Richard Thorpe appointed Director of Rugby

CHINNOR RFC Thame has announced the appointment of Richard Thorpe as its new Director of Rugby.

Richard Thorpe who replaces Matt Williams, who has left Chinnor RFC to take up a new role with London Scottish

Richard is well known to the Club from his time at Kingsey Road in 2016 as Player/Head Coach when he successfully integrated Premiership-grade game plans, structure and culture. 

Richard’s playing career included 150 Premiership games with London Irish, Leicester Tigers and London Welsh. He has won both the Premiership and the Championship, and in what he considers the pinnacle of his rugby career, represented Rugby Canada at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. 

After retiring from professional rugby, Richard has forged successful careers in both property investment and performance coaching – the latter being his primary focus since 2018. His coaching clients include international athletes, partners, c-suite executives and successful young entrepreneurs. His work with these individuals is focussed on performance, resilience and wellbeing at the 1-2-1 and/or group level. 

Chairman of Chinnor RFC Thame, Simon Vickers commented: “When Richard made contact, we immediately took his approach seriously. Richard was extremely well thought of in his time at the Club and shares our reset vision as to how we will move forward in these challenging times and beyond. Richard is a professional through and through and a great communicator and we know that he will get buy in from not just the players but the whole of Chinnor Club. Regardless of how much or how little rugby we play next season Richard will be working hard to ensure we are well prepared.” 

Richard said of his appointment: “The moment I became aware of this opportunity I knew that I could make a substantial difference to what is already a successful and well run club to enable it to move to higher levels in all respects. Having spoken with Simon and the Board I am enthusiastic and impressed by their new vision, which allows me the freedom to inject a new energy, philosophy and culture to deliver it. I am passionate about rugby and rugby clubs. They are a great force in the community, and I have many fond memories of my time at Chinnor and the friendships I made there. I am excited to return and take control during these challenging and uncertain times we are all experiencing. Chinnor will be a Club that tackles these challenges head-on, and together we will come out the other side better rugby players and better people.” 

Chinnor RFC has also appointed Matty Mounford as its new team manager. A previous Chinnor player, Matty replaces Steve Trenchard, and the new-look club has also been joined by Bertie Hopkin as team captain.

NB Chinnor RFC Thame are a community club with the highest ranked first XV in Oxfordshire who play in the third tier of English rugby. The club aims to provide enjoyable rugby for all levels and ages, with three senior sides, a vets team, age group rugby from U6 to Colts, a girls team and touch rugby.