All-Military Tour Features Impressive Coaching Staff
All-Military Tour Features Impressive Coaching Staff
When it comes to building a Staff, USA Military Rugby’s General Manager Mark Drown has accomplished that mission.
A team of accomplished coaches and rugby leaders are volunteering to lead the US All-Miliarty team for their tour of England in November.
Getting all of those people together and on the same page was Drown's job. Brown had the unique experience of working for three National Rugby Unions; he was the first non-Fijian Team Manager for the Fiji Rugby 7s, a job he held in the 2017-2018 HSBC World Series, World Cup, and Commonwealth Games under Gareth Baber; he managed the USA-U23s Uruguay Tour under Mike Tolkin; he was the Assistant 7s Coach with Zambia Rugby Union at the Commonwealth Games under Andrew Kaminsa.
His experience and his friendship and collaborative efforts with Seattle Seawolves Team Manager Kevin Flynn put the exclamation point on the network.
‘Mike Tolkin for me was a must-have," said Drown. "And Mike graciously accepted the role of Head Coach/Technical Director for us. It was later that we realized he would be limited to travel due to his liver transplant and would need to sit this tour out, but he is very much involved."
How The Rugby Family Comes Through for Mike Tolkin
Flynn had asked Alan Clarke, Seattle Seawolves Head Coach, and Irish International to come onboard and Clarke immediate jumped at it. He in turn brought in Ian Watson, an experienced Rugby League coach and former Welsh international, as the assistant coach, "and we were off and running," said Drown.
The USA All-Military team will also have two up-and-coming Military Coaches in Air Force Lt Col. Saleem Razvi coming in as the defense coach. Razvi has several years at the helm of All-Air Force 7s and 15s. Former USA Eagle, a team he captained at times, and former professional at Stade Francais, Scott Lavalla, will be the lineout and loose forwards coach. Taking the helm as the forwards coach is Duncan Cormack, All-England Counties, former Captain of Esher RFC, and a current front row specialist for Esher RFC. The All-Military team will play their games at Esher.
Roster for US Military Team Tour of UK Set
USA Military Team to Tour England in November
Joining this talented staff is attacks coach Gareth Baber, Fiji 7s Head Coach, Olympic Coach, Edinburgh Assistant Coach, Cardiff Blues Coach, and current Director of Rugby for Cardiff Metropolitan University. Also coming in is Zambia Rugby Union’s Andrew Kaminsa, Zambia 7s Coach and former player. He has been capped 34 times, twice against South Africa, and he will serve as the skills and kicking coach.
Team Manager and Operations Lead will be Seattle Seawolves Team Manager Kevin Flynn, whose background includes the London Irish, Seattle Rugby Club, US Combined Services, and the Flying Tigers (Army/Air Force Selects), and Operations Lead Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Retired) Nick Punimata, who’s experience includes All Army 7s, 15s, Armed Forces 7s, Combined Services, Flying Tigers, and Liaison to Manu Samoa 7s on the HSBC Series, USA stop, will oversee day to day protocols.
This is an impressive staff, but perhaps the most notable aspect of this group is that they are all volunteers.
