Sevens Season Exceeds Expectations

The 2024 Sevens season has been an enjoyable journey for the Royal Navy Rugby Union 7s teams (Sharks, Mako and Stingrays), as they navigated the tournaments spread across the south of England.

Arriving as separate teams to their various training bases, the Sharks and Mako quickly refamiliarised themselves with the free-flowing form of the game, remaining tight-knit throughout the season. The Stingrays used the opportunity to blood and test several new players as they as individuals look to progress from the social to the elite level.

Sharks. The Sharks had a successful season, led by enthusiastic Head Coach, B Buinimasi, Junior Koroi and Sam Benzie with Dave Heming as Logs Manager. The team achieved a 63% winning record with 3 Cup Finals, yielding 1st place results at Frome and Cheltenham 7s. Of note, the Sharks played the Army on 2 occasions losing 21-19 and 31-19, demonstrating that RN 7s is competitive within the Inter-Services.

Stingrays. It was a largely successful season for the Stingrays with many players called up to debut for the Sharks. The 7s area continues to grow and is testament to the hard work from the TSG over the last 7 seasons. Dave Heming is due to leave the Service in 2025 and will be looking to handover next season, succession planning to find an equally capable individual will be vital to social 7s in the RN. Josh Tora enjoyed his first season as head coach. He signposted likely candidates to the Sharks and allowed his players to enjoy the social level that the Stingrays are pitched at.

Mako. The Mako, led by Rose Dixon and captained by Josie Parnaby, also had a successful season, making it through to the final of the Worthing Cup, the Quarter Finals of the LIT 7s. They reigned victorious at the Cheltenham 7s playing some sublime rugby. However, the season did have its challenges. Player availability remains an issue which impacts the number of tournaments they can fulfil, hindering progression. Based on this successful season and the of the chart improvement of the players, it can’t be too long before they move to the Navy’s representative area and play at the elite level.

A View from the Sidelines

Several people have been heavily involved in bringing the Navy 7s season together. Koroi Junior, Rose Dixon and Josh Tora have been integral to the process.

“I think what we achieved this season exceeded our expectations. A few things that we had aimed to achieve this season were to increase our depth, improve our skill levels/ fitness, and most importantly to create a space where the players wanted to be, said Junior.

It's difficult to pinpoint a particular player because all the players that came into camp bought into the training sessions. However, a few players worth mentioning would be Jack Davis, Manasa Tamani, and Harry Mayes. These 3 players just got better as the season went on.”

Rose Dixon added, “We came into the 7s season with a wealth of new players who hadn’t played 7s before. Not only did they meet every expectation, but they also exceeded them putting in 100%. Ellie Brightwell received the most improved player of the season, coming from a 15s background as a flanker she brought dominance in contact, was an enforcer on the field and took to the tactical differences of the game quickly. Sam Hill averaged at least one try every game of our season and finished the summer as our top try scorer. The team was quick to gel and that was evident on the pitch with us reaching the final in 2 of our 3 tournaments and bringing home some silverware in our final tournament of the season. I am incredibly proud of the women for all the graft they’ve put in this season.”

UKAF

Congratulations to Freddy Elliott, Rose Dixon, Kane Teear-Bourge and Rowann Sinclair for pulling on the UKAF purple. While Rose, Rowann and Freddy enjoyed a trip to the Wimbledon 7s, Kane dipped in with a tour to Colorado at the Denver 7s.

Looking Ahead As the 2024 7s season ended, the Royal Navy Rugby team can reflect on a year of significant achievements. Their performance has not only brought pride to the Navy but has also raised the profile of military rugby on the broader sports stage especially having been asked to rejoin the elite circuit by London International 7s. The teams are set to build on this season's successes. Plans are already underway for enhanced training programs and recruitment drives to bring in fresh talent. We say thank you and goodbye to Luke Cador who had an immediate impact on service rugby having been capped by UKAF and the RN in both forms of the game.

Summer Social 7s – 1 Jun:

Sharks: Kini Dakuliga, Michael Coopey, Will Rigelsford (C), Freddie Elliott, Ben Collishaw, James Lowe, George Wagstaff, Jack Davis, Robbie Humes, Andrew Matyas, Jim Tribe, Sean Hampson, Dean Jones.

TSG: Silivenusi Buinimasi, Junior Koroi, Sam Benzie.

Frome 7s – 15 Jun:

Sharks: Kini Dakuliga, Sam Bartlett, Cam Bull, Tristan Trehan, Jack Ryder, Lewis Roxby, Robbie Hume, Will Rigelsford, Harry Mayes, Kane Teear-Bourge, Kristan Dobson, Freddy Elliott, Jim Tribe, James Lowe.

TSG: Silivenusi Buinimasi, Junior Koroi, Sam Benzie.

Stingrays: John Tyler, Jack Copner, Epeli Tabaka, Jack Cross, Lloyd Evans, Andrew Matyas, Dean Jones, Jack Slark, Griff Griffiths, Vilikesa Tuivadra, Adam Pollock, Manasa Tamani, Mac MacCarthy, Michael Coopey. TSG: Luke Cador, Millie Wood, Will Wright.

Coventry 7s –29 Jun:

Sharks: Kini Dakuliga, Sam Bartlett, Cam Bull, Tristan Trehan, Jack Ryder, Lewis Roxby, Robbie Hume, Will Rigelsford, Harry Mayes, Kane Teear-Bourge, Kristan Dobson, Freddy Elliott, Jim Tribe, James Lowe.

TSG: Silivenusi Buinimasi, Junior Koroi, Sam Benzie.

Worthing 7s – 29 Jun:

Mako: Rowann Sinclair, Elona Bythell, Ellie Brightwell, Josie Parnaby (C), Jasmine Abel, Sam Hill, Flo Mullett, Kaitlin Bark, Ellis Thorpe, Beth Wilcox, Rose Dixon, Freya Moore. TSG: Rose Dixon, Sarah Jenkins.

Stingrays: Josaia Korobiau, Jack Copner, Davis Dean Jones, Ratu Semi Suka, Lloyd Evans, Joshua Warburton, Bruce Loga, Kieran Baldry, Steffan Griffiths, Manasa Tamani, Sam Marples. TSG: Josh Tora, Josaia Korobiau.

North Dorset 7s – 6 Jul:

Sharks: Jack Davis, Sam Bartlett, Epeli Tabaka, Lloyd Evans, Robbie Hacksaw, Christian Postle, James Lowe, Robbie Hume, Freddy Elliott, Manasa Tamani, Steffan Griffiths, Cory Bowes, Henry Glyddons, Harry Mayes (C), Harry Johnson. TSG: Silivenusi Buinimasi, Junior Koroi, Sam Benzie.

LIT 7s – 13 Jul:

Sharks: Harry Mayes (C), Epeli Tabaka, Trsitan Trehan, Sam Bartlett, Jack Davis, Lewis Roxby, Robbie Hume, Freddy Elliott, Rory McCarthy, Manasa Tamani, Jay Toogood, Steffan Griffiths.

TSG: Silivenusi Buinimasi, Junior Koroi, Sam Benzie.

Mako: Josie Parnaby (C), Rose Dixon, Beth Wilcox, Freya Moore, Elona Bythell, |Ellie Brightwell, Lauren Astley, Mackenzie Parsons, Maria Law, Sam Hill, Melissa Adkins, Sophie Tulloch.

TSG: Rose Dixon, Yvonne Mealey.

Stingrays: Dean Jones, Robbie Hawksaw, Semi Suka, Chrisitan Postle (CC), Tom McConnell, Kieran Baldry (CC), Josh Warburton, Eden Quantok, Alexander Cox, Jay Gallagher, Harry Scott.

TSG: Josh Tora.

Cheltenham 7s – 20 Jul:

Sharks: jack Dvais, Cam Bull, Ratu Vakalutukali, Lewis Roxby, Chris Mills, Tristan Trehan, Robbie Hume, Harry Mayes (VC), Freddy Elliott, Kristan Dobson (C), Jamie Diamond, Will Rigelsford, Ben Raivalitia.

TSG: Silivenusi Buinimasi, Junior Koroi, Sam Benzie.

Mako: Sam Hill, Jas Abel, Ellie Brightwell, Flo Mullett, Elona Bythell, Freya Moore, Beth Wilcox, Macckenzie Parsons, Josie Parnaby (C), Rowann Sinclair, Ellis Thorpe, Jenn Menn, Olivia Farrell, Rose Dixon, Libby Fox. TSG: Rose Dixon, Yvonne Mealey.

Stingrays: Jack Copner, Courtney Black, Jack Ryder, Chrisitian Postle (C), Jay Gallagher, Lloyd Evans, George Starr, Jack Slark, William Diffu, Rory McCarthy, James Routley, Trav Turke, Steffan Griffiths, Mike Williams. TSG: Josh Tora, Luke Cador.

Images by Keith Woodland.