Sharks Dubai Squad Announced
The Sharks squad for the 2007 Dubai International Sevens Tournament has been announced today. The team is one of the most experienced selected and will be captained by Mne Rob Lloyd, currently on SA Course at CTCRM. The team will again be managed by WO Don Shaw (Fleet). Rob is joined by fellow Marines Greg Barden (RM Poole / DNR) and from Cdo Logs RM Scott Llewellyn and Callum McCrae. Capt Will Pilkington RM (PJHQ) completes the Corps representation. The Naval contingent of the ten-man squad includes last season’s Senior XV captain PO Dave Pascoe (RFANSU) who is joined by AEM Jo Poole (HMS Heron / AFCO Newcastle), Chef Drauninui (CTCRM), LPT Les Dennis (HMS Nelson) and OM Gareth Cadmore (HMS Edinburgh). Mrs Pippa Gibbs (HMS Nelson) travels as physio for her third Dubai tournament. Dubai 2007 will be the last tournament for current Sharks Head Coach, CPOPT Billy May (HMS Collingwood). Billy has been instrumental in many of the success of the Sharks and it is largely through his efforts that the representative sevens side has become so well established within Navy Rugby. He will no doubt be looking to repeat the Dubai success of 2005 before he leaves the team to join HMS Illustrious in the New Year. Commenting on the selection Don Shaw remarked: “This is probably the strongest side we have managed to select all year and we are grateful to all the Commanding Officer’s who have released their players. We have a good mix of pace, play makers and ball winners. We travel with the knowledge that if we play to our potential then we will definitely be very competitive. It goes to show that we are beginning to build some depth in Navy Sevens that players of the calibre of Carl Saunders [injured], Cowboy John and Wayne Duggan [both involved with U23 Inter Services] were not considered for selection. This years tournament will probably be the last time that the Navy Sharks compete in Dubai as it is due to move to a new slot as part of the iRB structured season. The 2007 tournament pool matches start on Thursday 29 November. The Sharks will hope to remain fully involved right through to the end of finals day on the Saturday. Daily reports will be posted on the Navy Rugby website throughout the tournament.