A quiz for all Navy Rugby aficionados out there.
Who is the missing player from the following list:
Kev Bethwaite, Dave Sibson, Glenn Loughlin, Chris Alcock, Les Oman, Rich Perkins, Paul Livingstone, Bill Dunham, Cass Clay, Mike Leatherland, Steve Trench, Ian Russell, Steve Jones, Bob Armstrong?
The team above took the field in the 1992 Royal Navy v Army match on 21st March. Note in those days it was not as is currently branded the ‘Army Navy Game’ whoever was the home team was named first. The missing player was winning his first cap and was the 24 year old Ewan Cowie who had just completed a very successful season with Redruth and HMS Seahawk. Ewan won the second of his two caps that year against the Royal Air Force during a season when the Inter Services Title was shared three ways.
Ewan, of course, has just been announced in the RNRU Commonwealth Cup squad that travels to Australia this week and at 44 will no doubt be one of the more experienced players. In fact it is a testimony to his staying power that his captain for his first cap, Chris Alcock, is now the Chairman of the RNRU!
On the bench that day was a very young Nick Bartlett and it was probably Nick’s emergence as a player that cost Ewan many future caps. Nick won his first cap the following year and remained almost an ever present in the team, including captaining the winning 2003 Commonwealth Cup campaign, until his retirement from playing in 2005.
If Nick’s emergence was enough bad new for Ewan’s representative prospects then his experience later must have been even more trying. Ewan was selected to play in the 1995 Inter Services but was forced to withdraw from the Army Navy match through injury. His place being taken by a young prop by the name of Dan Parkes. Dan subsequently went on to be the Navy’s most capped prop forward and of course the team went on to win the IS title.
I am sure Ewan will bring a great deal to the touring group. His wearing of the famous Navy jersey pre-dates the competition he will be playing in. A great achievement of longevity and certainly one that I am most pleased to recognise.
Stop Press
Looking after Ewan will be his Head Coach from the Mariners, Mick Connolly, who is also travelling as part of the coaching team due to the unavailability of Clayton Patilla.
Mike’s debut was back in 1974 as part of the Navy team that won its third consecutive Inter Service championship, the only time this has been achieved in Navy Rugby’s long history.
The team of 74 included such Navy greats as Geoff Fabian, Paul Dunn, Leigh Merrick (Cossack Sword fame), John Ackerman (a WAFU prop whose skills Ewan would appreciate), Dave Hammond and as captain Navy Life Member, Binge Gatehouse.
It should be a great tour.
ps – any rumours that Ewan amd Mick have formed their own ovaltinies club on tour are scurrilous and without foundation.
Talking of Props With Longevity
Congratulations must go to the Army’s Chirs Budgen whi is now the oldest ever player to play in the Premiership. More details can be found in this article by Hugh Godwin, published by the Independent.
2 Responses
John Walton
If Ewan features in any of the games will he be the oldest player to represent the RN at the senior representitive level?
Geraint
John, I believe so. There certainly hasn’t been an older player in a capped match but as you are aware the Commonwealth Cup isn’t a capped match. I am confident in stating that he will be the oldest player to have played for the Senior XV in a cup match. Which ever way you look at it over 20 years of Senior representative rugby will be a great milestone and hopefully one that the squad down under will acknowledge. G