2011 Senior XV Squad Announced

 

2011 Senior XV Squad Announced

 

The Royal Navy Rugby Union Senior XV squad for their defence of the Inter Service trophy is as follows:

 

Cpl Barden (RM Poole), AB Bamford (HMS Collingwood), S/Lt Blackburn RN (HMS Sultan), LPT Cadmore (HMS Raleigh), Cpl Chambers (30 Cdo IEG RM), AB Cairns (WMO Porflot), ET(ME) Cooper (HMS Astute), Lt Copeland RN (HMS Collingwood), POAET Cormack (854 NAS), PO Court (HMS Westminster), LOGS Drauniniu (HMNB Portsmouth), Cpl Evans (UKLFCSG), Capt Evans-Jones RM (Warminster), Mne Glastonbury (CTCRM), Lt Glover RM (CTCRM), AET Humphries (848 NAS), NA Hunt (RNAS Yeovilton), POET(WE) John (HMS Liverpool), AET Jones (848 NAS), Mne Kamikamica (45 Cdo RM), MA Laird (Keogh), Cpl Lark (CTCRM), Mne Llewellyn (Cdo Logs RM), Mid Lewis (BRNC), ET Marlin (HMNB Plymouth), NA Mason (845 NAS), Cpl MacRae (CTCRM), Capt McLaren RM (RAF Halton), OC Mitchell-Heggs (BRNC), Mne Morton (30 Cdo IEG RM), POAET Pascoe (771 NAS), NA Priddey (MASF RNAS Culdrose), Mid Ranscombe (BRNC), Mne Raumakita (42 Cdo RM), AB Roberts (HMS Bulwark), Mne Scotthorne (42 Cdo RM), ET Sleeman (HMS Cumberland), CPOET(WE) Smallbone (HMS Collingwood), Mne Stephen (CTCRM), Mne Terry (1ASRM), SLt Vance (BRNC)

 

The team will once again be captained by Dave Pascoe with Greg Barden as Vice Captain.  Mark Owen, injured in last season's win over the RAF, was not considered at this time due to his ongoing recovery and professional course.

 

Due to the deployment to HERRICK 14 of 3 Commando Brigade and supporting Royal Naval Units a number of players have not considered, these include capped players O'Keeffe and Kuva.

 

The selectors have rewarded a number of the U23 players following their Inter Service victory and also due to strong performances for their Commands. U23 captain Scotthorne retains his place in the squad along with Blackburn, Cairns and Cooper.  They are joined by Humphries, Hunt, Laird, Raumakita and Terry.

 

Similarly following strong showing in the Command Championships Cadmore (Plymouth Command), Kamikamica (Royal Marines) and Lewis (Naval Air Command) have all been included in the squad.

 

The final members of the squad (Mitchell-Heggs and Ranscombe) have been drawn from a strong BRNC team.  BRNC holds its own version of the Inter Services and 2010 saw them defeated both Sandhurst and Cranwell. Bamford who comes highly recommended from the Navy's Band of Brothers Rugby League team.

 

A number of players only narrowly missed out and will no doubt be considered in the event of injury.  Overall the squad is a blend of experience and new talent.  A number of the squad will have a very busy schedule as they look to balance HERRICK14 preparations and professional career courses along with their rugby. However, this will enable the all the squad to gain valuable match time and also serve to show whether the Navy is indeed growing its strength in depth.

 

As ever Navy Rugby wishes to thank all Commanding Officers who have been so supportive in releasing players for the 2011 Inter Service squad.  With the Inter Services taking place when a significant part of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines will be deployed the players will have the added incentive to seek to retain the trophy and provide a timely moral boost to their colleagues undertaking operations around the world.