View source for Rob Andrew

{{short description|British Lions & England international rugby union footballer & cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Rob Andrew <br/> [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]
| image              = Rob Andrew playing cricket.jpg
| caption            = Andrew playing cricket
| birth_name         = Christopher Robert Andrew
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1963|2|18|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Richmond, North Yorkshire]], [[England]]
| occupation         = ECB Managing Director, Professional Game
| alma_mater         = [[St John's College, Cambridge]]
| spouse             = Sara Andrew
| children           = Emily, Beth, Iola
| module             = {{Infobox rugby biography
| embed           = yes
| height          = {{convert|5|ft|9|in|abbr=on}}
| weight          =
| position        = [[Fly-half (rugby union)|fly-half]]
| ru_currentteam  = 
| amatyears1      = 1982–1985
| amatteam1       = [[Cambridge University R.U.F.C.|Cambridge University]]
| years1          = 1985–1986
| years2          = 1987–1991
| years3          = 1991-1992
| years4          = 1992–1995
| years5          = 1995–1999
| clubs1          = [[Nottingham R.F.C.|Nottingham]]
| clubs2          = [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]]
| clubs3          = [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]
| clubs4          = [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]]
| clubs5          = [[Newcastle Falcons]]
| apps1           = 
| points1         = 
| repyears1       = 1985–1997
| repyears2       = [[1989 British Lions tour to Australia|1989]], [[1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand|1993]]
| repteam1        = [[England national rugby union team|England]]
| repteam2        = [[British and Irish Lions]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/players.php?player=5979&includeref=dynamic|title=Player Archive|work=lionsrugby.com}}</ref>
| repcaps1        = 71
| repcaps2        = 5
| reppoints1      = 396
| reppoints2      = 11
| repsevensyears1 = 
| repsevenscomp1  = 
}}
| module2            = {{Infobox cricketer
| embed = yes
|             batting = Left-handed
|             bowling = Right-arm [[off-break]]
|                role = Batsman
|               club1 = [[Cambridge University Cricket Club|Cambridge University]]
|               year1 = 1984–1985
|               type1 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|          debutdate1 = 18 April
|          debutyear1 = 1984
|           debutfor1 = Cambridge University
|       debutagainst1 = [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club|Leicestershire]]
|           lastdate1 = 5 July
|           lastyear1 = 1985
|            lastfor1 = Cambridge University
|        lastagainst1 = [[Oxford University Cricket Club|Oxford University]]
|               type2 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|          debutdate2 = 5 May
|          debutyear2 = 1984
|           debutfor2 = [[Combined Universities]]
|       debutagainst2 = [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]]
|           lastdate2 = 18 May
|           lastyear2 = 1985
|            lastfor2 = Combined Universities
|        lastagainst2 = [[Essex County Cricket Club|Essex]]
|             columns = 2
|             column1 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|            matches1 = 17
|               runs1 = 658
|            bat avg1 = 21.22
|           100s/50s1 = 1/3
|          top score1 = 101[[not out|*]]
|         deliveries1 = 1,433
|            wickets1 = 12
|           bowl avg1 = 70.58
|            fivefor1 = 0
|             tenfor1 = 0
|       best bowling1 = 3/77
|  catches/stumpings1 = 6/–
|             column2 = [[List A cricket|List A]]
|            matches2 = 5
|               runs2 = 150
|            bat avg2 = 37.50
|           100s/50s2 = 0/1
|          top score2 = 82*
|         deliveries2 = 156
|            wickets2 = 1
|           bowl avg2 = 124.00
|            fivefor2 = 0
|             tenfor2 = 0
|       best bowling2 = 1/15
|  catches/stumpings2 = 0/–
|                date = 8 December
|                year = 2008
|              source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/27/27483/27483.html CricketArchive
}}
}}

'''Christopher Robert Andrew''' {{post-nominals|MBE}} (born 18 February 1963) is a former English [[rugby union]] player who as a fly-half played 71 Tests for England between 1985 and 1997. Since his retirement from playing he has held administration roles in both rugby and cricket. He was formerly the Director of Rugby of [[Newcastle Falcons]] and Professional Rugby Director at the [[Rugby Football Union|RFU]]. He was Chief Executive of [[Sussex County Cricket Club]] before joining the [[England and Wales Cricket Board]] in 2024 as Managing Director of the professional game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rob Andrew joins ECB as Managing Director, Professional Game |url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3753412/rob-andrew-joins-ecb-as-managing-director-professional-game |website=ECB |access-date=11 June 2024 |date=26 October 2023}}</ref>

As a player, Andrew was assured in his kicking and defensive skills off both feet. Andrew also had a brief career in [[first-class cricket]] whilst at University and played for [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club]]'s Second XI.<ref name=bbc23nov16 />

Andrew was born in [[Richmond, North Yorkshire]], England on 18 February 1963.<ref>{{cite web |title=Player Profile: Rob Andrew |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/rob-andrew-8741 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=11 June 2024}}</ref>

==Rugby career==

===Domestic===
Andrew attended [[Barnard Castle School]], where he was contemporary with future teammate [[Rory Underwood]] and was captain of the school 1st XV in 1981. Whilst in the northeast, both Underwood and Andrew played their rugby at [[Middlesbrough RUFC]]. Andrew then attended [[St John's College, Cambridge]], and played for [[Cambridge University Rugby Football Club|Cambridge University]] in [[the Varsity Match]].{{cn|date=July 2025}}

He joined [[Nottingham R.F.C.|Nottingham]] for one season in 1985/86 and then joined [[Wasps FC]] where he was first choice fly-half throughout most of the eight seasons he spent with the north London club. At [[Wasps FC]] he won the English League in 1990, eventually leaving to join [[Newcastle Gosforth]] in 1995 as both a player and as director of rugby.<ref>[http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/188_190.php Newcastle Falcons history]</ref>

The club had just been bought out by Sir John Hall in the lead-up to the game turning professional; they became the Falcons of today. During his time in charge of [[Newcastle Falcons]] he is credited with discovering [[Jonny Wilkinson]]. In 1991 he joined the famous Stade Toulousain (France) for one season. He was an ever-present when Newcastle Falcons won the [[1997–98 English Premiership (rugby union)|1997-98 Premiership]].<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/records.html?id=2529;team=249;type=tournament
| title = Allied Dunbar Premiership, 1997/98 / Newcastle Falcons / Player records
| publisher = espnscrum.com
| access-date = 7 September 2016}}</ref>
His playing career was ended in 1999 after an injury in training.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/injury-ends-andrews-playing-career-739297.html|title=Injury ends Andrew's playing career|date=21 September 1999|work=The Independent}}</ref>

===International===
Andrew was [[Fly-half (rugby union)|fly-half]] for [[England national rugby union team|England]] during the [[Will Carling]] era, making a winning debut in January 1985 against Romania at Twickenham. For the next 10 years he was England's regular fly-half earning 70 caps, including 2 as captain. He was briefly dropped in 1993 as England tried out Bath RFC's Stuart Barnes for the fly-half's position, but regained it after two matches. After England finished 4th in the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]], he saw out his contract at Wasps and moved to the [[Newcastle Falcons]]. He made his final appearance for England after an absence of almost two years when he was called off the bench as a try scoring replacement against Wales in March 1997. In total, he scored 396 international points, won the Grand Slam with England 3 times and held the English record for the most points scored in an international - 30, scored against Canada in 1994.

Critics of the England side blamed him for kicking the ball too much rather than passing - perhaps unfairly since England three times broke the Five Nations records for tries scored, and points scored, with Andrew as fly-half (in 1990 despite not even winning the tournament, and again in 1992 and 1995): however it was undeniable that England's game plan was based very much more around their forwards than their backs, with kicking for territory and competing to win line-outs and rucks in opposition territory being a major part of the tactic. [[England national rugby union team|England]] did, however, enjoy a great deal of success with him as their [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Number 10]].

Inconsistent early in his career as a place-kicker for penalties and conversions, and often ceding that duty to fullbacks Webb and Hodgkinson (only to have to take some kicks anyway, when Webb also proved inconsistent early in his own career), Andrew improved that aspect of his game greatly, until by the end of his career he was among the best in the world at it, as well as being a reliable source of dropped-goals.

He played in 3 [[Rugby World Cup]] competitions; [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]] (making 2 appearances), [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]] and [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995]]. Curiously, just as [[Jonny Wilkinson|Wilkinson]] had beaten [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] in the [[2003 Rugby World Cup Final]] with a drop goal, the last time [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] lost in the same competition was in 1995. In that year, it was Andrew who nailed a drop goal on the stroke of full-time to beat the [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] 25–22. Four years before, it was another late drop-goal by Andrew, in the semi-final against Scotland, that took England to the final against Australia.

In 1989 he had the honour of captaining the [[British and Irish Lions]] against [[France national rugby union team|France]] in a rare "home" match for the Lions. The game formed part of the celebrations of the bi-centennial of the French Revolution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/22196.html|title=Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - France v British and Irish Lions XV at Parc des Princes|work=ESPN scrum}}</ref> In the final match, against ANZAC, of the Lions' victorious '89 tour to Australia, Andrew came on at inside center as a substitute for the injured Brendan Mullen. Andrew also toured to New Zealand with the Lions in 1993, starting at flyhalf over his England rival Barnes. The Lions lost the test series to New Zealand 2–1.

===Post playing===
Andrew remained as director of rugby at Newcastle Falcons after the injury that ended his playing career until on
18 August 2006 he was appointed by the RFU to undertake the post of Director of Elite Rugby to oversee all aspects of representative rugby in England, from the regional academies to the full senior side.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cleary|first=Mick|title=Andrew keen to name new coach|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/2352266/Andrew-keen-to-name-new-coach.html|access-date=26 March 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|location=London|date=13 December 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/5262238.stm|title=Rugby Union - English - Andrew accepts top England role|work=BBC Sport|date=18 August 2006 }}</ref>

On 6 January 2011, Andrew's role as director of elite rugby at the Rugby Football Union was scrapped in an overhaul of the organisation's structure. It was reported that Andrew was invited to apply for one of the new roles created by this process, that of operations director.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/9338500.stm|title=Rugby Union - Rob Andrew's role at RFU scrapped in overhaul|work=BBC Sport|date=6 January 2011 }}</ref> At a press conference on 16 November 2011 Andrew's position was described as Director of Elite Rugby and he reportedly took several attempts to (inconclusively) describe his responsibilities.<ref name="planetrugby">{{cite web|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3556_7313343_2,00.html#pr-comments|title=Planet Rugby &#124; International Rugby Union &#124; England Rugby Union News|publisher=planetrugby.com|access-date=23 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727020039/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3556_7313343_2,00.html#pr-comments|archive-date=27 July 2014}}</ref> He resigned as the RFU's director of professional rugby in February 2016.<ref name=bbc23nov16 />

On 10 November 2017, Andrew was inducted into the [[World Rugby Hall of Fame]] at a ceremony held in the Hall's [[Rugby Art Gallery and Museum|facility]] in [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.worldrugby.org/news/293371?lang=en |title=Five legends inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame |publisher=World Rugby |date=10 November 2017 |access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref>

==Cricket career==
Andrew was also a talented [[cricket]]er, gaining a Cambridge blue for that sport as well,<ref name=bbc23nov16 /> and he made 17 [[first-class cricket]] appearances for [[Cambridge University Cricket Club|the university cricket team]] in 1984 and 1985,<ref name=cafcseason>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/27/27483/f_Batting_by_Season.html First-class batting and fielding in each season by Rob Andrew], CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 November 2016.</ref> as well as playing five times for [[Combined Universities]] in [[one-day cricket]].<ref name=calateams>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/27/27483/a_Batting_by_Team.html List A batting and fielding for each team by Rob Andrew], CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 November 2016.</ref> A left-handed batsman and right arm off-break bowler, he made one first-class century,<ref name=bbc23nov16 /> scoring 101 [[not out]] against [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire]] in July 1984.<ref name=cafcseason /> Andrew also made a few appearances for the [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]] Second XI,<ref name=bbc23nov16 /> and on one occasion dismissed future England captain [[Mike Atherton]] (then aged 17) for a [[duck (cricket)|duck]].<ref name=ci18oct17>Williamson M (2007) [http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/315702.html Rugger buggers], [[CricInfo]], 18 October 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2016.</ref>

In November 2016, Andrew was appointed chief executive of [[Sussex County Cricket Club]].<ref name=bbc23nov16>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/38072263 Rob Andrew: Sussex name ex-England rugby player as chief executive], ''[[BBC Sport]]'', 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.</ref> After seven years in the role he joined the England and Wales Cricket Board as Managing Director of the professional game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rob Andrew appointed ECB Managing Director, Professional Game |url=https://sussexcricket.co.uk/news/rob-andrew-appointed-ecb-managing-director-professional-game |website=Sussex CCC |access-date=11 June 2024 |date=27 October 2023}}</ref>

==Off the field==
Andrew is an Honorary President of the rugby charity [[Wooden Spoon Society|Wooden Spoon]], which raises funds for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK and Ireland.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

==See also==
* [[List of top English points scorers and try scorers]]
* [[List of cricket and rugby union players]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512011356/http://www.wasps.co.uk/PlayerDisplaySS.ink?skip=0&squadno=7409&season=95%2F96&seasonl=1995%2F1996&Playertype=P |title=Wasps profile }}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808174020/http://www.abingdonmanagement.co.uk/index.cfm?page=showspeaker&sp=ra |title=Rob Andrew MBE }}
* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=8741}}
* {{CricketArchive|id=27483}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Will Carling]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=English National Rugby Union Captain|years=May 1989}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Will Carling]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Will Carling]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=English National Rugby Union Captain|years=May 1995}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Will Carling]]}}
{{end}}

{{England Squad 1987 World Cup}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1989}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1989 France}}
{{Four Home Unions 1990}}
{{England Squad 1991 World Cup}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1993}}
{{England Squad 1995 World Cup}}
{{British and Irish Lions team captains}}
{{English national rugby union team captains}}
{{Barbarian RFC Captains in Internationals}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andrew, Rob}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Barbarian F.C. players]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England]]
[[Category:British Universities cricketers]]
[[Category:Cambridge University cricketers]]
[[Category:Cambridge University cricket captains]]
[[Category:Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Yorkshire]]
[[Category:England international rugby union players]]
[[Category:English cricket administrators]]
[[Category:English cricketers]]
[[Category:English rugby union executives]]
[[Category:English rugby union players]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Newcastle Red Bulls players]]
[[Category:North of England Rugby Union team]]
[[Category:Nottingham R.F.C. players]]
[[Category:People educated at Barnard Castle School]]
[[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Richmond, North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Richmond, North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Wasps RFC players]]
[[Category:World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Yorkshire County RFU players]]
[[Category:1987 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:1991 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:1995 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]