Phil Larder

Playing career

After graduating with a degree in Physical Education and Sports Science from Loughborough University in 1965, he played rugby union at centre for Broughton Park in Manchester and then Sale. Larder then transferred to rugby league, playing for Oldham and later Whitehaven.

Phil Larder played right-centre, i.e. number 3, in Oldham's defeat by St. Helens in the 1968 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1968–69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Friday 25 October 1968.

He was Head of Physical Education at Saddleworth School between 197? and 1982.

Coaching

In 1982, Larder was appointed as Coaching Director of the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA). Following Australia's 40-4 win in the first Ashes series test over Great Britain at Boothferry Park in Hull as part of the 1982 Kangaroo tour, Larder realised that the Australian's had left the British game behind and that if something didn't change then international matches between the two teams would no longer be a contest (the score had only been 10-4 at half time, but the Kangaroos has scored 30 unanswered points in the second half to leave British rugby league shell shocked). Deciding that action needed to be taken, Larder contacted Kangaroos coach Frank Stanton before the second test in Wigan and requested that he be allowed to spend a week with the team to observe the Kangaroos coaching and training methods. After getting approval from the Australian Rugby League (largely due to Larder having no official connection to the Lions, and the ARL recognising what he was trying to accomplish), Stanton agreed and Larder spent a week with the team. From there he attended a coaches conference in February 1983 (among the coaches was former Great Britain lock forward and then Castleford coach Mal Reilly) where he presented his findings from his week with Stanton. The Rugby Football League were impressed with his initiative and Larder was appointed as Coaching Director of the RFL as well as the BARLA. Larder's work saw rugby league in Britain become more professional. After becoming the RFL Coaching Director, as he had done with the 1982 Kangaroos, Larder travelled to Australia and spent a week in camp with the Queensland team and their coach Arthur Beetson during the 1983 State of Origin series.

Larder coached in rugby league, becoming head coach for Widnes, Keighley and Sheffield Eagles. He was the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour's assistant coach to Mal Reilly where the Lions won the third test in Sydney, their first test win over Australia since the second test of the 1978 Kangaroo Tour, and remained Great Britain's assistant coach until the end of 1994.

Larder coached both England rugby league team at the 1995 World Cup where they defeated Australia in the opening game at Wembley Stadium, but ultimately lost the World Cup Final to the Kangaroos, again at Wembley. Larder was later appointed coach of Great Britain and Ireland on their 1996 tour of New Zealand.

Larder then moved to rugby union, first coaching Sale, and worked with Leicester Tigers during their 4-year Guinness Premiership winning run and Heineken Cup victories in 2001 and 2002. Larder was the first specialist coach appointed under Clive Woodward in 1997, when he became England's defence coach. He held the position in England's 2003 World Cup-winning team, and on the 2001 and 2005 British and Irish Lions tours.

Larder was part of the England coaching staff until April 2006, when he was sacked along with Joe Lydon and Dave Alred following a review of the team's poor Six Nations performance. Larder later criticised coach Andy Robinson for letting player power run the team in his 25-month period in charge.

Larder assisted Worcester Warriors as a defensive coach in 2007.