User:Lennie Newman

Biography - Lennie Newman

“Lennie was an aspiring, albeit a rather large, local footballer when his career took a dramatic change after the team bus forgot to collect him from the local pick up point” Within 18 months he was making his debut For Northampton Saints at Twickenham After standing around for almost 45 minutes with kit bag in hand and a tear in his eye, one of his friends, who happened to a local Rugby player stopped and asked him why he was standing there alone? All was explained and the friend offered him a lift to the local rugby club where he could get a game if he wanted.

The rest, as they say, is history as Lennie (aged 17) played Rugby on that day for the Kettering Colts team and within 6 months he had moved through the sides, eventually playing for Kettering 1st XV and then the amazing phone call that changed his life and was the introduction to a twelve year career as a player for Northampton Saints and then another 10 years as the Manager of this prestigious Premiership club.

During this period Lennie was also went into the family business as an 18 year old when his family decided he should take over the business due to his Fathers serious illness. Lennie continued in the family business expanding it into 5 different companies. During his business and sports career Lennie has been renowned as one of the most respected persons not only in sport but also in the business world with a fantastic sense of humor and a love of sport, people and life in general.

He has worked under six different coaching regimes and gives an in depth insight in the workings of a modern professional club and all the personalities and stories that he has amassed over the years.

He is a regular speaker at dinners all around the country and has appeared alongside Sir Ian McGeechan, Martin Bayfield, Willie John McBride, Wayne Smith, Buck Shelford, Paul Merson, Ian Robertson. Martin Johnson, Dean Richards and many more international players and coaches. He is totally at ease with either an audience of twenty or a thousand people and has spoken at large corporate and sporting events during his career.

He is a director of Cassell Sports and also Chairman of Kettering Rugby Football Club where he started his career. He is also a summariser/pundit for the BBC for the Aviva Premiership & Champions Cup games. He also Co hosts a weekly rugby show and his own show where he chats to local sports personalities about their career and love of music.

“Lennie has played with and managed some of the biggest names within the world of Rugby and he has always had one of the best senses of humor I have ever witnessed…a pleasure to work alongside” Wayne Smith All Blacks Assistant Coach

Lennie has managed the following world class players •	Buck Shelford – New Zealand’s most famous unbeaten captain & World Cup Winner. •	Pat Lam – Samoa Captain and Auckland Blues coach •	Matt Dawson – World Cup Winner and Question of Sport Captain. •	Paul Grayson – World Cup Winner. •	Ben Cohen – World Cup Winner. •	Tom Smith – Scotland and British Lions legend. •	Steve Thompson – World Cup Winner. •	Corne Kriger – South Africa’s controversial captain. •	Olivier Brouzet – France most capped lock. •	Tim Rodber – England & British Lions. •	Carlos Spencer – Arguably one of the world’s greatest rugby players. •	Soane Tongauiha – Saints & Tonga. •	Sean Lamont - Scotland. •	Euan Murray – Scotland & British Lions. •	John Leslie – The kilted Kiwi. •	Budge Pountney – Saints and Scotland Captain.

Lennie has worked alongside the following coaches:

•	John Steele 		Former RFU CEO & UK Sport •	Wayne Smith 		Assistant Coach NZ All Blacks •	Frank Ponissi 	General Manager – Melbourne Storm RL. •	Andy Goodway 	Wigan RL and Great Britain RL Coach. •	Allan Solomon’s 	South Africa Assistant coach •	Jim Mallinder 		Northampton Saints Director Of Rugby Rugby Career Brief Details: 1988 - 1989 Kettering RUFC - Player 1989 – 1992 Northampton Saints – Player 1992 – 1996 Kettering RUFC -  Player/Coach 1996 – 1999 Kettering – Coach – 3 Promotions 1999 – 2009 Northampton Saints – Manager 2010 – Present - Chairman KRFC

Honors Pilkington Cup Finalist Tetley’s Finalist (x3) EDF Trophy Winner National League 1 Winner European Challenge Cup Winner