The Army Rugby Union is delighted to announce the appointment of SSgt Gerhard “Wess” Wessels, RE as the new Head Coach of the Army Senior Men’s Rugby Team.
Wess brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served Army Rugby with distinction both on the field and in the coaching environment over the past two decades. A respected figure within military rugby, he has represented the Royal Engineers, Army Senior XV, Army Sevens and the Combined Services (now UK Armed Forces) at the highest levels of the game whilst also enjoying a successful club career with Shelford RFC and Cambridge RFC.
After joining the Royal Engineers in 2005, Wess quickly established himself as one of the Army’s leading rugby players. He earned his first Army Senior XV cap in 2007 and went on to represent the Army for more than a decade, collecting 27 senior caps. Among his many achievements as a player were winning the International Defence Rugby Competition (IDRC) in Australia and New Zealand in 2011 and captaining an unbeaten Army Sevens side to IDRC Sevens Championship success in Denver, Colorado, in 2012.
His representative rugby career also included appearances for the Combined Services (now UK Armed Forces Rugby), including a memorable victory over the Barbarians. At club level, he enjoyed successful spells with Shelford RFC and Cambridge RFC, helping Cambridge secure promotion to National League 1 following a title-winning National League 2 campaign in 2015/16.
Images © Army Rugby Union Archive
His coaching journey has mirrored the success of his playing career. Having held a variety of coaching appointments across both military and civilian rugby, Wess has developed a strong reputation for building high-performing teams, developing players and creating positive, demanding environments where individuals can thrive.
Most recently, he served as Head Coach of the Royal Engineers Senior XV, leading the Sappers to five Corps Championship Finals in six seasons, securing three consecutive Corps Championships and five successive Cannonball Trophy victories. He has also been a key member of the Army Rugby Union Senior Men’s coaching team since 2023, serving as Backs, Attack and Lead Defence Coach, contributing to the successful Inter-Service Championship campaign in 2024.
Away from military rugby, Wess has held senior coaching roles with Wisbech RFC and Saffron Walden RFC, bringing valuable experience from the community game and further strengthening his coaching credentials.
Known for his emphasis on clarity, accountability, strong relationships and continual improvement, Wess’s coaching philosophy centres on developing outstanding people as well as outstanding players. His ambition is to create an exciting, intelligent and adaptable Army team capable of competing consistently at the highest level while maintaining the values and standards that underpin Army Rugby.
Image © Army Rugby Union – Alligin Photography
Commenting on his appointment, Wess said:
‘I’m incredibly proud to be appointed Head Coach of the British Army Rugby Team. It’s an honour to have the opportunity to help shape the next chapter of the programme.
My aim is to build a team culture founded on discipline, connection and high performance, creating an environment where players can thrive, develop and represent the Army with pride.
I’m looking forward to working with everyone involved and embracing the challenge ahead.’
Commenting on the appointment, Army Rugby Union Director of Rugby, Jon Lord, said:
‘I have seen first-hand the leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment Wess brings to Army Rugby. His experience as both a player and coach has given him a deep understanding of what it means to represent the Army, the standards required to succeed, and the values that underpin our game.
Wess combines a clear programme vision with a genuine passion for developing players and teams. He is committed to creating an environment that challenges individuals to achieve their full potential while fostering pride in representing the Army both on and off the field.
I am delighted to see him appointed as Head Coach of the Senior Men’s programme and I have full confidence that under his stewardship the programme will continue to thrive as we enter an exciting new chapter.’
Wess assumes the position following a distinguished playing and coaching career within Army Rugby and will lead the Senior Men’s programme into its next chapter, building on the strong foundations established over recent years while shaping the future direction of the team.
The Army Rugby Union congratulates Wess on his appointment and looks forward to supporting him as he begins his tenure as Head Coach of the Senior Men’s Team.
Header image © Army Rugby Union – Tartan Heart Photography
Featured image © Army Rugby Union – Alligin Photography
