Navy Annouces New Director of Rugby
Following the annual Army v Royal Navy Rugby match and during the Senior XV post-match meal, the Royal Navy Rugby Union bade farewell to the Director of Rugby of 4 years Lt Cdr (Geraint) Ashton Jones RN (RNHQ) as he handed over the reins to Lt Cdr (Andy) Kellett RN (JFSp HQ).
On taking over from a predecessor who had steered the Navy side to victory in 2010 to end the Army's 8-year winning run, Andy said "I am absolutely delighted to be selected at the Director of Navy Rugby and looking forward to the challenge. Despite being currently deployed on operations, I will be looking to continue the incredible work of my predecessor, Lt Cdr Geraint Aston-Jones, and build still further to ensure we maintain and enhance our Proud Heritage by creating and delivering an Exciting Future". He went on to say "we are entering a very busy period for Navy Rugby, not least with the inaugural International Defence Force World Cup this Autumn, quickly followed by the 2011 U23s Campaign, Inter Service Championship 2012 and the Commonwealth Cup 2012. I am therefore extremely poud to be the Director of Rugby during this period of its history"
Due to his deployment in support of operations in Afghanistan, Andy will not direct the squad during their forthcoming International Defence Force World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. In his place, the squad will be guided by Navy Rugby Performance Analysis CPO (Ash) Coates (HMNB Portsmouth) and Senior XV Coach POAET (Owen) Salmon (CHF HQ, RNAS Yeovilton).