Firing
line
Volume
48, No. 8, May 18, 2006
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The
Air Force Rugby Union team prepares to line up in Canberra
for the Australian Rugby Union inter-Service championships
next week.
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Photo by Dan Wheelahan
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AIR
Force’s development plan to reassert itself as a powerhouse
of Services rugby has begun to produce results which it hopes
to put on show soon at the Australian Services Rugby Union Championship
(ASRU) in Canberra.
The titles will be held at Vikings Park, home of Tuggeranong Vikings
Rugby Club, in Wanniassa on May 28 and 31 and June 3. The Air
Force team goes into camp to prepare on May 21.
Air Force co-coaches, SQNLDR Ben Sweeney and SGT Adam Campaign
have come up with a three-point plan that aims to rebuild AFRU
(Air Force Rugby Union) into a competitive force within ASRU,
develop players in its playing pool into future AFRU starting
players and to maximise selection opportunities for AFRU players
within ASRU.
“Over the past decade, Air Force rugby unfortunately has
suffered a decline in playing numbers and collective skill levels
to contest the national inter-Service rugby union competition,”
SQNLDR Sweeney said.
“That said, Air Force has consistently provided between three
and five selections to the ASRU representative team, the highest
level to which most ADF rugby players can aspire.
“Only four players have had championship experience before
so we are pretty much an unknown quantity this year.
“The guys all have very positive attitudes and are keen to
turn-around Air Force’s run of bad luck over the past few
years. The squad is much younger, fitter and hungrier than in
previous years and has more representative football experience.
“The rugby development team was formed to plan the re-emergence
of Air Force as a competitive entity alongside the national level
Navy and Army rugby powerhouses. In its first year, the plan has
already begun to show dividends with more than 70 players available
for selection to the national Air Force squad - a significant
increase over previous years where barely 20-25 players were available
and with no rugby development structure to improve their skills.
“Today, the Patron of Air Force Rugby, AVM John Quaife and
the AFRU President, AIRCDRE Glen Steed, are pleased to announce
that a young but enthusiastic squad of 30 players have been selected
to represent Air Force at the coming championships.
“A further eight players have been named on the emergency
list to shadow squad members in case of injury or operational
commitments. These numbers are up because 10 players are not available
for selection in the national AFRU squad due to existing injuries
or operational requirements.
Developing
a strong union
“WHILE
there is excitement at the availability of rugby players for this
year’s competition, the Air Force team is determined not
to become over-confident with their expectations for the carnival.
“Only nine of the selected squad have already been involved
in previous years’ Services Championships. The squad contains
four players who have previously achieved ASRU representative
selection, to provide some experience and guidance to the new
players.”
New players include FLGOFF William Scott, LAC Rick Falkenmire,
LAC Brenton Eastwood, FLGOFF Jereme Johnson and LAC Bryan Hudson
of Richmond. From Williamtown are LAC Grant McDonald, LAC Rob
Allan, LAC Ben Martin and PLTOFF Braydon Pirlo.
New players from Amberley include LAC Ryan Baden, LAC Josh Rhodes,
AC Mat Irvine and LAC Adam Henry. A new player out of Darwin is
LAC Paul Hampson, while Edinburgh provides FLGOFF Eddie Reed and
LAC Dallas Hodgetts.
Sale is represented by FLTLT Jason King. Returning players to
AFRU are CPL James Hood and FSGT Jason Ryan of Canberra, CPL Ian
McWhirter, CPL Mike McCabe and LAC Shane Royle of Williamtown.
From Amberley come LAC Matt Proberts, LAC Richard Lucker, LAC
Ricky Gayler, LAC Ryan Espie and FLGOFF Darwin Natano. Darwin
is providing CPL Scott McKenzie and LAC Mick Godfrey, while CPL
Ron Marchant hails from Richmond.
The coaching and management team are coaches SGT Adam Campaign
and SQNLDR Ben Sweeney of Canberra, managers FLGOFF Adrian Rodgers
of Richmond and Warrant Officer Terry Connor of Canberra, and
physios Cameron Croker of Darwin, and Ailsa Robertson of Richmond.
Players on the emergency list are LAC Aaron Trueman and LAC Pat
Kelly of Amberley, LAC Travis Chin of Richmond, FLGOFF Pat Wall,
LAC Shane Glenn and LAC Luke Freeman of Williamtown and LAC Adam
King of Darwin.
These players and those selected to represent AFRU at the 2006
ASRC will all be reconsidered for the tour to New Zealand in August
or September to contest the Burns Merz Shield.
The AFRU coaching and management staff has firmly placed this
prestigious event as a must-win finale to the 2006 AFRU representative
year.
SQNLDR Sweeney expects defending premiers, Navy, to be the main
opposition but says that Army “will be strong as well”.
The ASRC schedule for Air Force is:
