For Royal New Zealand Navy Leading Diver Ethan Shergold, the chance to combine his two great passions of water and rugby is a dream come true.

The 27-year-old from Tauranga is co-captain of the RNZN Te Taua Moana rugby squad, which is heading off to compete in the Commonwealth Navy Rugby Cup tournament in the United Kingdom this month.

'I started playing rugby when I was five. Mum strapped on the head-gear and I was away. I grew up around the water too, I've been doing surf lifesaving all my life at Mt Maunganui and I learnt diving at Tauranga Boys' College. As soon as I found out there was Navy Rugby then I was keen to join.”

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the triennial CNRC tournament that was first played in 1997 and is traditionally competed for between the Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy.

The Te Taua Moana rugby team, competing in the Commonwealth Navy Rugby Cup tournament in the United Kingdom this month.

Shergold says he's privileged to be team co-captain.

'In my job as a diver with the Navy we do a lot of international deployments where we conduct mine clearance and salvage tasks. Going away with the divers, making close friends and working with other nations is pretty amazing, but rugby in the Navy is my number one downtime enjoyment,” says the openside flanker.

This year, five Fijian and three Tongan navy personnel have joined Te Taua Moana, ‘Warriors of the sea'.

Shergold says rugby is a passion shared with our Pacific neighbours and he welcomes the skills they bring to the team.

'I think we're really lucky to have our Pacific Island brothers joining our team and making us even stronger, they fit in really well and they're nothing but strengths to be added to our team.”

Te Taua Moana Contingent Commander, Captain Richard Walker, says the participation of Pacific partners would enrich the tournament.

'The Pacific is our front yard and a significant percentage of our operational deployments occur in the region, so this is a great opportunity to re-enforce the existing strong ties between our partner navies and bring our sailors together through their love of rugby to form a joint Te Taua Moana team.”

Royal New Zealand Navy Leading Diver Ethan Shergold, co-captain of the Te Taua Moana rugby team, training before the Commonwealth Navy Rugby Cup tournament.

Shergold has been playing for the RNZN Rugby Football Club team, Navy Doggies, since 2016 and he has just been selected to play for the Defence Force Rugby Team, NZDF Blacks.

'As soon as I finished the dive course that's when I fully committed to Navy Rugby. I've been playing for the Navy team for a few years now, Covid slowed us down, so it's good to be back and it's awesome to have the opportunity to play in the UK with the Te Taua Moana side,” he says.

The Te Taua Moana rugby team, training before competing in the Commonwealth Navy Rugby Cup tournament in the United Kingdom this month. (Front Row Left to Right) Ordinary Marine Technician Hunter Taylor, Ordinary Marine Technician Tristian Reed, Leading Diver Ethan Shergold, Ordinary Diver Jayden Ferguson.

Livestream:

The Commonwealth Navy Rugby Competition will be live streamed by British Forces TV on the BFBS You Tube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/forcestv

Royal Navy v Te Taua Moana (Royal New Zealand Navy) - 0600 NZT 13 September 2022

Royal Australian Navy v Royal Navy - 0600 NZT 16 September 2022

Royal Australian Navy v Te Taua Moana (Royal New Zealand Navy) - 0600 NZT 19 September 2022

CNRC Draw:

Tuesday 13 September Royal Navy v Te Taua Moana (Royal New Zealand Navy)

Friday 16 September Royal Navy v Royal Australian Navy

Monday 19 September Te Taua Moana (Royal New Zealand Navy) v Royal Australian Navy

Tuesday 20 September Tavistock RFC v ANZAC XV

Thursday 22 September CNRC Barbarians v South West Select XV