Preparations have stepped up another notch for the Australian Services Rugby Union representative team in its quest for the inaugural Pacific Nations Military Rugby Cup in Canberra next month.
The cup will be held at Vikings Rugby Park, Erindale, from September 12 to 16, with the ASRU joined by teams from the Royal New Zealand Defence Force Rugby, French Armed Forces New Caledonia, Tongan Defence Services, Republic of Fiji Military Forces Rugby and Papua-New Guinea Defence Force in what promises to provide a highly competitive standard of international rugby.
The ASRU team assembles in Brisbane on September 4 for a six -day intensive training and preparation camp.
The ASRU will play Queensland Country Red Heelers at Ballymore on September 7 before moving to Canberra on September 10.
Pool A will consist of ASRU, Tonga and New Caledonia. In Pool B New Zealand will do battle with Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Given that rugby is arguably the “language of the Pacific”, the competition also provides an excellent opportunity for the touring teams from the respective nations to get to understand each other better both on and off the paddock.
ASRU assistant coach and coaching and development director, WGCDR Graham King, said the ASRU would field a highly-disciplined team, with strongly structured set pieces with good vision and approach to phase play.
“The nucleus of the team has been created over the past two years, but in 2006 some new, young and exciting players are being blended into the team,” he said.
■ For more information on the Pacific Cup program, visit http://www.servicesrugby.asn.au/
