By KevT
April 7 2006

6'5" tall, gangly, not blessed with natural pace and not an aggressive tackler. In his own words Will Greenwood describes himself as having the pace of Bernard Manning. It doesn’t sound like the prototype for one of the greatest centres of his generation, but that is what Will Greenwood became. 

He has graced the stage of all of the top grounds in World Rugby and stradled the amateur and professional era. From catching the train from Waterloo for two nights a week training whilst working in the City to being surrounded by all of the coaches and advisors that Sir Clive Woodward could muster for the Rugby World Cup in 2003. Will Greenwood has seen it all and achieved it all. 

I’ll defer to Mark Evans who described Will’s attributes to me:

“An outstanding player over many years. People forget how many games he played for England A before he became a fixture in the full team. He paid his dues. A very unusual player in that he relied on a wonderful sense of space and great peripheral vision coupled with the physical advantage of being six feet four which allowed him to develop great offloading skills to go along side his excellent passing skills. As a support runner he was unequalled which is one reason he scored so many tries  Early in his career he was thought to be a bit weak defensively and yet he went on to be England's defensive captain. He also worked really hard on his kicking game in the later years. Very intelligent both on and off the field with a genuine grasp of how the game worked. You don't come across too many players like Will.”

In that period there have been many class period on the international stage. Carling, Guscott, Gibbs, Bunce and O’Driscoll. All of these players had special qualities but for me, at his best, Will was the most sublime in terms of awareness of those around him, timing of the pass and the ability to find gaps for others. He was also able to spin out of a tackle like no one else I have ever seen.

For me, the 2000/01 season will always stand out. Quins won the European Shield and got to the final of the Pilkington Cup. Mark Evans remembers that year well. “Will has been a key part of the relaunch of the club which coincided with this return in 2000. In that first season he was absolutely outstanding - I don't think he has ever played better either before or since. His linking play with Keith Wood in the midfield was sublime and his try count quite extraordinary for an inside centre.”

There are some Harlequins supporters who say we have not always seen the best of Will at Quins. My argument to that would be that there were not many opportunities when he had the players round him to compliment his unique skills. He was always able to take the tackle for England (and for Quins in 2000) because he knew that Neil Back and David Wilson were supporting him at the breakdown or he had Austin Healey running a line for him or Josh Lewsey or Mike Tindall outside.

What is not always visible to the supporter is the way that players handle themselves away from the match. Mark Evans is fulsome with his praise. “His contribution to all the coaches over the years as a senior player and the guidance he has provided for some of the youngsters has been exemplary.”

Will Greenwood in the Parker Pen Final ©Barquin Mad

Gavin Duffy described Will’s departure in the Mayo News:

“He has had a long and distinguished career, including three Lions tours and scored 31 tries in 55 England Caps. Will played a pivotal role in England’s World Cup success in 2003 and was one of the reasons I joined Harlequins as his reading and judgement of the game is right up there with the best of them.

I do believe I’m a better player from having the experience of togging out alongside him. Although his departure will bring down the average age of the squad quite considerably, his outdated ‘chat’ and wit will be missed!”

Let us also remember the dignified and heartfelt way in which he and his wife Caro handled the loss of their son Freddie. Will and Caro have raised over £400,000 for the Tommy’s charity.

We will miss his vision, his timing and the players will miss a great organiser and reader of the opposition. They will also no doubt miss his northern wit and the shy way in which he describes ‘that try against Brive’ or his 100% kicking record.

In the last twenty years Quins have produced many fine centres. Will Carling, Jamie Salmon, Peter Mensah and in the current era players like Nick Greenstock, Mel Deane, Gavin Duffy and Chris Bell. Will Greenwood is the finest centre I have seen in a Harlequins shirt.

Will Greenwood, England International, World Cup winner and Harlequin. Thanks for some great memories.