Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
1 week ago
United Kingdom Chris Cracknell is an Olympic gold medal-winning coach and former international rugby player, renowned for his transition from athlete to a leader in elite performance and business.
Chris Cracknell served as the assistant coach for the Fiji 7's team and later as the head coach for the Fijiana women's team. During his tenure, the Fiji 7's team won an Olympic gold medal in 2016, and the Fijiana team secured a bronze medal in Tokyo 2020. He also helped expand the women's rugby program in Fiji from 150 to over 1800 registered players.
Chris Cracknell, a former England Sevens international and a member of the Fiji coaching team that won gold at Rio 2016, provided commentary and insights to World Rugby on the 'incredible' men's Olympic rugby sevens tournament in Tokyo.
Chris Cracknell is a consultant for Cleartrack Performance, a company focused on developing leadership capabilities, coaching team performance, boosting human performance, and enhancing safety culture. He brings his experience as a professional rugby player and coach to his role, offering diverse knowledge and skills in coaching and mentoring.
Chris Cracknell is part of the team at Leading Edge Performance. His coaching philosophy, shaped by diverse cultural experiences, is enriched with knowledge and skills from around the world. He highlights his role in Fiji, where he helped expand the women's rugby program, which contributed to the women's Fiji side winning bronze in 2020 Tokyo.
Born in Windsor, Berkshire, England, on August 6, 1984, Chris Cracknell embarked on a professional rugby career that spanned two decades. He initially considered leaving rugby after three seasons of ‘A’ team rugby at Harlequins, but a full-time offer with Newbury, followed by a deal with Cornish Pirates, reignited his passion. His time with Cornish Pirates included a successful first season, culminating in winning the EDF Cup against Exeter at Twickenham. Concurrently, Cracknell achieved notable success in Sevens rugby with England, securing victories against New Zealand in 2007 in Wellington and London.
Throughout his playing career, Cracknell represented various clubs including Harlequins, Newbury Blues, Cornish Pirates, Exeter Chiefs, Bath, Pertemps Bees, and Worcester Warriors. A significant turning point in his career arrived when he was signed as England’s first full-time contracted Sevens player after overcoming two serious knee injuries. He participated in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where England narrowly missed a bronze medal. Following his retirement from playing, Cracknell transitioned into coaching, contributing to the Fiji 7’s team and later becoming the head coach for the Fijiana women’s team, leading them to an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo 2020. His coaching philosophy has been influenced by diverse cultural experiences in the UK, China, Fiji, and the USA.
Beyond rugby, Cracknell applies his leadership and performance insights to the business world, managing a family hairdressing business. His career showcases a commitment to developing human potential, leveraging lessons learned from professional sports in leadership, managing pressure, and teamwork. In 2022, he took on the role of coach for the Belgium national rugby union team, further expanding his coaching experience across different national teams. His contributions to rugby were recognized in 2016 when he was awarded the Officer of the Order of Fiji following the Fiji 7’s team’s Olympic gold medal win in Rio.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
