 Sale". BBC. 17 April 2004. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  3. "England Saxons squad for Ireland A match". RFU. 23 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 April 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  4. "Varndell shines in Saxons victory". BBC. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  5. "Leicester 33-27 Saracens". BBC. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2020.


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