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| Year | Navy Rugby Secretaries |
|---|---|
| 2023- | Mrs Ruth Standbridge |
| 2021-2023 | Major Tony King |
| 2007-2021 | Commander Alan Church Royal Navy |
| 2005-2007 | Lieutenant Commander Paul Dunn Royal Navy |
| 1994-2005 | Lieutenant Commander Clive Lambshead Royal Navy |
| 1988-1994 | Lieutenant Commander Harry Brickwood Royal Navy |
| 1983-1988 | Lieutenant Commander Roy Stokes Royal Navy |
| 1974-1983 | Commander J Mike Vernon Royal Navy |
| 1973-1974 | Captain John Jacobsen Royal Navy |
| 1970-1973 | Instructor Captain Alun Meredith Royal Navy |
| 1966-1970 | Instructor Captain M A Waller Royal Navy |
| 1964-1966 | Captain A R Aldous Royal Navy |
| 1961-1964 | Surgeon Commander (D) John B Inverdale Royal Navy |
| 1960-1961 | Captain D H Callaghan AMIMechE Royal Navy |
| 1956-1960 | Commander R J L (Wally) Hammond Royal Navy |
| 1954-1956 | Captain (S) Ronald V Brockman CSI CIE CBE Royal Navy |
| 1953-1954 | Commander (S) C B Hinde Royal Navy |
| 1951-1953 | Captain (S) Ronald V Brockman CSI CIE CBE Royal Navy |
| 1948-1951 | Surgeon Captain (D) L B (Ginger) Osborne LDS Royal Navy |
| 1946-1948 | Lieutenant Commander J W Forrest Royal Navy |
| 1945-1946 | Commander H L Gilbert Royal Navy |
| 1938-1939 | Paymaster Commander FR J Mack Royal Navy |
| 1936-1938 | Commander P.B.W. William-Powlett Royal Navy |
| 1935-1936 | Commander H G Hopper Royal Navy |
| 1933-1935 | Engineer Commander H Bleackley MVO Royal Navy |
| 1933 | Commander Cecil A Kershaw Royal Navy |
| 1929-1933 | Engineer Captain M G A Edwards OBE Royal Navy |
| 1929 | Engineer Captain Sydney P Start Royal Navy |
| 1926-1929 | Rev E G Bird MA Royal Navy |
| 1925-1926 | Construction Lieutenant Commander W J A (Dave) Davies Royal Navy |
| 1921-1925 | Engineer Lieutenant Commander C J G MacKenzie Royal Navy |
| 1913-1921 | Lieutenant Colonel H D Farquharson Royal Marines |
| 1910-1913 | Engineer Lieutenant Ernest W Roberts Royal Navy |
| 1907 | Surgeon G M Levick |
RFU Administrators
Eng Cdr S F Coopper RN
Syndey Coopper was the third Secretary of the RFU and was a former England International having played for England on seven occasions between 1900 and 1907. Though he played rugby for the RN Engineering College he played most of his career for Blackheath. When playing for Blackheath he earned the nickname 'The Jumping Wing'. He also won two caps for the Navy but these were after his International career had finished, in 1909 and 1910. He served on the Devon Rugby Union Committee from 1922-1923 as the Devonport Services representative. He was Secretary of the RFU from 1924 until the end of the 1946-1947 season. It seems that he was also the Secretary for the 1930 British Lions as the original 'draft' selections went out under his signature. (as detailed in the book 125 Years of the British Lions- The Official History)
Cdr Roger Godfrey RN
Roger Godfrey was the RFU's senior administrator under the long standing RFU Secretary Dudley Wood. He played an important and influential role in the 1990 negotiations with Home Office following the report in to the Hillsborough tragedy. It was partially through his sensible stewardship that stadium regulations for rugby reflected the long standing respect for each other than rugby fans have long had and the fact that segregation was not in force or ever likely to be needed in the foreseeable future.
Capt Tony Hallett RN
Tony Hallett was the last Secretary of the RFU and the first CEO. He was in post when the Game went professional, albeit only for a month. His two year tenure was probably the most dramatic in terms of change that the RFU has witnessed. It started with a serious rift between the RFU's playing captain (Will Carling) and the RFU, it involved the advent of european competition and also the final acceptance (over a number of RFU 'dead' bodies) that the game would become professional. It was ironic that this change was overseen by a former Navy man because the three Services and long held a dispensation to play professional players (Members of the RFC had basically ignored the RFU's regulation in and around the First World War.
Two articles by the Independent give more detail on this short but significant appointment in the history of the RFU they can be viewed at the following links:
Owen Slot previews Tony Hallett's appointment
Paul Trow reviews Tony Hallett's resignation