Alice is named Valkyries' new team captain : Royal Navy Rugby Union

Alice is named Valkyries' new team captain

Alice with her team mates at a coaching session last season

Going in for the tackle

Alice in the Royal Navy v Royal Air Force match 2018 at the Stoop

As the start of the 2018/2019 rugby season approaches the Royal Navy Rugby Union are delighted to report that RNRU Women's team member, Naval Nurse Alice Kightley, has been selected as the team captain for the Portsmouth Valkyries.

Alice has been playing rugby since 2006 and has been involved with the RNRU Women's team for the past 6 seasons. Alice received her first representative cap playing against Marine Nationale in 2015.

Alice is very highly regarded by both players and coaches and was voted Portsmouth Valkyries Forward of the Season. The newly promoted team have gone from strength to strength during the 2017/18 season, finishing as National Cup winners and came a close second to London Welsh in the Women’s NC South East West 1 division.

When asked how she felt Alice said “It is such an honour to be selected as captain and I’m looking forward to building on the success we achieved last year”

Portsmouth Coach Bali Salisbury was keen to applaud her achievement. “We are looking to build a legacy at Portsmouth Ladies and embrace players from all walks of life. We have a number of Royal Navy Women and a number of players from the other two services so Alice was an obvious and easy choice. To be able to offer Alice the Captaincy this season is great for me as her coach. And for the other coaches that who enjoy working with her so much. She will continue to work hard following on from our successful season last year to lead the team this season.”

Playing alongside Alice will be fellow RNRU players, Lt Cheryl Goodwin, Lt Katie Ives, Lt Laura Blagden and AB El Bythell. Petty Officer Writer Lauren Salisbury has recently taken up a coaching position at the club, and they will surely benefit from her recent premiership experience at Saracens.

Alice, a Leading Naval Nurse, has recently been selected for promotion to Petty Officer and has just completed her emergency department specialist course. She is an inspiration to any female wanting to join the Royal Navy and in particular to those already in the Royal Navy who want to play rugby and represent their Service.

The RNRU(W) are keen to recruit new players so if you are a female who wants to join Alice on the pitch please get in touch with us at info@navyrugbyunion.co.uk