Army Senior Men’s Coaching and Medical team confirmed for the 2020-21 Season
Captain Mal Roberts, Royal Logistic Corps, Head Coach to the Army Men’s Senior XV is pleased to announce his assistant coaches and medical support staff for the upcoming 2020-21 season.
Assistant Coach – Captain Andy Evans, Royal Logistic Corps
Assistant Coach – Captain Jason Davies, 1st Queens Dragoon Guards
Assistant Coach – Warrant Officer Class 1 Rob Jones, 1st Queens Dragoon Guards
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Sergeant (SI) Billy Jervis, Royal Army Physical Training Corps
Analyst – Mr Jonathan Fowke
Team Doctor – Major Matt Morgan, Royal Army Medical Corps
Lead Physio – Major Lyndsay Hobbs, Royal Army Medical Corps
Get to know a bit more about the team…
Assistant Coaches
Captain Andy Evans
Captain Andy Evans was first capped for the Army against the Royal Navy at Twickenham in 2001. He went on to further represent the Army in a number of Inter Service campaigns, also gaining Caps against China and the Australian and New Zealand Army teams respectively.
He was capped by the Combined Services (now known as UK Armed Forces) in a number games against the Barbarians and Western Samoa.
His coaching journey began as the backs coach for the Royal Logistics Corps before taking over as the Head Coach to the Corps side four years ago, winning the Inter Corps competition on a number of occasions. He was also the Head Coach of 9 Regiment RLC that won the Army Premiership Cup in 2019. Last year he was the backs coach for the Men’s Army A team.
Andy commented, ‘The opportunity to be part of the Army Men’s Senior coaching team is both hugely exciting and an absolute honour and privilege.’
Captain Jason Davies (Bongo)
Captain Jason Davies began his coaching journey with the Royal Armoured Corps in the ARU Corps Merit League 2 Competition. His progression took him to be appointed as the backs coach with the British Army (Germany) team before being selected to be the backs coach for the Men’s Army A team.
‘Bongo’ has had the privilege to work along side Mal with the Army Academy U23 side for two years and as the backs coach for the UK Armed Forces U23’s. Bongo finished his academy credentials by becoming the Head Coach of the UK Armed Forces U23’s team.
Bongo commented, ‘To be a part of Mal’s coaching team for the Army Men’s Senior team is an absolute honour and a privilege.’
Warrant Officer Class 1 Rob Jones
Warrant Officer Class 1 Rob Jones started his coaching career with his unit rugby team at 1st The Queens Dragoon Guards.
Success with his unit team gave him the opportunity to be selected as British Army (Germany) forwards coach, progressing on to become Head Coach, working hard to push BA(G) soldiers into the Army Men’s Senior set up.
Soon after his success with BA(G) he was selected by then Head Coach of the Army Men’s team, Andy Sanger, to take over as the Men’s Army A Head Coach. This role continued alongside being selected as the UK Armed Forces U23 Head Coach, achieving back to back victories over Oxbridge during his tenure.
Having played and coached alongside Mal, Rob is delighted to have been selected to be the Army Men’s Senior team forwards coach. He is highly honoured and is looking forward to the challenge along with Mal and the team.
Sergeant (SI) William Jervis (Billy)
Sergeant (SI) William Jervis is the current Strength & Conditioning coach to the Army Senior Men’s XV serving within the Royal Army Physical Training Corps. He started coaching with the men’s senior XV team in January earlier this year. His role is to advise players on all components of fitness, nutrition and mental resilience in preparation for any game.
As a player he has played both civilian and military rugby currently representing his Corp Rugby team (RAPTC). He has a passion for training and transfers his passion across to the players with a goal of constantly trying to build and improve their overall conditioning and physical performance so that they can display their maximum potential come match day.
Billy commented “It is an honour to work with top athletes and condition them to develop further, as well as gaining experience and learning from such an experienced coaching team that has been put together”
Jonathan Fowke
Jonathan is a Sports Videographer who started working with the Royal Engineers Rugby Union side in 2005 whilst studying Media Production and has since taken up Videography full time working with a number of military and civilian sports teams and organisations.
After working in a media/promotional capacity with Army Rugby, he took up working in an analyst role during Andy Sanger’s second tenure as Head Coach to the Army Senior Men’s XV and has continued since to work with Burnie Burnard and now looks forward to working with new Head Coach, Mal Roberts.
During weekends he works with local side Reading RFC as well as London Referees Society to help with referee development and during the off season he works with REME Rugby League as well as covering Army 7s and various other Summer sports locally.
Medical Team
Major Matt Morgan
Major Matt Morgan joined the Army in 2004 as a medical cadet at Guys, Kings and St Thomas Hospitals and now enters his fourth season supporting Army Rugby as the Senior Men’s Team Doctor.
As a player, Matt has represented civilian sides in the national leagues before representing Unit and Corps rugby teams whilst serving.
Subsequently, he has slowly moved into a pitch side role as a team doctor.
Outside of rugby, Major Morgan is the Regimental Medical Officer to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards based in Hounslow.
Major Lyndsay Hobbs
Major Lyndsay Hobbs appointment as the Army Men’s Senior XV clinical lead follows 8 years of supporting Army rugby across the Academy U23’s, Men’s A team and 7’s teams. During this time she has also been clinical lead for the UK Armed Forces U23’s.
Lyndsay has worked in rugby since 2009 gaining her initial rugby experience with civilian teams in the South West prior to joining the British Army in 2012. She balances her commitment to Army Rugby whilst being assigned to MOD St Athan as the Regional Rehabiliatation Officer for South Wales.
