Cairns to Captain U23s
Royal Navy U23 Head Coach, PO Owen Salmon (RNAS Yeovilton) today named HMS St Albans' AB Will Cairns as the Royal Navy U23 team Captain for the forth coming Inter Service U23 Tournament. The explosive number eight will be supported by live wire scrum half Mne Jonny Stephen (CTCRM) as Vice Captain. Both players have been in excellent form this season and are among the most senior players within the squad. Though neither are capped at Senior level they were part of the Royal Navy's successful defence of the Babcock Commonwealth Cup and will be looking to keep the winning ways going throughout the Inter Services. Neither player would have been able to achieve what they already have this season without the support of their units and mess mates and again Navy Rugby wish to acknowledge the ongoing support it is receiving from around the Fleet from ships like HMS St Albans, from the Commando Units, the Naval Air Squadrons and the training establishments among them CTCRM. The Navy's first match is away at RAF Cranwell on Saturday 21 November with a 14:00 kick off. The following week the Royal Navy U23s host the Army U23 at Burnaby Rd on Sunday 29 November, again a 14:00 kick off when, as usual, the team will be looking forward to some voiciferous support. The picture shows Will Cairns (with ball) out stripping the cover defence of Jonny Stephen (left of picture) in heavy conditions on the River Exe. Fellow Navy U23 flanker Mne Mike Egglestone (45 Cdo RM) looks on.