Phil de Glanville
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Philip Ranulph de Glanville (born on October 1, 1968 in Loughborough) is a former English rugby union player who played at centre for Bath and England.
He played for Durham University while an Economics student, then at Oxford University won a Blue with Oxford University RFC and also represented England U21s.
He joined Bath in 1990 and captained them to a league and cup double in 1996, partnering Jeremy Guscott in the center for this club that season, as well as many others.
He made his England debut as a replacement in the match against the Springboks in 1992. Many of De Glanville's international caps were earned in a replacement role, such that the incumbant centres were Will Carling (long-running England captain) and Jeremy Guscott (widely seen as England's most gifted player in that era). De Glanville is seen as likely to have won many more caps if it weren't for this firmly entrenched Carling-Guscott combination, a pairing solidified by early Carling-Guscott successes like the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
In 1996 coach Jack Rowell appointed him as England captain following Will Carling's stepping-down. However, there was criticism of his inclusion in the starting XV for the 1996 Five Nations as it wasn't felt that he was a good enough player to be guaranteed a place in the team. He was not selected for that summer's Lions tour to South Africa losing his place to uncapped Will Greenwood. Under new coach Clive Woodward in autumn 1997 he lost both the captaincy to Lawrence Dallaglio and his starting position to Greenwood, though he remained a useful squad member.
Chiding his renowned good-looks, teamates often referred to De Glanville as "Hollywood"; a trait seemingly incongruous with his hard, committed playing style.
In 2003 he competed in the BBC's Superstars television show, winning the kayaking and golf events but eventually coming last in the final.
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| Preceded by Will Carling |
English national rugby union captain 1996-1997 |
Succeeded by Lawrence Dallaglio |
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Forwards: | Archer • Back • Cockerilll • Corry • Dallaglio • Garforth • Greening • Richard Hill • Johnson (c) • Leonard • McCarthy • Grewcock • Rodber • Rowntree • Ubogu • Vickery • Worsley | |
| Backs: | Beal • Bracken • Catt • Dawson • De Glanville • Grayson • Greenwood • Guscott • Healey • Luger • Perry • Rees • Wilkinson | ||
| Coach: | Woodward |
