ROYAL NAVY v ARMY INTER SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP 2013 RN SENIOR XV

In front of a 70,000 crowd, the Royal Navy take-on the Army this Saturday in the annual battle between Blue and Red at Twickenham. Across the world, deployed forces will be joining in the rivalry and supporting their team.

For the Royal Navy it is a culmination of 12 month's work, as preparations for the next match start immediately after the game. Young players are ‘blooded' in the Navy Sharks 7s squad through the summer, developed during the U23 season prior to Christmas and ultimately, those that have displayed the skill, potential and desire make it to the Royal Navy Senior XV squad for a chance to play in the biggest game of their lives. Thirteen of the 22 players in the team on Saturday have come through this system with a number of others are in the wings, many playing for the Combined Services U23s against OxBridge in the curtain raiser.

DoR Cdr Andy Kellett commented 'The opportunities and development of players in the Navy has never been better. From the ‘Grassroots' games being played at Ship, Establishment and Unit level young players have the chance to be selected for the Inter-Command and Presidents squad which we all hope will lead them to representative games for the Navy Sharks and U23s, there is plenty of opportunity for young players to stake a claim and many have. A blend of this youth and some wiser heads is vital if we are to be competitive.'

1. NA (AH) K Mason * ** + HMNB Devonport
2. LA (AH) B Priddey * ** RNAS Culdrose
3. AET K Beasley * RNAS Culdrose
4. Capt RM S McLaren * ** JSU Northwood
5. POAET M Cormack * ** RNAS Culdrose
6. Mne D Taylor* 42 Cdo RM
7. MA S Laird * RAF Henlow
8. Sgt G Evans * ** RMR London
9. POAET D Pascoe * ** Capt RNAS Culdrose
10. Mne N Huntley * ** 30 Cdo IX Gp
11. Mne J Marlin * ** 42 Cdo RM
12. D Sleeman * ** HMS Raleigh
13. Mne M Tichias * 42 Cdo RM
14. Mne J Foster * 40 Cdo RM
15. AET J Humphrey * RNAS Yeovilton
 
16. Mne J Terry* RM Poole
17. POAET J Court* RNAS Culdrose
18. AET J Lamsin* RNAS Culdrose
19. Mne S Raumakita* SEME Bordon
20. ET (WE) I Cooper * HMS Collingwood
21. AB (WS) T Davies* HMS Illustrious
 
22. Mne G Welling* ** RMASC
 
23. CPOAET C Thompson* HMS Sultan
24. Cpl T Holliday 6 HQ Sqn RM
25. Mne K Wood 42 Cdo RM

Denotes Capped:

*Royal Navy
** Combined Services
+ International

However, before the main event at Kneller Hall kick-off 1030 the Royal Navy Women and the Royal Navy Mariners will face the Army women and Masters in their own Inter Service Championship 2013 decider.

Royal Navy Women 

The RN Women come to the final fixture of the 2012/13 season on the back of a brilliant victory against the RAF. It is always exciting to face the Army in an Inter Service championship deciding match and this year, the RN Women are focussed, determined and ready for the challenge.

This season has seen the Women face some tough opposition. Starting our season by playing the Australian Combined Services team in Portsmouth was an eye opener for our new Head Coach, Lt Dominic "Bali" Salisbury. The RN (W) rebounded from the defeat strongly, beating Paignton at our next match. The Squad has grown from strength to strength over the season, which meant that by the time we met the French Navy at Burnaby Road, we were ready for another difficult game. With the French Navy fielding a couple of French International players, they were always going to be tough to beat. However, I was really proud with performance, attitude and commitment of the RN Women in that game, which were things we carried forward to the match against the RAF.

Chairwomen of RN (W) Lt Cdr Kirsty Mellor said of the fixture ‘I am looking forward to this last game of the season. The RN Women have been training really hard to prepare for the fixture and I am sure that they will give a good performance today. We have a strong squad that contains talented players who are ready to take the game to the Army.'

The Royal Navy Women team will be selected from the following squad

LAET P Williams * ** 702 Sqn, RNAS Yeovilton
LAC E Park HMS Collingwood
LET E Atkins HMS Portland
NA (AH) C Penrose RNSFDO, RNAS Culdrose
AB S Hargrave HMS St Albans
Lt C Fredrickson * ** COMUKTG, RM Stonehouse
SLt H Stevenson HMS Collingwood
Lt P Bennett-Smith* ** NATO Northwood
AB L Morton* ** HMS Nelson
PO S Jenkins * ** HMS Collingwood
Lt C Oakes 854 Sqn, RNAS Culdrose
AB F Greene * HMS Illustrious
AB S Alderson * ** HMS Scott
PO E Swinton * HMS Collingwood
LLOGS H Ing RNDPT&MC, HMS Nelson
MA A Risker Keogh Barracks
AET L Christie 702 Sqn, RNAS Yeovilton
NN A Kightley  
PO Z Beer RAF Digby
Lt Cdr K Marlor RAF Cosford
ETME S Dockerty HMS Tyne
LPT A Marshall HMS Nelson
CPO B Staite MAA, Abbey Wood
AET K Broadbere 848 Sqn, RNAS Yeovilton
AB B Deacon HMS Collingwood.
AB N Sikora HMS Drake
AET Z Harrop 848 Sqn, RNAS Yeovilton

Denotes Capped:

*Royal Navy
** Combined Services

ROYAL NAVY MARINERS

The Navy Mariners v Army Masters fixture will decide the 2013 Inter-Services Veterans competition as both teams were successful against the RAF Vultures. Coaches 'spying' on the other team's first round match returned with lots to consider as new names appeared on the team-sheet and new moves were rehearsed on the park.  The Mariners hope to show former Head Coach Mick Connolly that they have learnt from his years of mentoring and give new Head Coach, Chris Richards, the result which he has prepared us for.

Hopefully, after the disrupted season to date, the weather gods will smile and the game will be played at pace on a good surface. Please show respect for our match officials while exhorting your team to give of their best. I am certain that our Core Values of Courage, Commitment, Discipline, Respect, Integrity and Loyalty will be on display once again at Kneller Hall.

Chairman of the RN Mariners Cdr (Andy) Phenna said of the fixture ‘The squad played extremely well against the Vultures to secure a good win and it provided evidence that the hard work on the training pitch is starting to pay dividends. However, the squad and coaches are under no illusion that game on Saturday will be a greater challenge and a challenge that I know the squad is ready to meet'.

Royal Navy Mariners Team will be selected from the following squad

WO1 P Hillan Navy Command
Sgt R England CTCRM
CPO E Cowie * RNAS Culdrose
Lt A Riley 824 NAS
WO1 J Watkins FOST(S)
CSgt W Rees CTCRM
WO2 P Wood CTCRM
CSgt N Clark CTCRM
LS (SSM) I Jenkins HMS Vanguard
CPO D Sibson * ** FOST
AB S Halofaki CLR Chivenor
Lt Cdr J Phillips BRNC Dartmouth
AB M Satala RM Poole
WO2 P Clark 40 Cdo RM
WO1 C Gore * Land Warfare Centre
POET (MESM) Howells HMS Sultan
Lt Cdr J Holroyd NCHQ Carrier Strike
LET (ME) R Seru HMS Drake
Lt G Cuthbert FOST
Lt P Clark * BRNC Dartmouth
CSgt Ash CTCRM
Lt S Lockley HMS Seahawk
Lt S Moss *  

Denotes Capped:

*Royal Navy
** Combined Services

Inter Service Championship Results

Wed 10 Apr 2013

RAF Halton

RAF Senior XV 26 v 55 Royal Navy Senior XV 

RAF Women 3 v 10 Royal Navy Women

RAF Vultures 3 v 45 Royal Navy Mariners

Wed 17 Apr 2013

Aldershot

Army 33 v 18 RAF

Army Women 62 v 0 RAF Women

Army Masters 68 v 0 RAF Vultures

COMBINED SERVICES U23 v COMBINED OXBRIDGE

The Royal Navy are pleased to announce that following Navy U23 have been selected in the squad to face OxBridge on Sat 27 Apr as a ‘curtain raiser' to the Royal Navy v Army.

Combined Services DoR Lt Cdr ‘Doc' Cox said ‘It is with great honour that I have the privilege to announce the playing squad for this years match against a Combined OxBridge side.

The coaching staff have been exceedingly impressed by the high calibre of players all three services have put forward. Selection was made especially hard, which is not a bad position to be in, due to the stoic performances by all during the trial match against a Hampshire select last Sunday and individually on the training paddock.

Although there were some disappointments within the set-up by not making the playing squad; this was a reflection of the immensely difficult selection process we have been graced with.

As CS DoR I know we will field the best possible representative side available this Saturday and before kick off would like to thank the coaching staff and TSG for their hard work and un-floundered support.

This years shirt selection colour is a reflection of the 'strength in unity' approach by fusing players from three services into one team and the Combined ethos we now intend to engender at the nexus between single Service and Combined Services Rugby'.

 

Mark Jones

LET ME

HMS SULTAN

Chris Davies

AB

HMS SOMERSET

Sam White

MNE

30 CDO XI GP

Chris McDonald

AB

HMS SOMERSET

John Barnett

L/CPL

42 CDO RM

Josh Blackburn

MNE

CTCRM

Matt Horton

AET

RNAS CULDROSE

ViliameTalemaimeleya

ETME

HMNB DEVONPORT

John Henty

ETWE(SM)

HMNB CLYDE

Liam Mellor

ETME

HMNB PORTSMOUTH

Morgan Andrews

MNE

43 CDO FPGRM

Sam Davies

ETME

HMNB DEVONPORT