Strong CS Representation from Navy U23s
11 Navy players have been selected for the Combined Services U23 Rugby Union squad which will play 2 warm up games before taking on a combined Oxford and Cambridge Universities side at Twickenham before the Army v Navy game on Sat 7 May. The players selected are as follows: Mne Josh Terry (30 Cdo RM), AET Kyle Beazeley (824 NAS), MA Sam Laird (Keogh Barracks), NA(SE) Aaron Hunt (RNAS Yeovilton), AET John MacMillan (RNAS Yeovilton), AET Jon Humphries (848 NAS), AB Tom Davies (HMS Liverpool), AET Ben Clark (HMS Sultan), ET(WE) Scott Baker (HMS Chatham now HMS Drake), AET Jon Clay (848 NAS) and Mne Seti Raumakita (42 Cdo RM)
The number of players selected is a testament to the growing strength in depth of Navy Rugby and a reflection of the U23's Inter Service victory. It should be noted that 5 players were not released for selection for CS U23 because of anticipated Senior XV involvement. These players were Navy senior capped players AB Dale Sleeman (HMS Cumberland), AB Will Cairns (HMS Tyne) and Mne Dennis Scotthorne (42 Cdo RM),S/Lt Tom Blackburn (HMS Sultan) and ET(W) Ian Cooper (HMS Ambush)
The first Combined Service U23 game will be against Middlesex on Sun 10 Apr and the second in Wales against the Osprey's on Wed 28 Apr. Further Navy involvement will be through CPO Dave Sibson (HMS Cumberland) who has been selected as the attack squad coach.
Navy Rugby congratulations all the players on their achievements and wishes them well with their CS aspirations. However, a number of the CS named players will have opportunities earlier in the season with the Senior XV. They will be looking to emulate Dale Sleeman and Will Cairns who last season forced themselves in to the squad for the Army match rather than the game against the students.