Will Greenwood

Having started working life on the City trading floor he went on to become second highest try scorer in English rugby history and helped power England to a glorious victory at the Rugby World Cup in 2003.

A character and leader in one of the most successful team dynamics seen in recent times, he is widely regarded as one of England’s greatest ever rugby players, as well as one of the sport’s most intelligent and entertaining characters.

Will Greenwood has spent his life in the pursuit of better. Celebrating difference at every turn, forging togetherness wherever he goes, and always trying to grow. ​

Will graduated with an economics degree from Durham University and began his working life on London’s City trading floor for HSBC. When rugby turned professional in 1996, he went all in. Will went on to become the second highest try scorer in English rugby history and helped lead England to victory at the Rugby World Cup in 2003. He is widely regarded as one of England’s greatest ever rugby players, as well as one of the sport’s most engaging, intelligent and entertaining characters.​

In 2005, in the culmination of an outstanding career, he went on his final British and Irish Lions Tour, joining a small band of players who have toured 3 times with the Lions.​

Throughout his 11 years playing professional rugby, Will was a dedicated professional combining a fantastic work ethic with a desire to continuously learn and improve his game. Despite injury setbacks and occasional moments of self-doubt and personal tragedy his focus, determination and perseverance led him to the top of the national and international game.​

Off pitch his focus was no different. Will’s reputation as bright and articulate with a positive personality meant he was snapped up by Sky as a regular match day presenter, where he continues to work 25 years after his first appearance. During this time Will drove the hugely popular ‘School of Hard Knocks’. The series gave at risk youngsters in inner city areas the chance to train, grow and get their life back on track through sport. Alongside this he has penned an opinion column for the Telegraph for 17 years now.​

Will has written 3 books including his most recent Amazon best seller “World Class”, interviewing over 100 elite performers from the world of business and sport to find a formula for success.​

Will has been working for data and software company Afiniti since 2014 and took up the position as Chief Customer Officer in 2020. Afiniti is the pioneer of CX AI, delivering measurably better business outcomes for some of the largest enterprises in the world.​

Will and his wife Caro are Patrons of Borne. Borne is on a mission to end premature birth – everywhere and forever. Borne funds research to advance our knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth and improve the lives of mothers and babies. Will has climbed mountains, trekked to Poles, and crossed continents to give Freddie Greenwood’s short life a strong legacy.

Will’s previous career as an HSBC trader has provided him with a unique perspective on themes that resonate across both business and sport.

The extraordinary combination of leadership, discipline, motivation, and teamwork that propelled England to World Cup victory in 2003 offers a powerful illustration of what it takes to achieve and sustain peak performance.

A transformative shift in mindset and behaviours unlocked a new level of performance, while the challenges of injury setbacks, personal tragedy, and self-doubt add depth to his narrative, offering a compelling exploration of the resilience required to succeed in any field.

Will’s career is rich with stories and anecdotes that can be tailored to captivate any audience, rugby fans included or otherwise. With his sharp sense of humour, he has firmly established himself as one of the UK’s most sought-after after-dinner speakers.