James Grindal

{{Short description|English rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Use British English|date=September 2016}} {{infobox rugby biography | name = James Grindal | image = | image_size = | caption = | alt = | birth_name = James Grindal | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|8|18|df=yes}} | birth_place = Nuneaton, England | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|85|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/leicester_tigers.php?section=1 |title=Aviva Premiership Rugby – Gloucester Rugby |work=web page |publisher=Premier Rugby |accessdate=3 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616063525/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/leicester_tigers.php?section=1 |archivedate=16 June 2012 }}</ref> | school = King Henry VIII School, Coventry | university = Loughborough University | ru_currentteam = Bristol Rugby | position = Scrum-half | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Nuneaton | years1 = | years2 = 1999–2002 | years3 = 2002–2009 | years4 = 2009–2012 | years5 = 2012–2014 | clubs1 = | clubs2 = Leicester Tigers | clubs3 = Newcastle Falcons | clubs4 = Leicester Tigers | clubs5 = Bristol Rugby | apps1 = | points1 = | ru_clubupdate = | provinceyears1 = | province1 = | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = | superyears1 = | super1 = | superapps1 = | superpoints1 = | repyears1 = | repteam1 = England under 18 | repteam2 = England under 21 | repteam3 = England Saxons | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | ru_ntupdate = | repsevensyears1 = | repsevenscomp1 = | coachyears1 = | coachteams1 = | refereeyears1 = | refereecomps1 = | refereeapps1 = }}

'''James Grindal''' (born 1980 in Nuneaton) is an English former rugby union rugby player who played scrum-half for Bristol Rugby. He made over 275 first class appearances, and was capped by England at Under-18, Under-21 and England Saxons level, as well as representing the Barbarians.

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/3630163.stm|title=Newcastle 37–33 Sale |publisher=BBC|work= BBC Sport|date=17 April 2004|access-date=26 December 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref name="England Saxons squad for Ireland A match">{{cite web|url=http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=18739 |title=England Saxons squad for Ireland A match |publisher=RFU |date=23 January 2008 |accessdate=5 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402084639/http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=18739 |archivedate= 2 April 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Varndell shines in Saxons victory">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/7217616.stm|title=Varndell shines in Saxons victory|publisher=BBC|work= BBC Sport|date=2 February 2008|access-date=5 February 2008}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8708250.stm |title=Leicester 33–27 Saracens |publisher=BBC |work= BBC Sport |date=29 May 2010 |access-date=9 February 2020}}</ref> 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. Grindal retired from professional rugby at the end of the 2013–14 season.

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011213557/http://newcastle-falcons.co.uk/198_283.php Newcastle Falcons player profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081117054955/http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=18780 England profile] *[http://www.leicestertigers.com/squad/players.php?player=4268&includeref=dynamic Leicester Tigers player profile] *[http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_905.html Profile at itsrugby.co.uk]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grindal, James}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:English rugby union players Category:Leicester Tigers players Category:Newcastle Red Bulls players Category:Rugby union players from Nuneaton Category:Alumni of Loughborough University Category:People educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry Category:Coventry R.F.C. players Category:Rugby union scrum-halves