Phil Larder

Who is Phil Larder?

Phil Larder MBE, is an English rugby league and rugby union coach.

After graduating with a degree in Physical Education and Sports Science from Loughborough University in 1965, he played rugby union at centre for Broughton Park in Manchester and then Sale. Larder then transferred to rugby league, playing for Oldham and later Whitehaven.

Larder then coached in rugby league, becoming head coach for Widnes, Keighley and Sheffield Eagles. He was the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour's assistant coach to Malcolm Reilly.

Larder coached both England rugby league team at the 1995 World Cup and Great Britain and Ireland on the 1996 tour of New Zealand.

Larder then moved to rugby union, first coaching Sale, and worked with Leicester Tigers during their 4-year Guinness Premiership winning run and Heineken Cup victories in 2001 and 2002. Larder was the first specialist coach appointed under Clive Woodward in 1997, when he became England's defence coach. He held the position in England's 2003 World Cup-winning team, and on the 2001 and 2005 British and Irish Lions tours.

Larder was part of the England coaching staff until April 2006, when he was sacked along with Joe Lydon and Dave Alred following a review of the team's poor Six Nations performance. Larder later criticised coach Andy Robinson for letting player power run the team in his 25 month period in charge.