Drill rod gripping apparatus to grip and impart rotational motion to a drill rod comprising: a frame having a front end and a rear end spaced apart from the front end in a direction of a longitudinal axis corresponding to an axis of a drill rod when mounted at the apparatus; a sled mounted at the frame via at least one support configured to allow axial movement of the sled relative to the frame; a first and second jaw mounted to move to and from each other; a plurality of rod engagers (400, 401) mounted at each of the first and second jaws, at least one of the engagers (400, 401) being rotatably driven by a drive actuator; characterised by: at least one mount (406, 600) to mount at least one of the first and second jaws at the sled such that at least one of the first and second jaws is configured to slide across the sled via a non-pivoting sideways linear motion in a direction transverse or perpendicular to the axis; wherein at least one of the rod engagers (400, 401) comprises an abrasive surface to increase a frictional force between the drill rod and the at least one rod engager (400, 401); wherein the at least one support comprises a pair of elongate runners (207, 215) mounted at and extending between the front end and rear end of the frame; and wherein the sled comprises a pair of sleeves configured to slide over respectively each support comprising a shaft such that sled is suspended in a 'floating' relationship with respect to frame. a frame having a front end and a rear end spaced apart from the front end in a direction of a longitudinal axis corresponding to an axis of a drill rod when mounted at the apparatus; a sled mounted at the frame via at least one support configured to allow axial movement of the sled relative to the frame; a first and second jaw mounted to move to and from each other; a plurality of rod engagers (400, 401) mounted at each of the first and second jaws, at least one of the engagers (400, 401) being rotatably driven by a drive actuator; characterised by: at least one mount (406, 600) to mount at least one of the first and second jaws at the sled such that at least one of the first and second jaws is configured to slide across the sled via a non-pivoting sideways linear motion in a direction transverse or perpendicular to the axis; wherein at least one of the rod engagers (400, 401) comprises an abrasive surface to increase a frictional force between the drill rod and the at least one rod engager (400, 401); wherein the at least one support comprises a pair of elongate runners (207, 215) mounted at and extending between the front end and rear end of the frame; and wherein the sled comprises a pair of sleeves configured to slide over respectively each support comprising a shaft such that sled is suspended in a 'floating' relationship with respect to frame. at least one mount (406, 600) to mount at least one of the first and second jaws at the sled such that at least one of the first and second jaws is configured to slide across the sled via a non-pivoting sideways linear motion in a direction transverse or perpendicular to the axis; wherein at least one of the rod engagers (400, 401) comprises an abrasive surface to increase a frictional force between the drill rod and the at least one rod engager (400, 401); wherein the at least one support comprises a pair of elongate runners (207, 215) mounted at and extending between the front end and rear end of the frame; and