Damian Hopley MBE (born 12 April 1970) is a former rugby union player for London Wasps and England. His position of choice was on the wing or in the centres.

Damian Hopley
Birth nameDamian Paul Hopley
Date of birth (1970-04-12) 12 April 1970 (age 54)
Place of birthLondon, England, UK
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight14 st 9 lb (93 kg)
SchoolSt Benedict's School, Ealing
Harrow School
UniversityUniversity of St Andrews, University of Cambridge
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing / Centre
Youth career
1990-1992 Wasps Academy
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)

1992-1998
St. Andrews
London Wasps

43

(95)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)

1995
England A
England

3

3
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
1993 England 1

Background

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Born in South London, Hopley attended St Benedict's School in Ealing West London where he represented first his School, County, Region and Country in rugby[1][2] and Harrow School. Known by all who know him as "Hoppers", he was nicknamed the "vicar of rugby" in the Press, having studied theology at the University of St Andrews and Cambridge University and holds a Master of Theology degree.[3][4] proceeding to a post graduate degree in education at Cambridge University where he won a Blue.

Career

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Hopley continued playing rugby for his university side. He spent his entire playing career with London Wasps before retiring at only 26 due to injuries just months after the sport turned professional.

He was a member of the successful England sevens team that won the Melrose Cup in the inaugural IRB 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens at Murrayfield. He won 3 caps for England and retired in 1998 after injuries forced him to retire at the age of 27.[5]

Other work

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Hopley is the founder and chief executive of the not-for-profit registered trade union Rugby Players' Association (RPA), launched in August 1998, as the representative body and collective voice of professional rugby union players in England.[3][6]

Hopley was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to rugby union football.[7]

References

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  1. ^ National Schools Sevens - Glories and Stories Archived 15 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Old Priorians Association - Sports - International Caps
  3. ^ a b "Damian Hopley, the 'Vicar of Rugby' tackles the professional game head on". The Daily Telegraph. 10 June 2009.
  4. ^ "St Andrews University". The Herald. 8 July 1993.
  5. ^ "Hopley continues as players' boss". BBC. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  6. ^ "Who we are". RPA. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  7. ^ "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N20.
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