Southern Box Lacrosse (SBL) has announced the six Head Coaches to lead the teams at the Winter Box League 2023.
Tom Roche, Rob Ingham Clark, Sam Perry, Cai Jefferies, Iain Murray, and Don McGraw will take charge of the teams at this year’s Winter Box League taking place on 10 December, 17 December, and 7 January at the Oxford Academy, Oxford.
SBL’s Winter Box League is the first of its kind in England and brings together some of the best box lacrosse players from all over the country in a battle to be crowned champions of England.
At the inaugural event last year, London Knights came out on top after remaining unbeaten throughout the competition and defeating Steelheads 8-7 in the final.
England men’s box lacrosse team captain, Tom Roche, who played for London Knights at last year’s event, will take on the Knights’ Head Coach role for 2023.
Tom has represented England in box lacrosse since 2014 and has recently turned his hand to coaching, founding Richmond Junior Lacrosse Club and becoming an Assistant Coach on the England Lacrosse under-20 men’s programme.
England men’s box lacrosse team Assistant Coach, Rob Ingham Clark, takes charge of Steelheads, a team he founded back in 2019, as they look to go one better than the silver medal they received last year.
Domestically, Rob is the Head Coach at Camden Capybaras with their women’s team and has been Head of Lacrosse at Stowe School for over five years.
Co-founder of Southern Box Lacrosse as well as the team he’ll be coaching at the Winter Box League this year, Sam Perry has been appointed as the Head Coach of SBL Capitals.
An ever-present in the Capitals team since 2028, Sam will lead his side in their first Winter Box League appearance with an ethos of giving players the chance to prove themselves and develop.
Experienced box lacrosse player and part of the England men’s team that won the 2022 European Box Lacrosse Championship, Cai Jefferies takes the helm at Heaton Hornets after being the first draft pick for Thundercats as a player last year.
Cai has decided to focus on coaching in this year’s competition and has already been working hard and trying out his tactical skills with the North Team development squad during the 2023 North v South box lacrosse series.
For the first time, two women’s teams will take part in the Winter Box League with captain of Camden Capybaras and Scotland box lacrosse, Iain Murray, taking charge of the SBL Ravens.
Iain has box coaching experience as an Assistant Coach for Switzerland during the 2017 European Box Lacrosse Championship and, growing up in Canada, has plenty of lacrosse knowledge that he’s ready to share with the squad.
The second women’s Head Coach is Don McGraw who will lead Courage in the 2023 Winter Box League. Don is the current Head Coach of the Switzerland women’s field team as well as the Oxford University Programme.
After moving to the UK from New York, USA, Don became the Head Coach for the Exeter University Lacrosse Programme in 2017-2018; he is now ready to apply his extensive field lacrosse experience to the box game.
For more information about the Winter Box League 2023, click HERE.