The Royal Navy Rugby Union has announced the coaching team for the Royal Navy Under-23s' 2010 Inter Service campaign. The coaching team is an exciting blend of talent and experience and will be led by Head Coach, CPOPT Clayton Patilla (HMS Nelson), who is joined by POAET Marsh Cormack (RNAS Culdrose) and POCIS Neil Evans (NCHQ, soon to join HMS Collingwood).
Clayton has playing experience with the Senior XV and with the Ancient Mariners but has yet to coach within the RN Representative set-up. However his achievements with US Portsmouth RFC brought him to the attention of the coaching selectors who were impressed by the way he re-energised the club and also the success he ...
After a successful season, the RN Senior XV squad held its annual end of season players' dinner in Windsor. During the evening the Chairman of the RNRU, Cdre Rob Thompson RN, presented the ‘Player of the Year' award and also the ‘Newcomer of the Year' award.
Four players were nominated for the RNRU Player of the Year Award, the ‘Cossack Sword Trophy'. Former selector Capt Leigh Merrick RN presented this trophy, an original Cossack sword, to the Union for ‘ground gained and held'. The award is highly valued as only players within the Senior XV squad are eligible to vote, so it is a clear acknowledgement of the winner's contribution to the team throug...
RN Senior XV Vice Captain Greg Barden is included in an England Sevens squad that now includes Tom Varndell of Wasps and Ollie Phillips of Stade Francais.
The latest Press Release from the RFU about the Engalnd Sevens gives more detail:
Tom Varndell (London Wasps) and Ollie Phillips (Stade Francais) will return to England Sevens action next weekend at the Emirates Airline London Sevens (May 22 & 23). The pair boost an already experienced line-up which includes: Kevin Barrett (Saracens), Ben Gollings (Gold Coast, Australia) and Moseley's James Rodwell and marks a first outing for both players this season. England international (4 caps) and Saxons speedster Varnd...
Chief Petty Office Paul Burton (DES Abbeywood) a member of the Navy Referee Society, has been promoted to the Elite Assistant Referee Panel; he joins Roger Baileff, another Navy, member who has been operating at this level for several years. This will mean that next season he will be running the line for Guinness Premiership matches and possibly European matches in the highly pressurised environment of top level rugby.
Paul said of his promotion "I have fulfilled my ambition to be promoted to the Elite Panel, however it is only the beginning and it is now up to me to prove I am capable of doing the job at the highest level. I am looking forward to the challenge".&nbs...
The Royal Navy Sports Awards 2009 were held on board HMS Victory on 12 May 2010. The RNRU Technical Analyst, CPO Ash Coates (HMS Collingwood) was nominated for Sports Official of the Year and Senior XV Vice-Captain Cpl Greg Barden (RM Poole) was nominated for Sportsman of the Year. Although neither Ash nor Greg won the top award, both were runners up in their categories and received cheques for £100 from the Sports Lottery.
