United Services Portsmouth will be hosting two prestigious fixtures either side of this season's Navy v RAF festival of rugby. On Saturday 12 April at 13:00 the US Pompey Vets will play Gosport and Fareham Vets as a memorial game for former Navy Senior XV Team Manager, WO ' Soapy' Watson. The game will see a number of former colleagues of Soapy run out including John Pocklington and Mark 'Shelly' Shelford. It is also rumoured that big Pat Patilla may make a guest appearance for ten minutes, knees permitting. Then on the Friday it is the turn of the Youth to take centre stage. In a return of the Inter Port derby US Portsmouth U16s will host Devonport Services U16s as part of US Portsmouth...
An event run by the Hampshire Rugby, Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Royal Navy Rugby U nion which searches for potential front-row stars of the future in a Pop Idol-style recruitment drive culminates Monday 14 April 2008 at HMS TEMERAIRE. The brilliantly named 'Prop Idol' scheme is on the look-out for boys and girls aged between 13 and 14 who have the talent to reach the top and has been held in various locations over the past 2 months. The event is designed to test young props and hookers and to identify their potential under the watchful eyes of World Cup winning Front Row Forward Jason Leonard MBE, RFU Coach Development Officer Gavin Williams and England women's forward coach Grah...
Petty Officer Jane Pizzi was the referee for the Army Women’s Corps final at Aldershot. Jane was ably assisted by recently qualified Army referees Maj Ann O’Flynn and Capt Elaine Radcliffe. This match was a milestone for the Combined Services Rugby Referee as it was the first match that they had fielded a female team of 3. John Voss the Combined Services Rugby Referees, Referee Development Officer said “It has been a long term aim of the Federation to field a female team of 3 for the Corps women’s final, the team on the day performed to an extremely high standard drawing complimentary comments from the coaches. We will look forward to a time when this will become ...
