Clive Griffiths (rugby)

Clive Griffiths

Personal information
Full name	Clive Ronald Griffiths
Born	(1954-04-02)2 April 1954 Loughor,Swansea,Wales
Playing information
Rugby union
Position	Full-back
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1971–79 Llanelli RFC 181 78 45 1 422 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1979 Wales 1 0 Barbarian F.C.
Rugby league
Position	Fullback,Wing,Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1979–84 St. Helens 100 11 277 8 600 1984–86 Salford 42 20 151 6 388 Total 142 31 428 14 988 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1980–81 Wales 2 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Rugby union
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 2006–07 Doncaster Knights 2007–09 Worcester Warriors 2012–2022 Doncaster Knights Total 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1996–97 South Wales 22 12 0 10 55 2011–14 North Wales Crusaders Total 22 12 0 10 55 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 1991–00 Wales 25 15 0 10 60 1996 Great Britain
Source: As of 11 October 2023

Clive Ronald Griffiths(born 2 April 1954), also known by thenicknameof"Griff",is a Welsh formerdual-code internationalrugby unionand professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, andcoachedrugby union and rugby league in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) forWales,at invitational level for theBarbarian F.C.,and at club level forLlanelli RFC,as afull-back,and representative level rugby league (RL) forWales,and at club level forSt. HelensandSalford,as afullback,wingorcentre,and coached representative level rugby union (RU) forWales(Defence Coach), and at club level forNewcastle Emlyn RFC,London Welsh RFC(assistant coach),Swansea RFC(assistant coach),Newport Gwent Dragons(assistant coach),Doncaster Knights(two spells),Worcester WarriorsandRGC 1404(inColwyn Bay), and representative level rugby league (RL) forWales,and at club level for theSouth Walesand theNorth Wales Crusaders,and as of 2018 he is the Director of Rugby at theDoncaster Knights.

Background

Clive Griffiths was born inLoughor,Swansea,he was affectionately known as "Clive the Ship" after the family pub in nearbyPenclawdd,he was a pupil atGowerton Grammar School,he is the father of the rugby league International footballersRhysandOwain Griffiths.

International rugby union career

He represented theBarbariansand on the international scene he was capped once againstEnglandin his last match for Wales on 17 March 1979. After winning his Wales B cap he was selected on the bench three times previously during the 1979 Five Nations but was an unused replacement.

Rugby league club career

On 16 August 1979 he switched codes signing forSt. Helensrugby league club for a world record £27,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £183,200 in 2015),and making his début in the 28–16 defeat byWidnesin the first round of the1979 Lancashire CupatKnowsley Road,Eccleston, St Helenson Sunday 19 August 1979. In exactly 100 appearances he scored 598 points from 276 goals, 8 drop goals and 11 tries. After playing his last match for the club againstHull Kingston RoversOn 9 October 1984 he joinedSalford.He also coached at St.Helens andWarringtonbefore returning to Rugby Union.

Rugby league coaching career

In September 1986, he returned to St. Helens to take up the position of fitness conditioner and a move into coaching theWales national rugby league teamled to some very creditable performances under his guidance including aWorld Cupsemi-final match against the eventual winnersAustraliawith a first half performance that gave Wales a half time lead.He spent 10 years with theWelsh rugby league team,twice guiding them to the semi-final stage of the World Cup and winning theEuropean Championshipfor the first time in 57 years. He also enjoyed a spell asGreat Britain rugby league coachin 1996.

Rugby union coaching career

Whilst playing forLlanelliGriffiths took up his first senior coaching appointment in 1977 at the age of 25 forNewcastle Emlyn RFC.His first professional coaching role in union was withLondon Welshfor three seasons before joiningSwanseaas assistant coach in 2000. He later joinedMike Ruddockat theNewport Gwent Dragonsagain as assistant coach. Griffiths was appointed to the Wales Squad Coaching team on 1 July 2001 by Graham Henry and remained a part of the set up through the 2003Rugby World Cupand fiveSix Nationscampaigns, including the 2005 RBS Six NationsGrand Slamwhere he was credited for his part in tightening Wales' defensive line, particularly in their tackling performance against England.

In May 2006 he joined the then National One sideDoncasteras director of rugby on a two-year deal,leading them to third place in National Division One.

Clive Griffiths joinedWorcester Warriorsas Head Coach and assistant to Director of RugbyMike Ruddockin June 2007 on an initial two-year deal.

He went on to coachRGC 1404North Wales rugby club who are being fast tracked into the Welsh Premiership.

Return to rugby league coaching

In November 2011 Griffiths signed a 2-year deal to coachNorth Wales Crusaders,the rugby league side risen from the ashes of the former Super League franchiseCrusaders.North Wales play in the Cooperative Championships 1 division.

After a winning eight out of 18 games, including three doubles, and just two more victories would have put in them in the end of season play-off competition. The following year The Crusaders won the double and were crowned champions and won the Northern Rail Cup and Griffiths was awarded Championship 1 Coach of the Year.