RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

A former President of the Royal Navy Rugby Union (2007-2010), Neil Morisetti was appointed as the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 2013. Under his strong leadership he has improved all aspects of our off-field management through a robust governance mechanism that provides a secure foundation on which to build the future. During his tenure he has been instrumental in ensuring full compliance with the Charity Commission regulations which resulted in the Union becoming an Incorporated Company and latterly, the establishment of a separate trading fund, Navy Rugby Limited in 2016. There is no doubt that without his personal drive, management, planning and guidance the RNRU would not be as well set for the future as we currently are.

Chief Petty Officer Ash Coates retired from the Service earlier this year and will primarily be remembered for his time as Head Coach to the Senior XV.  From his involvement as the Director of Rugby during the International Defence Rugby Cup (IDRC) in 2011 and as the Head Coach at the Commonwealth Navies Rugby Cup in New Zealand in 2014 and the IDRC in 2015, perhaps his greatest achievement will be recorded as coaching the side to the 2016 Inter Service victory.  Ash’s involvement with Navy Rugby goes back a lot further than this and he has worked with several of the representative sides.  A real advocate of the use of technology and analysis to assist with improving the performance of the players, he has been instrumental in the development of analysis techniques and use of technology to share information, including match highlights, with players so they could learn from their experiences and improve their game.

Congratulations to RAdm Morisetti and CPO Coates.  We look forward to seeing you on the touchline and at other RNRU functions in 2018 when your new schedules permit!