ROYAL NAVY PERSONNEL DEVELOP RUGBY COACHING SKILLS

Rugby enthusiasts at HMS Raleigh have taken the opportunity to attend a coaching course delivered by tutors from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to help develop the sport within the Royal Navy. Around 20 personnel attended the two and half day course designed to give the participants practical experience of running a coaching session as well as looking at the safety aspects of the game and welfare of players. The course, taken by RFU Rugby Development Officers, Gavin Williams and John Brookstein, leads to a recognised level one coaching qualification. Among those attending the course was Sergeant Mark Worrall, of the Military Provost Guard Service based at HMS Raleigh. He is looking to become involved in coaching the establishment’s team and was joined on the course by his 16-year-old son Elliott, who is currently studying for a national diploma in fitness and performance at Truro College. Mark, from Torpoint, said: “This is a good course that makes you think. There is a lot more to being a coach than just teaching people how to kick and throw a ball. This has made me aware of the broader issues like the player’s welfare.” Mark’s thoughts were echoed by Chief Petty Officer Stevie Clack, an instructor at HMS Raleigh. He plans to take the skills he has learned back into the community to help coach the players at his local club, Plymouth Argaum in Roborough. CPO Clack said: “I’m on this course to improve my knowledge of Rugby. It’s been great, boosted my confidence and has taken me from being able to play the game to delivering coaching to youngsters.” The course, the third the Royal Navy has run this year, was organised by the Chief Petty Officer ‘Dusty’ Miller, Rugby Development Officer for the Service. He said: “This is the first time we have run the course in the West County and by offering this training to military personnel it allows us to grow the sport of rugby within the Royal Navy at grass roots level. Fitness is a vital aspect of Service life which helps to develop the moral component of personal fighting spirit and the military ethos of teamwork. Lots of people come to this course after playing Rugby themselves and it also enables them to help out in their communities by becoming involved in their local teams.”