T: 07875 168181
E: rick.compton@blueyonder.co.uk
As an amateur but ambitious community club Westcliff strive to offer and deliver senior rugby for players of all abilities whilst maintaining strong community links and upholding and promoting the games core values.
The development and progression of players through our youth system is the bedrock of our senior set up and has allowed the club in recent years to establish itself as the foremost club in the county. The 1st XV has become a much respected and highly competitive side at the pinnacle of regional rugby now playing in the National 2 South Division and regularly outperforming semi-professional clubs in and around the national league structure. The 1st XV are underpinned and supported by a successful 2nd XV and our other senior sides provide a platform for players of all ages abilities and backgrounds in the game to develop and enjoy their rugby in the manner that best suits them.
Westcliff RFC Coaching Team
Jacob Ford
Head Coach
Coming from a rugby background Jacob has experienced sport throughout every stage in his life. He comes from a sporting family, his father is a former international rugby coach possessing over 10 years of international coaching with England and Ireland, and formally the head coach of Bath Rugby in the Aviva premiership and Toulon RC in the Top 14. Both his brothers play professional rugby, George playing for Leicester Tigers and the current England fly-half, and Joe who played for Leicester Tigers.
Jacob has played rugby for both Wasps and Bath academy while shadowing his father’s coaching, who was the Director of Rugby at Bath Rugby at the time.
After leaving school Jacob was appointed Games Coach at Rishworth school. He set up a successful rugby programme in his time as a coach at the school and developed relationships with local clubs while at the same time coaching in the Yorkshire Carnegie Academy.
Jacob progressed his career in playing and coaching in USA where he helped in the formation of a professional rugby club called Dallas Griffins. More recently he was Loughborough University Attack and Backs Coach, before being appointed as Westcliff RFC head coach at the start of the 2019/20 and the clubs historic first ever season in the National Leagues.
Jacob has a very strong and deep understanding of the game which is shown in his coaching on the field. Jacob is the youngest ever RFU level 3 coach and is the highest qualified for his age in the country.
Jackson Wray
Specialist Coach
Jackson is a current European and Premiership Champion with the Saracens where he was a mainstay in the back row. He was previously on loaned to Bedford Blues and also a home-grown tallent from Westcliff RFC. Other Honours included England Under 20 and Under 16 caps, and being part of Stuart Lancasters England training squad.
Kent Bray
Attack and Skills Coach
Club teams played for –
Rockhampton Institute
Western Districts Rugby (Brisbane)
Gordon Rugby (Sydney)
Oxford University
Harlequins RFC
Coached
National League 2 South with Westcliff RFC
Assistant coach Harlequins
Head coach Rosslyn Park
Assistant coach Gordon (Sydney)
Representative playing –
Australian U21s
Queensland
New South Wales
John Rudd
Backs and Deffence Coach
Club Teams played for –
Wasps
Northampton
Newcastle
London Irish
Representative Rugby –
England Saxons, U21s, and, U19s
Barbarians
England 7s
GB 7s
Previous Coaching experience:
National League 2 South with Westcliff RFC
Sydney University
Samurai 7s
Joe Vandermolen
fORWARDS Coach
Club Teams played for –
Westcliff Youth
Southend RFC
Bedford Blues
Chinnor
Highlights of playing / Coaching careers to date
National League 2 South Coach with Westcliff RFC
Bedford Blues Player of the Season
Promotion to National League 2 South with Westcliff RFC
Maso Bowles
Strength & Conditioning Coach & 2nd Team MAnager
Teams played for:
Natal Sharks u/20
Junior Springboks 1998
Sharks Sevens
Natal Wildebeest
Westcliff RFC
Coaching Positions:
WRFC S&C coach since 2008
RDJ sports camps skills/S&C coach
Shadow ball coach
Highlights:
Junior Springbok World Cup Squad 1998 (Cape Town)
Collegians 1st xv 2001
Ben Dane
Club & 2nd Team Captain
James Wood
3rd Team Manager