Sports

Hall helps overhaul
By Barry Rollings

Edition 1164, April 19, 2007
 
Hallmark: Duncan Hall conducts dynamic warm ups as part of the AARU SmartRugby program at Bandiana.
Photo by Cpl Kristin Pickering
“HALL of fame” has become a significant catch phrase for the Australian Army Rugby Union (AARU) as it schemes to become the dominant force in Services rugby.

The “Hall” of fame in this case is former Wallaby and Queensland Reds player Duncan Hall who has been enlisted to ensure this plan reaches fruition through the SmartRugby development camps.

“Army rugby development has recently had a major overhaul and we aim to be the pre-eminent Service union within the ADF for 2007 and beyond,” the high performance manager Col John Hutcheson said.

“SmartRugby development camps seek to provide the opportunity for potential players to demonstrate their abilities, join the Army rugby ‘family’ and provide the platform to selection for both the men’s and women’s teams,” he said.

“Duncan Hall of Duncan Hall Sports is well qualified to present these sessions on behalf of the AARU. He holds a current Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment, is a trained SmartRugby presenter, has experience as a coach/educator and is currently compliant with SmartRugby.

His sessions are both informative and enjoyable for all levels of skill.”
SmartRugby is an ARU-sponsored program designed to provide players and coaches with the necessary skills to avoid injury in this contact sport. It is also a very good program for entry level players wishing to try rugby.

Participating in SmartRugby each year is part of CA’s mandatory commitment to implementing the ADF Sports Policy.

“The AARU commitment to SmartRugby and the development of the game across Army will ensure that Army maintains its competitiveness on the field and within the ADF Sports guidelines,” Col Hutcheson said.

“This focus will also contribute to ensuring that the playing of rugby within the ADF is safe and develops the potential of participating ADF personnel.”

The first development camp was held at Bandiana on March 3 with the Border Army Rugby Union Club as host.

A good turnout of 19 players from the region participated. Conditions were less than ideal as the temperature reached a scorching 42 degrees.

Townsville’s activity proved equally as successful and was supported by men and women from local units.

The familiar humidity ensured the participants worked up a sweat as Duncan Hall ran them through their paces.

Further development camps are scheduled for: Holsworthy, May 5-6; Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, May 10-11; Canberra (RMC Duntroon), July 21-22; and Robertson Barracks, Darwin, July 28-29.

A big year is in prospect for ADF rugby aficionados with the United Kingdom men’s Army team to meet the AARU in Sydney on May 19 and the Australian services Rugby Championships in Canberra from August 12-18.