MEET THE TEAM!

Nick –

I am the School and Community Programmes Manager for Oxfordshire Cricket and I also coach the U12 Girls County Squad.

This is my 5th CWB trip and looking forward to seeing the amazing progress that has been made since my last visit in 2018.

Nathan –

Hi I’m Nathan and having retired from the fire service after 30 years I was fortunate to start working with Somerset cricket foundation. This has allowed me to have some amazing coaching opportunities working with our Super 1’s disability teams and also running a Sporting Memories group helping men over 50 that are living with Dementia or are suffering with loneliness or isolation.
I’m very excited to be experiencing what Rwanda has in store for myself and the team.

James Sr. –

45 year old cricket umpire of 6 years; umpiring at the highest level in Kent.
Prior to that; I played cricket on and off at a “village” level in West Wales and Kent for 25 years. Primarily a batsman in my early career, I scored 2 centuries for my club in West Wales.
I have no coaching experience but am looking forward to immersing myself in coaching children with CWB and enjoying such an amazing opportunity.

Ben –

Hi, my name’s Ben Bilsland, I’m 37 and live in a town called Petworth in Sussex. I play for the local club and am also involved in the junior coaching set up!

Outside of cricket I am a big foodie and love my coffee, in just under a month I’m opening my first coffee shop – exciting times ahead!

Aarin –

Hi, I’m Aarin. I’m 21 years old and currently studying product design engineering at university. Cricket has been a huge part of my life for over five years now, and I’ve been proud to hold my Level 2 coaching qualification for the past 3.5 years.

Coaching cricket isn’t just a job for me—it’s something I truly love. I also enjoy playing the sport myself, and when I’m not on the cricket field, you’ll probably find me playing golf, where I’m working hard to maintain my handicap of 6.

I’m lucky to work with the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, where I’ve had the chance to be involved in so many amazing coaching programmes—from ACE and Wicketz to Super 1s, All Stars, Dynamos, and more. Each of these programmes has allowed me to connect with young players, help them grow, and share my passion for the game.

Balancing my studies and coaching isn’t always easy, but being able to combine what I love with making a positive impact on others keeps me motivated every day. Cricket and design are both parts of who I am, and I’m excited to keep learning and growing in both fields.

James Jr. –

I’m a huge music fan and have been a musician for 10 years. I like to socialise and meet up with friends and if I l get time, like to relax with a book and record on.