RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

The Royal Navy Rugby Union is pleased to announce that Lieutenant Commander Kirsty Marlor has been selected as their new RFU Council Member with immediate effect.  Kirsty replaces Brigadier Ewen Murchison who has stepped down due to operational requirements.

Kirsty began her rugby journey in 2003 during her final year at the University of Bath following a conversation with the Captain of the rugby team.  This conversation started a (currently) 17 year love for the sport which has included time both playing and volunteering within rugby.  She has played for a number of teams around the country including Portsmouth Valkyries, Redruth Albany and Yeovil ladies.  The most significant part of her rugby life has been through the Royal Navy Rugby Union.  In 2004, she joined the RN Women’s squad for the first time 3 weeks after starting at Britannia Royal Navy College.  She was fortunate to be able to represent the RN for 14 years as a player with 5 of those years being spent as the Assistant Director of Rugby for the Women’s team.  As a player, Kirsty’s favoured position was at scrum half but she has played in every position in the backs.  Her career highlights have been winning the Akrotiri 10s; being awarded her RN Cap in 2015; playing against the RAF at the Stoop for the first time and starting at 9 for her final Inter Services game against the Army.  Kirsty retired from playing in 2018 and joined the RNRU Executive Committee as the Volunteers Manager.  In 2019 she completed the RFU Leadership in Union course and she has now been selected to be the RFU Council Member for the RNRU from May this year.

“I am absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to represent the RNRU on the RFU Council.  Through Rugby, I have met such a wide variety of people and seen the benefits that the sport has given them in terms of confidence, leadership and team work.  I’ve seen women’s rugby take a massive step forward in the 17 years that I’ve been involved with the sport and I am looking forward to bringing my experience to bear at the RFU and representing the entire Navy Rugby family”

The RFU Council drives policy relating to the game and maintains oversight of the RFU board of Directors.  Representatives are elected by RFU member clubs or appointed by national bodies such as Premier Rugby or the Ruby Players’ Association.

The RNRU wish Kirsty a successful tenure in her new role.

By line: Hugo Mitchell-Heggs
Images credit: Royal Navy Rugby Union © John Walton, Keith Woodland, Mark Andrews and Mark Giles.