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Senior Coaching Team 2014/15

Senior Coaching Team 2014/15

Patrick Duffy4 Sep 2014 - 20:45
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Find out who our coaches are and where they come from!

Welcome to the new season, our senior coaching team is led by Anthony O'Riordan (Head Coach) assisted by Nic Lloyd (Backs Coach) and Lee Soper (Forwards Coach).

Here is a brief run down of who they are and where they came from.


Anthony O'Riordan (Head Coach)

Before starting his successful coaching career Anthony played as a Tight-Head Prop for National 2 team Rosslyn Park RFC (2003-2006).

Whilst there he had trials for the Championship side Newbury Blues under Ben Ryan.

Unfortunately a recurring knee injury and subsequent operations led to retirement from the game; however the game's loss has been CRFC's gain as Anthony's coaching career testifies:

• Hartbury College (Rugby) Development Group Head Coach & Specialist Sports Lecturer
• England Colleges Southeast manager and England Colleges selector
• Essex County U18 Forwards Coach
• Drybrook RFC (Gloucestershire) Head Coach

Currently, apart from being Senior Head Coach at CRFC Anthony is Director of Rugby at Colne Sixth Form Rugby Academy.


Nic Lloyd (Backs Coach)
Nic, our 1st XV Backs Coach is no stranger to CRFC having been the Head Coach of our Colts Team from 2007-09 when they were winners of the Eastern Counties Cup two years running and quarter and semi-finalists in the National Cup; many of those Colts still play for our 1st XV.

Nic followed these Colts into Senior Rugby and became Backs Coach for the 1st XV from 2009 -2011 when the side was promoted to London 1 North.

Nic played most of his rugby in Australia in the second row before he turned to coaching teams in Brisbane. Currently Nic works as Head of Boarding and Senior Co-ordinator at Gosfield School.


Lee Soper (Forwards Coach)
Before putting his talents into coaching, Lee has enjoyed a great playing career in the Army which he joined in 1996 and was soon selected to play in the Army U21s. This led to him being selected as Captain for the Combined Services U21s.

Lee went on to play for the Army Senior Team earning 13 caps and 5 for the combined services playing against teams such as Barbarians, Romania and Argentina.

From 2000 Lee has played for Harlequins, Worcester, Launceston, Cornish Pirates, London Scottish and finally with Colchester.

As well as representing Cornwall Lee was selected for England Counties.

As far as coaching is concerned Lee has been the forwards coach for the Army and Combined Services Under 23s for the last 2 seasons and has occasionally been Head Coach for the Army A side.

Further reading