Chard Rugby Club is pleased to announce the appointment of former Championship second-row, Steve Pape, as its new head coach for the 2024/25 season. Pape brings a wealth of experience from his playing career, representing clubs such as Bristol, Gloucester, Rosslyn Park, and London Scottish. He also earned recognition at the England youth and students level, as well as from his home county, Somerset.
Prior to joining Chard Rugby Club, Pape served as the forwards coach at Wellington Rugby Club before assuming a role at North Petherton. His extensive background in both playing and coaching roles makes him a valuable addition to the club.
Upon his appointment, Pape expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am delighted and excited to have been given the head coach role for the 2024-25 season with Chard Rugby Club. I’m looking forward to putting the players young and old through their paces and hopefully improving their rugby understanding and ability.”
Chairman Billy Ellens also expressed his satisfaction with Pape’s appointment, stating, “We are delighted to have secured the services of Steve Pape as our head coach for next season. From our first meeting with Steve, we could tell he was the right coach for Chard Rugby Club. Steve comes with a pedigree of experience playing and coaching. He also has a background of working with younger players and bringing them through, so for us, it was an easy choice. We look forward to welcoming Steve and his family to the club.”
To celebrate this exciting news, Chard RFC will be hosting their end-of-season Dinner and Dance on Friday, May 10th.
The addition of Steve Pape to the coaching staff promises to be an exciting development for Chard Rugby Club, and fans can look forward to an exhilarating 2024/25 season under his leadership. This appointment has generated great anticipation and positive energy within the club and the wider community.