News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
ARMY REPRESENTATION AT CHALLENGE CUP

ARMY REPRESENTATION AT CHALLENGE CUP

Jeremy Bethell30 Aug 2015 - 19:01
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs

Army Rugby League presence underpins the event and adds tone

Whilst the media may have concentrated on the senior members of the Great Britain Armed Forces (GBAF) Rugby League party's contribution to the Challenge Cup, giving the impression that it is an RAF event, with token other service involvement, Army Rugby League were actually underpinning the military involvement in the event, spanning two days.

Firstly, on the Friday, while many of Soldiers League were making their way to St Georges Barracks, Bicester, for the annual dinner, Jamie Doig, in his capacity as GBAF Events Manager, was working tirelessly on the coordination and whipping in of all the military members of the wreath laying party for the service at the Cenotaph and the following reception at Portcullis House. It was really pleasing to see Denise Edgar was also there, representing the Royal British Legion (one of our supported charities) and that her husband, Steve, was proudly wearing his Army Rugby League tie.

For a video of this go to http://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/32995/rugby-league-honours-fallen-at

For a photograph album, go to Jamie's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jamie.doig.94?fref=hovercard

More details of the fallen who played Rugby League, can be found in Chapter 1
: Not Forgotten, found within Soldiers' League - The Story of Army Rugby League

The following day at Wembley, watched by the whole crowd, including a party of eighty five from Soldiers League, the Challenge Cup was escorted by three GBAF players, the smartest being André Zwijnen, currently serving at RMA Sandhurst. The No 1 Dress of The Rifles is probably one of the most distinguished Army uniforms and his presence (including a Light Division slow march) added significant tone to the occasion. The attached photograph is by courtesy of Sponge Beattie.

The other part of the ceremony, the laying out and removal of the large ground flags on the pitch, undertaken by serving volunteers, was directed and rehearsed by Jamie. He will soon be trawling for further volunteers, who also get entrance to the game, for the Grand Final and the three England v New Zealand tests. Serving members of Soldiers League might consider making up a group from their unit side and letting Jamie know they are available as soon as possible, in order to secure places at these tremendous fixtures.

Further reading