When rugby union’s wall of amateurism began to crumble in the late 1980s and early 90s, Jack Rowell’s Bath club were already professional in all but name. Bath dominated English club rugby and it was inevitable that Rowell, who has died at the age of 87, would go on to coach England.
Rowell’s time as national coach was a turbulent one and he was a divisive figure. Complex, acerbic and sensitive, he was successful on the national stage, leading England to a grand slam and 21 victories in 29 games. But he came into conflict with his high-profile captain, Will Carling, treated the media with ill-disguised contempt, and his time with England did not end happily in 1997.
