Jane West appointed as RNRU Director of Community Rugby
The Royal Navy Rugby Union is pleased to announce that Jane West has taken over as the Director of Community Rugby with immediate effect.
Jane joins the Union’s Executive team with a wealth of rugby experience, having been involved with the RNRU since the mid 90s as a player, team captain, manager and Assistant Director of Rugby. Jane’s Royal Navy playing career began in 1996 against an Army development side when the women’s game within the services was in its infancy. She later went onto play the inaugural Inter-services match against the Royal Air Force in 2001 and continued to play in every IS championship, only taking a break in 2005 due to her pregnancy. Sadly in 2006, a neck injury forced an early retirement from playing but she continued to have an important influence on the Royal Navy Women’s game. In 2015 Jane became the Team Manager for the Women’s Senior XV and Development Squads during which time she also undertook the demanding role as Assistant Director of Rugby(W). Her achievements include being the driving force for the introduction of the Royal Navy Women’s Development Squad in 2016.
In addition to her roles within the RNRU, Jane has also been the Women’s representative on the Army v Navy match day committee and was the Women’s Team Manager for UK Armed Forces Rugby before becoming a member of the UKAF Executive Committee. Jane’s commitments to rugby and developing the game, earned her recognition by the RFU, earning her deserved Value the Volunteer award in 2017.
In Jane’s own words when reflecting on the meaning of the community game:
“Community Rugby is the baseline from which our future representative players, coaches, officials and support staff are borne, it is the very first step of an individual’s rugby journey and where the first of many rugby memories are made.”
She continued, “The ethos that binds us together does not judge, it does not discriminate against gender, ability or sexual orientation, it only makes our service men and women stronger, more courageous and more disciplined as sailors and marines. Director of Community Rugby is a huge privilege and an exciting opportunity to be able to positively influence the continued development of the sport we love and support others on their rugby journey.”
She was keen to stress the importance of her support team and the hard work that had gone on before her, “ I intend to continue to build on the hard work and initiatives that are already established that will continue to grow the sport in all areas, from Kids Camps, through to the representative area. The lull imposed by the pandemic has provided an opportunity for us to develop new ideas, new strategies and above all else, return our players to the pitch, safely.”
To get involved in Royal Navy Community rugby or if you have any queries please contact docr@navyrugbyunion.co.uk
Image credit: Alligin Photography