United servcies
Portsmouth
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United Services
Portsmouth
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
U
nited Services Portsmouth RFC has worked hard in recent times to
ensure that they have a strong, one-club mentality approach and is
now seeing the reward. Rugby Club Magazine recently caught up with their
Director of Rugby Richard Neil to find out more.
RC: How long have you been involved and what first
attracted you to the club?
RN: I have been at the club since June 2017, after having
played national league rugby I decided that I would venture
into coaching. After coaching for a number of years with
Hampshire County under 20s, I was looking for an opportunity
in the local area, along came United Services Portsmouth.
Having known people who have played and coached at the
club, I asked about it and decided this would be the ideal place
to start the next phase of my coaching journey.
RC: What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of
your role?
RN: The most challenging aspect of my job would be
recruitment of players, with five local teams in the area and
ourselves it makes for challenging stuff to get two teams
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out every single week. I have been working closely with the
University to offer the University boys weekend rugby. The
last challenging aspect would be the running of the club, in the
senior section we have some of the most committed and well
organised volunteers but we really do need a few more to help
develop the club.
One of the most rewarding aspects would have to be seeing
our hour of training come to fruition on a Saturday. The boys
have really brought into the idea’s I have pitched to them and
are fully committed to the practices in place to keep United
Services improving week on week. Another rewarding aspect
would be the positive impact I can have on the development of
the club as a whole.
RC: How’s the general mood down at the club at the moment?
RN: The mood at the club is upbeat and positive, all the
way from the 1st XV down to the under 7’s. The club has