RN Senior XV v Oxford University
The Navy start their season against Oxford University with a large number of new faces as they begin the build up to this years Inter-Service competition. The starting line up will have 6 players who will pull the dark blue shirt on for the first time in the UK and only 5 players have survived from the same fixture last season, such has been the turn over of players due to operational commitments and retirements. One of the new players is Naval Airman (Kai) Beasley, who captained the RN U23's in their campaign at the end of 2011.
Kai said of his selection, 'It is a great honour to playing for the Senior XV and I am looking forward to the challenge. Oxford play a hard, high speed style of rugby and on a large pitch like Burnaby Road it should be a good game'.
The Director of Rugby (DoR) and Coaches have been working with the team at HMS Sultan at the start of their build up to this years Inter-Service competition. The new DoR, Lt Cdr (Andy) Kellett RN has recently returned from an operational tour is looking forward to the season;
'Its always a massive challenge to bring a representative team together from all parts of the Naval service, but the squad have worked hard in their first few days together and they are looking forward to the Oxford game to really kick the season off'
ET(ME) J Parry (HMS Monmouth), NA(AH) B Priddey, NA(AH) K Beasley, NA(AH) J Quarnivalu, POET(AE) M Cormack (All RNAS Culdrose), AET G Jones (WMO Portsmouth), Mne R Ramakita (42 Cdo RM), MA S Laird (HMS Collingwood), POET(AE) D Pascoe (Capt) (RNAS Culdrose), Capt T Glover RM (CTCRM), AET B Clarke (RNAS Yeovilton), ET(ME) D Sleeman (WMO Devonport), Mne N Huntley (40 Cdo RM), Logs R Kurusasa (HMS Dragon), AET J Humphrey (RNAS Yeovilton)
Replacements:
Mne D Taylor (42 Cdo RM), AET R Metcalfe (RNAS Yeovilton), S/Lt H Mitchell-Heggs RN (BRNC Dartmouth), Mne B Fox (45 Cdo RM), CPOET(WE) W John (HMS Nelson), S/Lt J Rylah RN (HMS Echo), AB D Bamforth (HMS Dragon)