West Mercia Men’s Rugby set for semi-final showdown

25 March 2025

West Mercia Police Men’s Rugby Team takes another step on its revival journey this week with a semi-final clash in the Police Sports UK (PSUK) Shield.

The team takes on Thames Valley Police at Stratford Rugby Club in Warwickshire on Wednesday (26 March) at 7pm.

They reached the last four after topping their division in the regular season, which included Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset, and North Wales.

Team manager Detective Inspector Dave Knight said: “We’re all really looking forward to it. It promises to be a really good game.

A lineout for West Mercia Police Federation rugby team against the Telford Hornets.

“We’re keen for as much support as possible. It definitely helps us when we know there“s people from the Force area coming to give us some support.”

It is the second time the West Mercia Men’s Team have reached the semi-final of the PSUK Shield competition in the past three seasons.

It’s a far cry from when the team had ‘gone dormant’ for a number of years.

Dave said: “Chief Inspector Dave King reinvigorated the team around seven years ago.

Friendlies

“He worked really hard to get some friendlies against the likes of Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, Cheshire Police and West Midlands Police.

“Following a couple of seasons of playing friendlies, we went back into the PSUK competition for the 22/23 season, which has been great.”

Dave said Ch Insp King and his coaching team have put down solid foundations on the pitch that have since been built on.

And away from the playing field, Dave has been worked hard to engage with people across the Force, from new recruits to senior leaders, to promote the team and the benefits it brings.

The West Mercia Police Federation rugby team.

Dave said: “I’ve been advertising the team to new recruits, and making leaders aware of how important it is for morale and teamworking to allow officers to train and play in games.

“We are really well supported.

“Our Chief Constable, Richard Cooper, is really supportive of everything we’re doing and he has come to watch us in the last couple of seasons, particularly when we’ve been playing Gloucester, one of his old forces.

“We’re supported by the Police Sports Fund in West Mercia. A small contribution of £3 a month covers players with some insurance when they’re playing, and helps fund things like kit and coach travel if we need it.

Coaching

“This season, we’ve also been supported by Stourport Rugby Club. They are a small club but have generously allowed us to train on their pitches.

“PC Andy Kilmister has been a key part of the team arranging coaching sessions for us. He’s also got physio contacts, so we’ve always got a physio with us when we’re playing.

“And he’s organised socials to get the team bonded and working well together.”

Dave added: “Luckily, we’ve got some strength in depth, which we need because shifts are all over the place and a lot of the time people are working.

“The Force has been very generous in allowing one day’s special leave for a PSUK sporting event per year, which not every force does.

“That really helps us when it comes to semi-finals and finals to play our best team.”

Great British Police

There have been individual successes as well, with PC Josh Nott, a scrum-half who played for Wasps and Worcester Warriors, representing Great British Police.

Josh, who is currently on a career break to play in Perth in Australia, also represented England Police with PC Finn Barnes.

And Josh also represented North of England Police in a game against South of England Police, for whom his West Mercia Police colleague PC Mark Burrell, a full-back, played.

Dave is keen to stress the team is open for anyone who wants to be involved, regardless of their rugby experience.

“My message to anybody in the workforce is that if you want to come and train with us or come and get a feel for what the sport is then please give me a shout,” he said.

“It’s not just the PSUK games we play, we have friendlies as well.

“Anybody’s welcome, and that goes for backroom staff. If there’s anybody who’s got any physio qualifications or anything like that, or who just want to help out, then they’re more than welcome.”