AIR
Force Rugby League (AFRL) is facing a bright new future thanks
in part to some serious top cover.
At the presentation dinner last year CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston
discussed the future of Air Force Rugby League and directed its
organisers to move the game forward to be more competitive against
Army and Navy.
“He instructed us to form a committee and get a proper organisation
going. He was very supportive,” said Warrant Officer Ross Warrall,
AFRL Vice President and Team Manager.
This activity followed the side’s losses in the interservice carnival
last year.
Interservice Rugby League is still in its infancy, with the first
carnival held in 2003.
“This year we are a lot more structured, with a committee in place
and 90 registered players. That’s a big step up from the 18 we
had last year,” WOFF Warrall said.
“We have made a big move forward in a short time. Now we can really
start establishing a side and building on it.
“Locally we are looking at getting sides up and running. We have
a lot of good work going on at Amberley. At Williamtown they’re
starting to get some good games played against local Army sides.
“We are looking at getting regional football going. We are planning
for each base to have its own team so they get a few games in
during the year in the run up to the Air Force carnival in September.
“Last year’s was mainly a trial. This year will actually be a
carnival and we are planning to have four sides to play out for
the carnival. As soon as this interservice carnival’s over, we’ll
be working on the logistics to get four sides to Amberley for
the Air Force carnival.”
WOFF Warrall said that under the new organisation some bases such
as Amberley already had their own committees to manage the local
teams and there were AFRL representatives on all bases.
Other major bases should also have committees soon. He also had
a call for help.
“Our President was Air Commodore Geoff Shepherd but he has since
been promoted to Air Vice Marshal. We are looking for a senior
officer, preferably in the Canberra area and interested in league,
to come on board and give us a hand.
“At the end of the day we encourage anyone who has an interest
in league to contact us and get onboard.”
For
more information visit http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/Sites/AFRLC
