Intouch was formed as a charitable body in 2020 by a group of former players and coaching staff, to provide support to ex-players by helping them transition out of the service into civilian street, to obtain gainful employment and mentor them through any other unforeseen issues along the way.
To do this we will be offering you:
- InTouch Memberships
- Sponsorship
- Events
- Merchandise
If you are interested contact us today – you can help change lives so let’s make it happen together.
Wayne O’Kell
Wayne Okell MBE is a highly respected senior leader whose career spans distinguished military service, high-performance sport and trauma-informed people development. A former Warrant Officer 1st Class, Wayne served for 30 years in the Royal Navy with exemplary commitment and professionalism, earning a reputation for calm, values-driven leadership in demanding environments. As both founder of Royal Navy Rugby League and a former player and Head Coach, he played a pivotal role in establishing and shaping the sport’s presence within the Service, promoting standards of excellence, discipline and teamwork on and off the field.
Wayne now serves as Director of Talent at Fair Ways, a trauma-informed charity that supports some of society’s most vulnerable young people and families. In this role, he leads with a people-first philosophy, focusing on creating safe, supportive conditions in which staff can perform at their best while delivering compassionate, high-quality care. He combines strategic insight with deep operational understanding, ensuring that recruitment, development and leadership practices remain firmly aligned with Fair Ways’ values and the complex needs of those it serves.
Alongside his charity leadership, Wayne is committed to enhancing and enriching the lives of Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans through the power and positive influence of rugby league. He recognises the challenges that can come with transitioning out of military careers and is determined to ensure that former players and veterans remain connected, supported and valued. By collaborating closely with InTouch members, he helps to provide guidance, advice, and mentoring support to those navigating their next chapter, using sport as a vehicle for community, purpose and long-term wellbeing.
Across all aspects of his work, Wayne continues to demonstrate the same integrity, service ethos and commitment to others that led to the award of his MBE. His leadership brings together lived experience, professional rigour and a clear, ongoing mission: to use rugby league, compassionate leadership, and trauma-informed practice to improve lives and create lasting positive impact.
Lt Cdr Jason Steele
Jason continues to serve in the Royal Navy and has been proudly involved with RNRL since 2005, contributing both as a player and as part of the senior management team.
He currently serves as the Senior Team Manager, Head of Management, as well as Director of Rugby for UKAF RL, providing guidance and support across all RNRL teams.
Over the years, he has had the privilege of meeting, playing alongside, managing, and touring with many of the RNRL Brothers – most memorably during tours to Australia in 2007, 2014 and 2024 and New Zealand in 2010.
Witnessing the organisation grow from strength to strength has been a highlight of his involvement. Jason remains committed to supporting both former and serving RNRL players, as well as the wider staff community, through InTouch RNRL.
Tom Gent
Tom served in the RN from 1996 to 2003 as an OMAWW. Not long after joining Tom was picked to play for the RN Rugby Union Under 21s and later for the 1st team for 7 years.
During his time at HMS Collingwood, he then met Wayne O’Kell MBE and in turn found rugby league. Rugby league and especially RN rugby league suited Tom down to the ground – no thinking involved – just run in a straight line – oh and don’t worry about passing the ball – just don’t stop!
The biggest lesson for Tom and something he has always remembered from his days in the RN and being around Wayno and Jase Steele was the teamship. This has stood him in good stead in running his scaffold company which he started in 2008. No backward steps – never taking no for an answer and always loyal to the team and support staff. Since then, he has gone on to create a group of companies under the banner of V3 Holdings with a combined turnover in excess of 60 million.
Tom has wanted to give back in some way to the Uk Armed Forces especially the Royal Navy, for a long time and was so pleased to be given the opportunity to work and support the InTouch charity back in 2021, using his business knowledge and connections to make a real success in supporting those that may need it.
Some of the best people Tom has had the pleasure of knowing have been RNRL guys so it’s a real pleasure to see all of these guys again, reminisce about old times and now have the chance to make many new ones.
Jim (Dutchy) Holland
Jim Holland is a Royal Navy veteran and entrepreneur. After 13 years in the Navy, Jim struggled to resettle into civilian life, despite going on to build a senior corporate career at Vodafone, Sky, and Stansted Airport.
When COVID hit, it gave him the space to reflect on purpose, people, and the kind of impact he wanted to have.
From that reflection came a simple belief: doing good makes you feel good. Today, Jim works with businesses to turn good intentions into tangible social and environmental impact, while supporting UK veterans through meaningful, nature-based work.
Andy Steel
Andy is a former POAEA (WAFU) who captained the RNRL for four years from it’s inception after watching a game of Rugby Union in Portland with Wayne O’Kell and wishing it was a game of our beloved ‘Rugby League’.
After winning the Army 9’s and beating an undefeated 1 Para team the RNRL was born, the rest, as they say is history! After leaving the Royal Navy Andy went on to play in the first-ever game of Rugby League in Asia (Thailand v Phillipines 2021) and was involved with the set up of Thailand Rugby League and ASEAN Rugby League Committee.
Neil Gay
Neil is from Gods Country – East Yorkshire. He served in the Royal Navy from 1992-2002 and was part of the grey war canoes – Intrepid, Brazen, (DQs), Cardiff, Shetland and Fearless Namet 1-1.
Neil suffered with RU until the greatest game was allowed in 1997 and represented the brothers and combined services, enjoying some incredible times with some fantastic people. Since 2003 Neil has been a firefighter in East Yorkshire and is Chairman of the Beverley Braves junior rugby league club for the last 11 years.
Neil is very excited to be reunited with former RNRL colleagues via InTouch and very much looking forward to seeing many more at future events.
Aidy Baxter
Aidy is from Wigan, Lancashire, and brings a lifetime of service, teamwork, and technical expertise to everything he does.
He served in the Royal Navy from 1997 to 2008, where he spent his happiest days deployed across the fleet, including HMS Newcastle, HMS Iron Duke, HMS St Albans, HMS Invincible, and HMS Leeds Castle. During his service, Aidy became heavily involved in representation and welfare, enduring the infamous Navy RU23s until the introduction of RNRL, after which he proudly represented ships and establishments across the service.
Following his time in the Navy, Aidy continued his commitment to teamwork and community through rugby league, representing Wigan St Patricks before later finding a home at Wigan St Judes.
Since 2007, Aidy has been living back in Wigan, working in IT consultancy, technology-focused and project management roles combining operational discipline with practical problem-solving and a strong people-first mindset. His career reflects a blend of technical capability, leadership, and real-world experience gained both in uniform and beyond.
He is proud to be reconnecting with former RNRL colleagues through InTouch and looks forward to strengthening old friendships and forging new ones at future events.
Mens sana in corpore sano — a sound mind in a sound body — remains a principal Aidy lives by, both professionally and personally.
