Ray Skett joined the Winnipeg Saracens Rugby Football Club as a player in 1974, eventually becoming its coach and one of the few honoured as a Lifetime Member of the Saracens RFC. Ray was a successful coach for school, club, and provincial teams. Consequently the Top Coach award of Rugby Manitoba is named after him. Ray’s dedication to rugby in Manitoba led him from coaching to management and administrative positions, including the President of Rugby Manitoba, Director for the Rugby Canada Junior National Team, and Senior Team Manager for Rugby Canada.
Ray Skett came to Canada from New Zealand in 1969, but only got started with Manitoba rugby in 1974 after joining the staff of St. John’s High School as a teacher. Peter Press, another teacher at St. John’s, was involved with the Saracens and hurriedly recruited Ray after learning he was a New Zealander. Ray played as a Half-Back for both the club and provincial levels, where he was Team Manitoba’s Captain in 1975 and 1976. Peter and Ray, with Ray taking over the head coaching of St. John’s High School, led the school rugby team to their greatest successes during the mid to late 70’s. Ray ultimately moved into coaching the Saracens, leading the team to six of its eight Senior Men’s Provincial Championships from 1979 to 1986.
Provincially, Ray coached the Manitoba Junior Team from 1976 to 1979, and the Senior Team from 1979 to 1985. He was again handed the reins of the Manitoba Senior Men’s team in 1989 by presenting the Manitoba Rugby Union with a plan that would overhaul its existing player development system. Building toward the goal of a 1991 Tier II Championship Victory, Ray implemented a 3-phase plan that would build continuity in the team from year-to-year. This dream came to fruition in 1997 when the team won the Tier II Championships for the first time and moved up to the Tier I level under coach Garry Nicholson. Ray served as President of Rugby Manitoba for two terms, 1986 to 1991 and 1993 to 2000; as Rugby Canada Senior Team Manager from 1994 to 1995, including the 1995 Rugby World Cup; as national selector from 1996 to 2000 for Rugby World Cup and the Canadian 1999 World Cup squad; and as a Rugby Canada Junior National Team Director from 1999 to 2004.
Starting in 1991, Rugby Manitoba changed the name of its Top Coach award to “The Ray Skett Award”, honouring Ray for his successes as a Coach and his commitment to rugby at all levels. It is presented yearly to the most successful coach in the province.
Ray is a well-known constant promoter of the game and has also served as a mentor to former Winnipegger Brian Erichsen, a member of Rugby Canada’s 2011 Rugby World Cup Senior Men’s squad. In honour of the 20-year Anniversary of the Saracens Rugby Football Club, Ray authored the book “Games I Wrote Home About”, chronicling some of his fourteen years with the Saracens through synopses of seven memorable matches.
Ray Skett came to Canada from New Zealand in 1969, but only got started with Manitoba rugby in 1974 after joining the staff of St. John’s High School as a teacher. Peter Press, another teacher at St. John’s, was involved with the Saracens and hurriedly recruited Ray after learning he was a New Zealander. Ray played as a Half-Back for both the club and provincial levels, where he was Team Manitoba’s Captain in 1975 and 1976. Peter and Ray, with Ray taking over the head coaching of St. John’s High School, led the school rugby team to their greatest successes during the mid to late 70’s. Ray ultimately moved into coaching the Saracens, leading the team to six of its eight Senior Men’s Provincial Championships from 1979 to 1986.
Provincially, Ray coached the Manitoba Junior Team from 1976 to 1979, and the Senior Team from 1979 to 1985. He was again handed the reins of the Manitoba Senior Men’s team in 1989 by presenting the Manitoba Rugby Union with a plan that would overhaul its existing player development system. Building toward the goal of a 1991 Tier II Championship Victory, Ray implemented a 3-phase plan that would build continuity in the team from year-to-year. This dream came to fruition in 1997 when the team won the Tier II Championships for the first time and moved up to the Tier I level under coach Garry Nicholson. Ray served as President of Rugby Manitoba for two terms, 1986 to 1991 and 1993 to 2000; as Rugby Canada Senior Team Manager from 1994 to 1995, including the 1995 Rugby World Cup; as national selector from 1996 to 2000 for Rugby World Cup and the Canadian 1999 World Cup squad; and as a Rugby Canada Junior National Team Director from 1999 to 2004.
Starting in 1991, Rugby Manitoba changed the name of its Top Coach award to “The Ray Skett Award”, honouring Ray for his successes as a Coach and his commitment to rugby at all levels. It is presented yearly to the most successful coach in the province.
Ray is a well-known constant promoter of the game and has also served as a mentor to former Winnipegger Brian Erichsen, a member of Rugby Canada’s 2011 Rugby World Cup Senior Men’s squad. In honour of the 20-year Anniversary of the Saracens Rugby Football Club, Ray authored the book “Games I Wrote Home About”, chronicling some of his fourteen years with the Saracens through synopses of seven memorable matches.