Combined Service Rugby Appointments

Combined Service Director of Rugby Lt Cdr ‘Doc' Cox RN has started to name his Coaching and Support team for the Combined Services 2013 season.

Doc said of the DoR role,   

"Having been formally appointed at the beginning of December, I found myself most humbled with the opportunity to become the Director of Rugby for the CS during the RN tenure.  Having looked from the outside in, over my coaching days with the U23's and Senior sides, I wanted to approach the role by appointing roles early to allow a seamless transition between the nexus of playing for a single service and stepping up to the next level, to Combined Service representative rugby".

Doc went on to say

"The jigsaw of appointments for the season is almost complete, with several positions already filled.  I have asked the following from the RN to be part of the CS team to bring strength in unity and bring back the ethos of representative rugby, at the highest level".

CS Senior Head Coach CPO (Ash) Coates 

Ash brings a wealth of experience to the team, at CS, Navy and National level. Having been the RN Senior Head Coach 2011-2013, and coached at CS 2011-12, Rosslyn Park RFC and Saracens RFC.  There is not a more suitably qualified person in the RN and having previously worked for a couple of years with Ash, I am very much looking forward to reuniting an already established partnership.  Ash will bring drive, determination and a desire to get the best out of the players for the CS. 

CS Senior Manager POPT ("Hel's") Richardson

Hel's is currently the England RFU Women's divisional manager and is the highest qualified rugby manager across all three services.  Hel's was previously the RN U23 manager before moving upward into the England set up she will bring a wealth of experience to the position, and throughout CS rugby.  Hel's passion and enthusiasm has been missing from service rugby for a number of years and her appointment will allow the coaching staff and players to benefit from her proactive style of management and focus on the match in hand.  

Head of Medical Surg Lt Cdr (Owen) Rainey RN

Owen has been the RNRU Team doctor for several years now, on and off the pitch Owen is a breath of fresh air.  He will provide the best medical support to the players and the TSG, affording the coaches the best playing base to pick from. 

The CS U23 coaching and support team will be announced in the next couple of weeks, but the RN will have strong representation from their successful U23 team in the set up.  The CS U23's will open this year Army v Navy match against a combined Oxbridge University side.