Military first as woman appointed to lead senior men's rugby team after Inter Service triumph
Royal Navy Rugby Union has announced Commander Charlotte Fredrickson as the new head coach of the senior men's team for the 2025/26 season, succeeding the role from the long-serving Dave Pascoe.
Cdr Fredrickson, also known as Freddie, assumes the head coach role following the Royal Navy men's victorious Inter Service campaign, where they won back the Inter Service trophy at Allianz Stadium in May.
She is also the first woman to be appointed head coach of any military senior men's side.
Cdr Fredrickson brings a wealth of experience as a former player and and coach, captaining the Royal Navy women's side during two periods from 2011-2013, and again from 2015-2017, as well as being a significant player for the UK Armed Forces squad.
In 2022, she coached the Navy women's side to their first-ever appearance at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium in their famous clash with the British Army, as well as coaching the newly formed Regional Select side in the Inverdale Challenge Cup in 2024.
Speaking to Royal Navy Rugby Union, Cdr Fredrickson described the opportunity as both "crazy and amazing".
She said: "I get to do something I love with a talented and motivated group of people. It's a role I have aspired to for many years, and I have worked hard to get into a position to take it on. I am just grateful for the opportunity."
With next year's Inter Service Championships always in the back of everyone's minds in service rugby, Cdr Fredrickson is under no illusion of the challenges ahead despite being the reigning champions.
She said: "I don't believe we are favourites to win. The Army will always back themselves, and a good post-Covid record does nothing to undermine the dominance of the Army in the competition over time.
"However, as the current holders, there will be significant internal and external expectation on us, which we need to manage.
"I believe that is achievable, but it will take a lot of hard and detailed work to ensure we are technically, tactically, physically, and mentally prepared. That work has already started."
Cdr Fredrickson is one of the Navy's most qualified coaches, and is one of two female RFU Level 3 coaches leading a Navy men's side, with Loz Salisbury also coaching the Mariners side (Navy vets team).
However, she does acknowledge that Dave Pascoe's legacy is a "tough act to follow".
She said: "Dave has been involved in RN rugby for 26 years, so yes, a tough act to follow.
"It's good of him to finally let it go! But who doesn't want to take on a challenge that is already firing and delivering?"
Tom Blackburn, RNRU Director of Rugby, said: "After a highly competitive recruitment process, where we demonstrated a real depth in talent for coaching across the union.
"I am excited for Freddie to bring new insights and vision to the Senior Men's team. She brings a wealth of coaching experience from a variety of rugby environments and will add real value to an already established and successful coaching team.
"We know the Army and RAF will be working hard to take the Inter-services championship title off us, and we need to continue to evolve to stay ahead.
"Freddie is a great character to add to our team, and I look forward to seeing them deliver results with her as Head Coach."
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
