Your Community Team

A quick introduction to your London Wasps Community team

Dave Larham

Community Rugby Manager

Dave (43) joined London Wasps as a Community Development Officer in April 2002, after serving in the Royal Air Force for 12.5 years, and was promoted to Community Rugby Manager in October 2005. He is passionate about rugby, coaching and rugby development and is well known throughout our Community due to his many roles at London Wasps which include Match Day Q & A host, Academy coach, Community Partner Club Coach The Coaches Lead Coach and lecturer on the Sports Management & Rugby Studies Degree Course at the Bucks New University. Dave also performs a part-time role with the RFU as a Level 1, 2 & 3 Coach Trainer, Coach Educator, Coach Mentor and Child Protection Tutor. A RFU Level 3 Coach, he is also a RFU Referee, Rugby League Level 2 Coach and has qualifications in Sports Psychology, Sports Exercise, Fitness & Nutrition, SAQ®, Life Coaching, Coach Mentoring and an NVQ Level 5 in Management; Dave also completed the World Class Coaching Programme 2009 at Ashridge Business College. In September 2007 he helped form the London Wasps Community Foundation, which is the charitable arm of London Wasps. Dave lives in Aylesbury, Bucks with his wife Kay & son Lee (20).

"I was fortunate to arrive at London Wasps as we entered the most successful period of the club's history. I have seen us win three Premiership Finals, three European trophies, a domestic cup and saw several London Wasps players play their part in winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup. This club is all about winning and I relish the challenges that lay ahead both for the club commercially and the Community Team. I love this club, love this sport and hope that I can give young players, supporters and sponsors the same amount of enthusiasm and enjoyment that I get from being involved with such a fantastic club."

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Contact Dave:
dave.larham@wasps.co.uk
01494 531122 (office)
07810 818014 (mobile)
01494 531122 (fax)

Ryan Hunt

CoacHclass Programme Officer

Ryan (24) joined our Community Team as a Community Rugby Coach on 8th March 2010 after graduating with a degree in Applied Sport Science and Coaching with Management. He was promoted in to the position of CoacHclass Programme Officer on 12th August 2011 replacing Russell Bolton. Ryan grew up in the South-West and has worked with a wide variety of children in an array of different locations. These include under-privileged children in USA to international students in English summer schools to repatriation work for the Youth Offending Service. Ryan started playing rugby from a very young age which led to the focus of his college and university studies. Previous employers have included Social Services, International Colleges, YMCA Summer Camp and leisure centres. He is an RFU Level 2 Coach and ELRA Referee, and his primary responsibility will be coaching in schools to increase participation and enjoyment as much as possible.

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"It has been my goal for a number of years to be part of a professional rugby union club; however, to be part of one of the biggest clubs in the country is a fantastic opportunity and I cannot wait to contribute to an already highly regarded Community Team. After graduating, coupled with my experience with children across the board and my work in sports development I knew that my career would be involved within the community coaching world. I hope that my knowledge and experience will help to promote the already positive image of the London Wasps CoacHclass Programme and support rugby participation."

Contact Ryan:
ryan.hunt@wasps.co.uk
01494 531122 (office)
07949 366570 (mobile)
01494 531122 (fax)
www.rugbycamps.com (web)

Ben Smiley

Community Rugby Coach
In Partnership with Rugby Football Development Ltd

Ben (26) joined the Community Team on 1st March 2008 from Chiltern District Council where he worked as a Community Sports Coach. He studied Sports Management & Rugby Studies at the Bucks Chiltern University College in High Wycombe and has been a part-time member of the London Wasps Community Team for 4 years. Ben is a RFU Level 2 coach, RFU Coach Developer and ELRA Referee, and is the Head Coach for the Marlow RFC Ladies; he also plays rugby at Community Partners Marlow RFC. His role within the Community Team is to deliver a structured programme of school, further education and community rugby opportunities within Buckinghamshire. The ultimate goal is to provide opportunities for anyone to participate in rugby and provide the appropriate pathways for those who are interested in furthering their rugby. Ben will also be primarily responsible for coaching in schools to ensure optimal participation. He lives in Lane End, High Wycombe with his girlfriend Seba.

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"After training in Sports Development, and working within the industry since graduating from University, I am delighted to be combining my enthusiasm for Rugby with a passion for getting as many people active as possible. The 15 months that I spent in a Local Authority gave me an insight into the administrative side of Sports Development, and into that challenges that many sports face in accessing disadvantaged people and areas of deprivation. I now feel ready to tackle the challenges that will present themselves at London Wasps, and look forward to working with everyone in the Community to develop Rugby Union in Buckinghamshire."

Contact Ben:
ben.smiley@wasps.co.uk
01494 531122 (office)
07879 855353(mobile)
01494 531122 (fax)

David Choules

Independent Schools Officer
David (21) joined our Community Team on the 13th of June 2011 after gaining his degree in Sports (Health and Fitness Training) from the University of Bath. He grew up in Berkshire and has worked in many different fields within coaching; later developing his own business in Strength & Conditioning and rugby coaching. He also worked for London Wasps as a part time Community Rugby Coach from December 2010 to his appointment as a full-time member of staff. He is an RFU Level 2 Coach, as well as being a fully qualified personal trainer, and has qualifications in conditioning in sport, weight management and nutrition, client lifestyle and fitness assessment and business and marketing skills for the fitness professional.
David's playing career saw him captain the Berkshire U18s alongside being a member of the London Irish Academy; where he suffered from a near career-ending knee injury. Following a successful recovery, he joined the Bath Rugby Academy while at the University of Bath and A League games for Bath United.
His role within the Community Team will be to plan, deliver and monitor a coordinated programme of high quality, professional coaching activities that are progressive and reflective of the needs of participants in our local community’s Independent Schools. The coaching programme will link independent schools, community and club provision, CoacHclass, London Wasps Academy and aim to provide increased opportunities to retain people in rugby.

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"I feel extremely privileged to be performing this critical role within the London Wasps Community Programme. I hope I can portray my enthusiasm and passion for the game of rugby and London Wasps, to really push and excel the standing of the club within the Independent Schools across Bucks, Berks and Oxon. I want this programme to develop a reputation for high quality delivery and to be the best it can be; with everyone we engage having a positive experience."

Contact David:
david.choules@wasps.co.uk
01494 531122 (office)
07881 954248 (mobile)
01494 531122 (fax)

Joanna Hawley

Community Executive
Joanna has worked in the sports industry for over 12 years. Originally from Bedfordshire, she studied Sport & Leisure Management at Leeds Metropolitan University. Since that time she has worked for The Bucks & Milton Keynes Sports Partnership, a delivery system for Sport across England as the Coaching Development Officer; and as the Regional Development Manager (South West) for The Rugby Football Union for Women. More recently Joanna performed consultancy work for several Buckinghamshire based School Sports Partnerships and the London Wasps Community Foundation.
Over the last 5 years Joanna has worked as a volunteer and a part-time member of the Community Team co-ordinating Match Day activities and supporting the delivery of many of the Community Foundation's programmes and products. Within her role as Community Executive, Joanna works closely with all of our community audiences, especially working to support our Community Partner Clubs throughout the season and their engagement as the first point of contact for all enquiries. Her role also sees Joanna developing new high quality Community Marketing initiatives to ensure an enjoyable customer-focused experience centred on the needs of participants is a priority. Joanna currently lives in North Buckinghamshire.

"Having worked with London Wasps over the last 5 years, as a volunteer and in a professional capacity I am delighted to now be part of an exciting and developing Community Team. Volunteers and Community Clubs are the back bone of any successful club and they form a key role in providing the right environment for development and participation. I'm keen to see this journey continue and extend their learning and passion for our sport by being inspired by London Wasps at Adams Park Stadium."

Contact Joanna:
joanna.hawley@wasps.co.uk
01494 531122 (office)
01494 531122 (fax)

Ian Isham

Community Rugby Coach
In Partnership with Rugby Football Development Ltd
Ian (22) Joined the London Wasps Community Team as a Community Rugby Coach on the 1st December 2011 after working as a part-time member of the team for two and a half years. He studied at Bucks New University in High Wycombe on the Sports Management and Rugby Studies course and gained experience through working with both the London Wasps and Harlequins Community Programmes. Since graduating in September 2011, he continued to work with London Wasps alongside multi-sports coaching at schools in Buckinghamshire. Ian started playing rugby at the age of 4 at Banbury Rugby Club and played for the North Oxfordshire club for over 18 years; playing for every age group all the way up to Senior 1st XV. This season saw him switch clubs to Community Partners High Wycombe RUFC, where he plays at hooker in the 1st XV. He is a RFU Level 2 coach and will be delivering a wide range of our Community Programmes including the Aviva Premiership Rugby Schools Programme, MBNA Tackling Numbers, NSPCC Anti-Bullying Programme and CoacHclass.

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"Rugby has been a passion of mine from a young age, this lead me to studying a course that is very specific within the sports industry. Whilst on the course I quickly realised the importance of gaining experience alongside a degree. Since I started as a part time member of the community team at London wasps, it has been my ambition to progress and become a full time community rugby coach. Now I have an exciting opportunity to develop within the role and continue to deliver coaching to a wide range of people in the local community."

Contact Ian:
ian.isham@wasps.co.uk
01494 531122 (office)
01494 531122 (fax)