Full name | John Eric Greenwood | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nickname | Jenny | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 23 July 1891 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Lewisham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 23 July 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | (registered in) Poole (aged 84 years 0 days) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Dulwich College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Cambridge University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position(s) | Forward | ||
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Senior career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
National team(s) | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
1912-1920 | England | 13 | (Pts:30; Tries:0; Conv:12; Pens:2; Drop:0) |
John Eric Greenwood (known as Jenny Greenwood) was a rugby union international who represented England from 1912 to 1920. He also captained his country. During what would have been the prime of his playing career he fought in the First World War.
Jenny Greenwood was born on 23 July 1891 in Lewisham. He attended Dulwich College
Greenwood learnt his rugby at Dulwich College, before which he had been a keen soccer player. Whilst there he played in an unbeaten first XV in 1909 which contained five future internationals dubbed the 'Famous Five'. These five would all go on to play in the 1913 Varsity match, (and also produced the captains of both Oxford and Cambridge in 1919), and all served in the First World War. They were Eric Loudoun-Shand and Grahame Donald who both went on to play for Scotland, William David Doherty who went on to play for and captain Ireland, Greenwood himself who went on to play for and captain England and the record-breaking Cyril Lowe.
From Dulwich College, Greenwood went to Cambridge University. He was selected to play as a Centre in the 1912 varsity match, and also made his international debut on 8 April 1912 at Parc des Princes in the France vs England match. He was again selected for the 1913 varsity match and again played for England. On his team were two of his former school team mates, CN Lowe and George Doherty, on the opposing side were Eric Loudoun-Shand and Graham Donald also from Dulwich. His international career was then interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War.