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Mudchooks Welcome New Coach
[ Friday, 22 April 2011 ]

The members of the Bungendore Rugby Football Club are excited to welcome Ben Stevenson as the new coach of the Mudchooks.

After successfully guiding the Mudchooks through the 2010 season to be undefeated premiers of Monaro Second Division, outgoing coach Shane Botham recently announced his reluctant resignation from the coaching position due to business commitments. Shane played for the Mudchooks in 2009 as tight head prop, and proved to be an excellent coach when he took over the coaching job in early 2010. Shane’s playing and coaching efforts are greatly appreciated by the club and he has retained his links by continuing as a sponsor through his business Botham Fencing.

Since Shane’s resignation, members of the Mudchooks executive has been scouting around for a replacement coach, and are now pleased to announce that Ben Stevenson has been appointed to the job. Ben is the husband of another Mudchook sponsor, Natalie Stevenson who owns Bungendore Chiropractic and he is the brother in law of club captain Luke Payten.

Ben’s rugby credentials are top notch having recently returned from playing rugby in Scotland for four years where he played for the Ayr Rugby club, a Premier 1 club in the Scottish competition. Playing at this level involved numerous coaching clinics with the Glasgow Warriors who play in the Magners League and the Heineken Cup. Outside his playing commitments Ben has been involved in coaching numerous development clinics including under 16’s and under 18’s at the Junior International Rugby Tournament, Scotland. In 2007 he also joined the coaching team for 2nd grade, Division 1 at Ayr Rugby Club. In 2008 Ben played for (Premiers) Milbrea Rugby club 1st grade. Now Ben is back in Australia with his family and enjoying life in Bungendore. “It’s great to be back and seeing such enthusiasm from the players and club committee at the Bungendore Mudchooks. I am looking forward to the season ahead and especially the local supporters getting behind our premiers from 2010” said Ben.

Ben said he is looking forward to working with all players on an individual and team basis. He will be focusing on building technical and physical skills so all players can enjoy the thrill of playing expansive champagne rugby. After being in five grand finals and being undefeated last season, Ben acknowledges that the Mudchooks have set a high standard and he believes the team has an obligation to retain this standard as reigning premiers in 2011. However, as well as maintaining this high playing standard, Ben knows how important the social activities of the Mudchooks are so he says that, “most of all I want the players to enjoy playing rugby with the Mudchooks with the mates they run alongside on the field.”

Training for the Mudchooks has started and it has been great to see so many old and new faces already. A pre-season schedule of trial games is being confirmed and training is now being held each Tuesday and Thursday night at Mick Sherd Oval commencing at 6:15pm. New players are most welcome to come along to join in, learn some skills, play some great rugby and make some new friends for life.