Chris Gray (rugby union) explained

Chris Gray
Birth Name:Christopher Antony Gray
Birth Date:1960 7, df=y
Birth Place:Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland
Ru Position:Lock
Ru Amateuryears:1976 - 1978
1983 - 1997
Ru Amateurclubs:Edinburgh Academical
Nottingham RFC
Ru Amateurcaps:
243
Ru Amateurpoints:
(60)
Ru Province:Anglo-Scots
Ru Provinceyears:-
Ru Nationalteam:Scotland
Ru Nationalyears:1989 - 1991
Ru Nationalcaps:22
Ru Nationalpoints:(12)
Occupation:Dentist

Christopher Antony Gray (born 11 July 1960 in Haddington, East Lothian) is a former Scottish international rugby player who played most of his club rugby in England. He gained 22 caps for Scotland national rugby union team including five appearances at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He is qualified as a dentist and helps coach at the school Trent College in Long Eaton.

Club career

Between 1978 and 1983, Gray turned out for Edinburgh Academical.[1] In 1983 he joined Nottingham R.F.C., and played 243 matches for the Green and Whites (scoring 60 points) until retiring in 1997.[2] He succeeded England and British Lions hooker Brian Moore as club captain in 1989.[3]

He held the record of 27 appearances for the Scottish Exiles provincial side, until it was equalled by Richard Cramb in 1992.[4]

International career

Gray made his Scotland debut in the 23-7 Five Nations win against Wales at Murrayfield on 21 January 1989 and was part of the Scotland team that claimed a grand slam in the 1990 Five Nations Championship. He played his last international in the 13-6 World Cup Third-place play-off defeat against New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park on 30 October 1991.

Dental career

Gray qualified from the Edinburgh Dental School in 1983 and moved to Nottingham to take up employment as a dentist.[5] He worked as a dentist throughout his playing career. He is currently the owner of Wollaton Dental Care in Nottingham.[6] [7]

Personal life

Gray married Nottingham RFC physiotherapist Judith Bunten in 1991.[8] They have two sons: James Christopher Gray (b. 1991), who was invited to play for the Scottish Exiles under-19s side in the spring of 2010,[9] and Nicholas Andrew Gray (b. 1995). Jamie's birth occurred towards the end of Scotland's 1991 World Cup campaign.[10]

He stands at 6"5'. He continues to help coach the school Trent College, where both his sons went.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.accie.org/itn.php?displayarticle=98&start=0&num_pages=7&num_results=95
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 2010-11-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720104427/http://www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk/downloads/OldPlayerList.pdf . 2011-07-20 . Nottingham RFC Player Records
  3. News: SCOTTISH international lock Chris Gray is to take over as captain of Nottingham next season . The Herald . 28 April 1989 . 23 November 2016.
  4. News: Robertson absent as Glasgow face Exiles . The Herald . 2 December 1992 . 23 November 2016.
  5. Web site: My Life in rugby: Chris Gray – former Edinburgh Academicals, Nottingham and Scotland lock . www.therugbypaper.co.uk . 12 April 2016. 23 November 2016.
  6. Web site: Changing Old Habits . 2010-11-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720165754/http://www.nova-instruments.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88%3Aarticle-chris-gray&catid=35&Itemid=99 . 2011-07-20 . Changing old habits, The Dentist, April 2008
  7. http://www.wollatondentalcare.co.uk/meet2.html
  8. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/rugby-intended-1.528923 Rugby intended - Herald Scotland | Sport | SPL | Aberdeen
  9. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rugby-union/interview-charged-with-disrupting-england-s-lineout-chris-gray-recalls-his-role-in-scottish-rugby-s-greatest-day-1.1012756
  10. News: Jimmy Sirrel's agonising choice after wife's death . Nottingham Post . 25 November 2008 . 23 November 2016 .
  11. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/the-men-who-carry-scotland-s-championship-hopes-1.501962