Colonel Andy Allen MBE - Director of Senior Rugby
 Reporting
directly into the ARU Chairman and Management Board, Andy has
the responsibility for management and direction of the Senior
XV and VII’s teams. His best rugby has been played on
the wing for REME, BAOR and Hong Kong – and a couple of
skirmishes as a centre for civilian clubs. After finishing his
playing career with the Army Veterans, he dabbled in coaching
but soon found himself without a rugby portfolio. Fortunately
the appointment of Chairman Army Veterans came to his rescue.
It was during this appointment Andy got the taste for management
and after 3 successful seasons, which saw the Army Veterans
taking on a more professional profile, Andy relinquished the
appointment and established the long overdue Combined Services
Veterans in 2008. At the start of the 2009/10 season Andy was
voted in as Director of Senior Rugby. When not giving people
a good talking to about rugby, Andy is the Team Leader of Special
Projects Multi Air Platforms in Yeovilton. Married to Linda,
they have two children Alexander (13) and Cassie (16). |
Contact details
Tel: 01935 45 3511
Mob: 07500 124889
Email: DES-SPMAP-PTL@esair.dlo.mod.uk
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Captain J Voss - Royal Electrical Mechanical
Engineers - Army Seven's Manager
 John
Voss’s military duties concern the technical side of
tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles. He is also hugely
experienced in the arts and sciences of rugby football. After
his playing days he turned to coaching, and refereeing where
he now enjoys the title of Combined Services development manager.
He now oversees the successful Army 7s squad which is his
first crack at representative team management—a true
baptism of fire especially when most of the team speak Fijian
to shield him from the true plot! Nevertheless JV runs a tight
ship where the players know they, and the playing of the game,
are his only priorities.
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Lance Corporal 'Alfred' Vakacokovanua - Head Coach
 'Alfred'
is a rugby legend by any standards and a founding member of
the Army 7s team. Alfred won a Gold Medal at the Hong Kong
7s in 1997 representing Fiji and two Middlesex 7s winner’s
medals in 2001 and 2004. He gained six full Army caps, represented
the Combined Services and the Barbarians. No one that size
should be allowed to travel at Alfred's speed without a crash
helmet. After graduating from Nasinu College, Fiji he played
for the Fiji Army and Suva Province before he arrived in England.
Returning from a solid stint of 'Ops' with the Scots Guards
he has now turned to coaching. A man of vision who has the
complete attention of the squad - a quiet word and a nod is
Alfred's style.
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Contact details:
Contact via ARU |
Lance Corporal Bulumakau - Conditioning Coach
/ Assistant Coach
 Another
Fiji 7s international ‘Bul’ was a key member of
the team that twice won the Middlesex 7s in 2001 and 2004.
A forward with the speed of a top drawer back Bul scored many
tries simply because the forwards could not catch him and
the backs simply didn’t want to ! Now employed as a
Physical Training Instructor in Edinburgh he knows from first
hand the conditioning needed for winning top class 7s and
has the rugby reputation and presence to ensure the last drop
of sweat is left on the training park.
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Contact details:
Contact via ARU |
Captain C Chacksfield - Royal Army Medical Corps - Physiotherapist
 "When
yer lying there in agony and yer don’t know the difference
between yer try line and yer trapezoid—then Charlie
Chatsfield is yer man". Charlie is the member of
the squad who prowls the touchline with his goodies pack on
his back, sprints to the scene of action (or lack of it !),
decides whether to patch them up and send them back in again
or enough is enough. He is currently employed at the Defence
Rehabilitation Centre Headley Court and is an expert on sports
medicine and serious trauma. Being an ever present member
of the squad both players and management know Charlie is the
vital source of ‘what next’ advice 24 / 7.
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Contact details:
Contact via ARU |
