Stu Clarke To Referee Navy Cup Final
Recent Navy Cup Finals have been refereed by officials from the RAF and the Army Societies but this season the final of the RNRU Knockout Cup, featuring HMS Collingwood and 42 Cdo RM, returns to the Navy Society and will be refereed by Stu Clarke of HMS Raleigh. Though Stu has run the touch in the 2001 Navy Cup final this is his debut as the referee. For those of you who remember Collingwood were also in that final defeating CTCRM in a pulsating match. Stu's officiating team will be made up of; Senior TJ Nick Slocombe, Junior TJ Rich Whelan and Andy Nelson as Reserve Official. Since taking up the whistle in April 2000 Stu has officiated in Germany, the United States & Jersey in addition to a variety of fixtures in both RN and his Civilian Society (Plymouth and Devon) colours up to level 5. Following a successful spell on the CS Development Squad, during which he had to balance sea service on HMS Tireless, Stu was selected to referee the Army v RAF Veterans match at Aldershot in April earlier this year. Shortly afterwards he was invited to the RAF 10's at their Festival of Rugby, refereeing the final and on the Army v Navy day, he refereed the Emerging Schools Final at Twickenham in front of 40,000. Last season culminated in Stu being appointed by his civilian society to referee the Somerset U17 Cup Final between Bath & Weston-Super-Mare, a challenging local derby! Commenting on his appointment Stu said: “Ever since running touch at the Collingwood v CTC match I have thought it would be great to referee the final itself. Over the last eighteen months I have been fortunate enough to be appointed to a number of prestigious matches and this just continues that trend. I am really looking forward to the match which should be a hard, traditional Navy Cup encounter with the added spice of being Royal against Navy.” The Navy Cup Final will be contested between HMS Collingwood and 42 Cdo RM at Burnaby Rd on Wednesday 7 December, kick off 19:00.