There is a new face within the Army Rugby Union elite Sevens coaching group this year, and WO1 Paul Willison (RAMC) cannot wait to get started with the Women’s team for their 2023 campaign.
The Army Women’s Sevens programme may not be as well established as the Men’s team, but it has been on a significant upward curve over the past couple of seasons, winning the Bowl at the Armed Forces Day Sevens in Aldershot last June, losing plate finalists at the Stafford leg of the SSS and cup semi finalists at Norwich.
On an individual level SSgt Jade Mullen (AGC (SPS)) and Bdr Bethan Dainton (RA) played for Wales’s national Sevens team in 2021, and Pte Courtney Pursglove (RLC) was invited to train with the England squad in spring 2022. Furthermore, the Sevens team has been a stepping stone into the Inter-Services Championship, too, with Pte Pursglove, Rfn Molly Green (Rifles) and LCpl Millie Williams (AGC (RMP)) making their mark on the Sevens circuit, and the experienced Harlequins back rower Spr Lauren Brooks (RE) getting her first taste of red shirt rugby after completing her signing on as a Reservist.
The Army 7s was the pathway through to the Women’s Senior squad for Pte Courtney Pursglove (Left) and Rfn Molly Green (Right)
Images – Alligin Photography © Lee Crabb
WO1 Willison is well aware of the role he can play in the continued growth of Army Women’s rugby.
“When I was speaking to the other coaches in the ARU last week they saw the Sevens team as a filter into the 15s squad, so they use it to give a lot of rugby players the opportunity to show their talent on the Sevens circuit,” he said.
“It obviously works both ways as well, and a lot of the 15s players filter down into the Sevens when the shorter season starts.
“The first thing we have to do this year is to assess where we’re at, go through what they want to achieve and review the competitions the team entered last season. We’ve got a lot of fixtures coming up in the Easter and summer.
“Then we take it from there and tweak it as we see fit.”
After retiring as a player, and gaining his first qualification via Rugby for Heroes’ transition course, WO1 Willison has built up an extensive coaching resume, from winning multiple Cyprus 10s titles with the Army Medical Services and coaching the AMS Women’s team, through to achieving success with Derby University and being appointed assistant coach with England Deaf.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the Personnel Recovery Officer from ARC PRU East views the appointment into senior red shirt rugby as a career highlight.
“I’ve always wanted to be involved in the Army set-up,” he says. “It’s elite sport and the vast array of talent in the Armed Forces feeds into the rugby set-up. As long as you can identify that talent then you’re well set. The ARU is so well structured on and off the pitch, to be involved is a pleasure.”
This might be his first appointment into coaching Sevens at a senior level, but WO1 Willison’s approach is based on clarity of communication and setting out a framework which allows for structure and flexibility.
“If you try and play any other kind of rugby in the Sevens world it doesn’t work,” he observes. “It’s unique in that respect. As long as you have the platform set up, and the mentality of playing heads-up, attacking space, having support play, that’s a good place to start with the attacking side of things.
“Then on the defensive side it’s about solid, fast line speed and covering as much ground as you can early on.
“The thing with Sevens is the transitional side of things, transitioning from attack to defence quickly, and vice versa, where there are a lot of tries. Organisation in that ‘chaos zone’ is vital.”
The Army Women’s 7s squad have made significant progress over the recent seasons which WO1 Willison intends to build on.
Image – Alligin Photography © Lee Crabb
Aside from a couple of development tournaments, the Women’s team calendar matches the men’s, with entries confirmed at Melrose, Bournemouth, London Invitational and Edinburgh City, amongst others.
WO1 Willison says that having this parity between the men’s and women’s teams is a big statement from the Army Rugby Union.
“The Army is set up for any team, whether men’s or women’s, to be the best it can be,” he says. “We want other teams to look who’s attending and think ‘oh no, the Army are here’ and knowing that we’re going to have really fit and passionate players, and they’re going to be in for a hard game. That’s the kind of thing we need to instil into these tournaments.
“As many tournaments as we can play is great, and the exposure can only improve you as a team and as a squad.
“It’s great that the Women’s game is that good that we’re entering so many competitions. I just want to get started, run a training camp and push on!”
The Army Women’s Sevens squad will be having trials in March. CLICK HERE to find out more, and to see the full calendar of events.
