Army Masters - Management Contact Details

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Orr - Director Master's Rugby

Commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) in 1991 Simon has served as a Platoon Commander in Minden, BAOR, as an Anti-tank Platoon Commander in Folkestone and as a Company Operations Officer during the Regiments tour of Belfast in 1994. He served from 1995 - 1997 as Adjutant for 7/8th A and SH in Stirling and then deployed on operations to Bosnia for 3 months, with the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. In 1998 he attended the CAFS course at the Royal Military College Shrivenham and then returned to Regimental Duty as B Company Commander, 1 A and SH in 1999. He deployed with his Company to South Armagh whilst part of the Province Reserve Battalion and also to Drumcree in the Summer of 1999. He also took his Company to Kenya on Exercise GRAND PRIX in 2000, prior to moving to the Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU), HQ Infantry as the SO2 (W) ESE/ SA from 2000 to 2002 which saw him running hot weather machine gun trials in Arizona, USA amongst a number of other interesting trials and projects. In 2002 he took over as Chief of Staff at the Infantry Training Centre Warminster, where he helped coordinate the move of the Platoon Commanders Battle Course to Brecon, prior to his transfer to the Royal Army Medical Corps in July 2003. He took over as Regimental 2IC of 3 Close Support Medical Regiment in August 2003 and subsequently deployed with them to Iraq in 2005 prior to moving to HQ 3(UK) Division as the SO2 Med Ops. He deployed once again to Iraq in 2006 with the Divisional HQs. Selected for promotion he carried out his duties as Acting Commander Medical HQ 3(UK) Division from April - October 2007 prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff 2 Medical Brigade, York. His appointment as CO 2 Medical Regiment commenced with the Regiments formation on the 4 July 2008.

He has represented the Army at Rugby since 1997 having been capped for the 1st XV and then latterly at Veteran level where he captained them to three successive Inter Service victories. His retirement has been forced at the age of 41 by an upcoming tour of Afghanistan. A keen supporter of all Army sporting activities he has recently developed a love of mountain biking and a moderate distaste for triathlon as a retired prop forward. A self confessed petrolhead he owns and runs 2 classic Porsches whilst also collecting 17th century maps of Scotland. As one would expect from a member of the Army front row union he is a connoisseur of fine wine and good food with an appreciative ear for classical music.

Major Spike Quant - Assistant Director Master's Rugby

Flying Officer Spike Quant joined the Masters straight from school and made his debut against the RAF in Rotherham – where a slight neck injury has stayed with him ever since. Moving on from fixtures secretary, this season sees Spike step into some mighty big shoes as assistant director and consequently has moved to his island retreat to oversee from afar!

Captain Dave Boocock - Team Manager

Having played 5 seasons representing the ARU Masters (8 Masters Caps) and CS Vets (3 Vets Caps), the opportunity to take over as the ARU Masters Manager was too good an opportunity to resist. Both professionally and personally it is an appointment that will receive my full commitment.

Having had the Rugby seed planted at Reading RFC at an early age of 7, Rugby has remained a huge part of my life and as many of us is in the blood. I've been involved in Army Rugby at various levels of organisation and playing throughout my career. Appointments that I've held are:
APTC RFC Corps Secretary and Captain.
NI Rugby Union Secretary.
BA(G) Rugby Competitions Secretary.

By far the hi-light of my Rugby career is winning the World Masters Gold medal in Australia and all of my Masters Inter Service Caps.

Main focus now is to drive the Masters forward to regain this seasons Inter Services title back

Warrant Officer Class 1 Trev Howard - Fixtures Secretary

Trevor 'Monster' Howard has been a stalwart of Masters Rugby; forced to retire due to injury, it turned out that his last match was helping the Army Masters lift Gold in Sydney! Ideally based at the home of Army Rugby, he takes on the fixtures secretary role this season – as well as his coaching role at Farnborough a busy first year in ‘management’. Trev played 5 seasons for the Army Masters and 2 for the Combined Services Vets; he was instrumental in the re-emergence of REME Vets and we look forward to him imparting his front row knowledge to all the ‘younger’ lads!

Warrant Officer Class 1 Neil Duncan - Assistant Manager (PR)

Warrant Officer Class 2 Jim Evans - Equipment Manager

Jim played regimental rugby for the Household Cavalry for 22 years before joining the Army Vets during the 2004/05 season. His first game as a Vet was playing for the Sandhurst Pirates. He has also played civilian rugby for Roxeth Manor Old Boys and Windsor and when needed still turns out for the Slough Vets. At the end of last season he 'hung up his boots' and joined the management team - but still carries his boots in the kit bag just in case!

Staff Sergeant Tiny Baker - Head Coach

Tiny has represented the Corps, Army and CS sides at U21 and senior level since his first week in the Army in the mid Eighties, even playing alongside a certain Cpl Rapley. The association was rekindled in '99 when at the tender age of 35 a slot for a second row appeared with the Vets. This 'second wind' brought about a new enjoyment of the game and a successful 7 years followed, which included the tour to Bermuda, winning the Silver Medal at the World Masters in Edmonton and joining WO2 Dai Davies on the coaching staff of the Army U21s. Now almost a natural progression (some call it retirement!) Tiny is assisting Mitch with players who know better and listen even less than the U21s! Baldy is Back!

Staff Sergeant Andy Jackson - Assistant Coach (Forwards)

Andy starts this season with the Masters as a highly valued addition to our coaching staff having first played for us in 2004. His playing career includes West Hartlepool 91-95, Ulster 98-00, Army 99-01and Ulster again in 2004 including an outing for the Barbarians against Leicester. He has taken to Veterans rugby readily and thankfully has chosen to continue with us for another season to help blend and mould a cohesive unit of experienced players to excel in the Inter Services environment. Welcome back aboard Jacko!

Staff Sergeant Mark Reed - Assistant Coach (Backs)

Mark or ‘Taff’ hales from the well known rugby heartland of Pontypool, South Wales. Where his early rugby days were spent trying to emulate the legendary trio of Price, Winsor and Faulkner of Pontypool, Wales and British lions front row fame. Realising at an early age that playing hooker was never going help him in the looks department, he switched to playing in the backs and has never looked back since ‘ish’

‘Taff’ joined the Royal Engineer’s ( a long time ago) and has gone on to represent the Corps, Army and CS sides at U21, Senior and Masters Level. He has played most of his rugby in the 10 or 15 jersey but he is now plying his trade in a 12 jersey and this has given him and his silver boots a renewed vigour for the game.

Asked after the 2010 Army v Navy game ‘if he was interested in the soon to be vacated backs coach position’ he was heard replying ‘Does this mean my playing days with the Masters are over’ The answer he received although not too unflattering will go with him to his grave.