About the White Hart Marauders, and the committee.

Over the years the WHITE HART MARAUDERS have developed into a renowned International 7's side that draws players from all sectors of the domestic and International arena. But we have never lost that sense of fun from the early days.

The White Hart Marauders have introduced a new dimension to the touring sides with such items as the "wobbly Wig" famously worn by Will Carling during his time with the WHITE HART MARAUDERS in 1993, whilst still Captain of England.

Other significant names that have joined the WHITE HART MARAUDERS have included Jeremy Guscott, Laurence Dellaglio, Peter Winterbottom and Dewi Morris to name a few.

Since those early years the WHITE HART MARAUDERS have introduced their flair for rugby and entertainment in many other tournaments including Hong Kong, Dubai, Lisbon, Cape Town, Toulouse, Kinsale, Croatia and of course the U.K, earning credentials as the World Famous International Marauders. With the ever increasing demands on the professional game our team selections now change day by day, however as stated recently in the program for the Heineken 7's in Amsterdam:

"As usual with the White Hart Marauders we know nothing about who will be playing, but as usual they will be among the favourites to win the tournament."

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The Thoughts of Chairman Billy White, on 2011

Here’s your thought for the day – Is rugby sevens all about winning?

"It's great to win, but it's also great fun just to be in the thick of any truly well and hard-fought contest against opponents you respect, whatever the outcome." Jack Nicklaus.

There is no doubt that this quote from Jack Nicklaus is true, but if it is true why then do we feel so good when we win and so bad when we lose?

OK, here’s another one “If winning isn’t everything why do they keep the score?” Anonymous.

Hmmm, difficult to answer that one. I have just been Googling to find some more quotes and the only ones I can find (hundreds of them) are American so maybe the Americans have ‘winning’ sewn up. So is winning an attitude driven by your nationality or upbringing?

Here’s one more, “Winning is everything, to win is all there is. Only those poor souls buried beneath the battlefield understand this” Navy SEAL Team.

There’s no answer to that, and maybe that’s why our tough but highly respected competitors, the Army, have developed so strongly over the last couple of years? You know, I keep on coming back to the Nicklaus quote. Yes, we are here to win for our supporters, sponsors, management and players and that is a critical goal for all of us, but to balance it out we are also here to ensure that this group in its entirety have fun and enjoy the White Hart Marauders total experience.

Two winners who have enjoyed the Marauders experience in the past are currently in the England squad leading the IRB World Series table alongside New Zealand. Jetting off to Hong Kong in March are Marauders Legends Dan Caprice and Chris Cracknell.

Dan is described as “an emerging talent with a burning desire to succeed” and at age 21 has now scored 20 career tries in the HSBC World Series.

Chris has built a reputation for strength and endurance playing 8 times last year, in the opening two rounds in Dubai, and was part of the World Series winning team against New Zealand in 2009. Good luck boys!

Last thought for the day - Who will be the next winning player be to make it through to their National 7s squad, via the Marauders experience?

Billy White, Chairman

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Contact Billy here.....

As we approach the first tournament of 2011 (Kinsale April 30th/ May 1st) our attention is very much focused on the challenges ahead.

To those of you who follow Marauders on a regular basis you will know, of course, that the obvious one is striving to perform at the top of our form in every tournament that we enter. With the competition getting greater every year winning is the key challenge.

However challenges are ever present in other differing forms, not least of these is seeking out key partners and establishing relationships with them. Whether those partners are sponsors, suppliers, or even competitors, the task of cementing relationships is even greater.

However, only by doing so can we hope to create a situation that stands the test of time. It is only appropriate that here I would like to extend a big vote of gratitude to all our financial sponsors, large & small. Included in this are our loyal advertisers whose contributions are of great help at the stage of pre-season budgeting for the travelling season.

Here I can also inform you that we have been fortunate in extending our Kit Sponsorship for the second successive year with Olorun, the Carmarthen based producer of top quality sports wear. Take a look at the style and design of the supporters’ kit in the centre pages of the yearbook and I am sure you will agree that this year’s kit is the best yet .

Of course Sponsors require performance and performance demands that we recruit players of the highest calibre. In this challenge we are fortunate that Marauders have such a majestic history of winning and, just like our sponsors, good players like to be associated with success.

The old cliché “there’s nothing like winning” is critical in this area as it affects everyone . To assist in our ongoing search for winning players our Academy introduced Players’ Trials in 2010 and identified a number of top quality players for both them and the Elite squad.

This proved so successful that we will be holding enhanced trials for our two Academy teams again this Spring. While Spring is in mind I will mention that last year’s highly successful, inaugural Wild Boar 7s tournament will be held again this year on 29th May in Eversley. It is great to see the village of Eversley put on such a high quality event that the Marauders are delighted to support.

Challenges stimulate excitement and I can say with huge confidence that all of us here at Marauders are looking forward to a very exciting 2011.

Peter Doyle, President

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Contact Peter here....

White Hart Marauders Committee Members

(Tournament management are highlighted in bold letters)

• Peter Doyle - President

• Bill White - Chairman

• Barrie Torbett - Team Manager

• Howard Graham - Player/Coach

• David Bedford - Vice Chairman/Membership

• John Cozens - Secretary

• Mike Courtness - Treasurer

• Mark Cowley - Rugby Liaison/Sponsorship

• Ian Meikle - Webmaster

Honorary Life Members

• Dave Short

• Ian Meikle

• Fred Smith

• James Van Amstell

• Doug Page

Life Members

• Billy White

• Peter Doyle

• Mike Courtness

• Andy Zuanic

• David Bedford

• Harry Fish

• John Cozens

• Ali Watson

• Doug Fish

• David Hearn

Annual Subscriptions:

• Ordinary Members & VP’s £25.00 (£20 via Direct Debit)

• Life Membership £200.00 (one-off payment for life)

Membership benefits

• White Hart Marauders - Elite team status

• White Hart Marauders Yearbook

• Thursday night “roll-up” at The Hart 

• White Hart Marauders kit shop so you can become the ‘discerning’ Marauder

• Your name will appear on the website as a member of the WHMRFC

• Invitation to free annual Marauders BBQ at The Hart

• Invitation to all White Hart Marauders tours as a paying supporter – Enjoy!

• Free White Hart  Marauders Thursday ‘roll-up’ badge

• Sponsorship opportunities for you and your company to tour with the White Hart Marauders