British Army Rugby League

Last updated

British Army
British Army RL crest.jpeg
Club information
Full nameBritish Army Rugby League
Nickname(s)Army
ColoursRed and white
Founded1994
Current details
Ground(s)
Competition Challenge Cup

The British Army Rugby League team is the official rugby league team representing the British Army. The team was founded in 1994 when the Army first recognised rugby league as an official sport and lifted a ban on it. [1] The new team was able to play in the Challenge Cup. The team play their home matches at Aldershot Military Stadium in Aldershot, Hampshire. [2] An Army women's team was set up in 2008.

Contents

History

Historically, rugby league had been banned in the British Armed Forces due to the strength of rugby union and the Rugby Football Union's demands that anyone playing rugby league would be banned from playing rugby union. [3] During the Second World War, the Northern Command Sports Board (NCSB) held sympathy towards Northern soldiers who wished to play rugby league. They set up a number of matches between unofficial army representative teams and Northern clubs. This arrangement only lasted until the end of the war when the Army ended a relaxation on the ban and because the NCSB did not wish to try to challenge the primacy of the Army Rugby Union. [4]

The ban was lifted in 1994 following an announcement by the Armed Forces Minister Jeremy Hanley. [5] [3] The new team was founded by Martin Coyd of the Royal Engineers. [6] Due to the wide array of British Army deployments worldwide, the British Army do not play in a league in the English rugby league system. [2] Occasionally they have players from the Army Rugby Union cross codes to play in their matches. [2]

As a result of the ban being lifted, the men's team became eligible to enter the Challenge Cup. [7] Initially in 1999, the Rugby Football League (RFL) were only going to allow the winners of the Inter-Services competition (which the Army won) to enter in the 2000 Challenge Cup but they were eventually persuaded that all three of the services teams were able to enter. [8] The team's best result was to reach the fourth round of the 2020 Challenge Cup, [9] [10] the highest for a forces team since 2010 when the Royal Navy reached the third round. [11] However, none of the military teams took part in the 2021 Challenge Cup because the RFL decided that only professional Rugby League teams would be allowed to compete because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [12] In January 2022, the British Army were drawn against the Royal Navy in the Challenge Cup for the first time in the competition since their inaugural appearances. [13]

Women's team

The Army women's team was established in 2008. [14] In 2014, they were named the Army Sports Team of the Year award at the Army Sports Awards. [15] They first entered the Women's Challenge Cup in 2014 where they lost 30–16 in the quarter-finals (second round) to Thatto Heath. [16] They reached the semi-final of the competition in 2016. [17] In 2017, they were finalists in the Challenge Shield, losing 26–24 to York City Knights. [18] In 2019, they faced York again in the final, but overcame them 40–4 to win the Challenge Shield. [1] [19] In 2021, the women's team were members of the inaugural Super League South and reached the Grand Final. [20]

Wheelchair team

The wheelchair rugby league team was established in 2019 and compete in inter-services competitions against the RAF and the Navy. [21] [22] In October 2022, the team played Australia in a warm-up game for the 2021 World Cup. [23] In January 2024, the team played against the Wales national team as part of the preparations for Wales' US tour. [24]

Results

Challenge Cup

Year2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
RoundR3R1R2R1—R2R2R3R3 [25] R2
Year2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
RoundR3—R2R3R2R1 [26] R1 [27] R1 [28] R3 [29] R1 [30]
Year20202021202220232024
RoundR4 [31] —R2 [32] R1 [33] R1 [34]

Women's Challenge Cup

Year20142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
RoundR2 [16]  ?SF [17] R1 [35] QF [36] R2 [37] ——GS [38] ——

Women's league seasons

SeasonLeaguePlay-offs
DivisionPWDLFAPtsPos
2021 Super League South: Eastern Conference 43011686661stLost in Grand Final
2022 Super League South 530215014063rdLost in semi-final
2023 Super League South 530215210863rdLost in semi-final
2024 Southern Championship 620415020243rdLost in semi-final

Source: [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff Demons</span> Defunct mens and active womens Welsh amateur rugby league club, based in Cardiff

The Cardiff Demons RLFC name has been used multiple times over the years. Firstly for a now-defunct men's rugby league side, and subsequently for a women's rugby league side who began in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammersmith Hills Hoists</span> English amateur rugby league club, based in London

The Hammersmith Hills Hoists are an amateur rugby league club based in Hammersmith, London. Founded at the end of 2008 by local Australian expats to provide players of all nationalities, backgrounds and abilities the chance to play competitive rugby league in and around London, while also expanding their social networks in the process. The club usually play in the Southern Conference League – part of the fourth tier of Rugby League nationally.

The Oulton Raidettes Women's Rugby League Club are an women's rugby league football team based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. They were founded in 2012 and have affiliations with the Oulton Raiders. As of 2024 they play in the Northern Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Bell (rugby league)</span> Scotland international rugby league footballer

James Temuera Te Manawanui Bell is a Scotland international rugby league footballer who plays as a loose forward and second-rower for St Helens in the Betfred Super League.

The Rugby Football League Women's Super League is the elite women's rugby league club competition in England. Originally competed between four teams in the 2017 season, the league has developed with the 2023 season being contested by 12 teams playing home and away against each other in two groups with subsequent play-offs and Grand Final. In January 2023 it was announced that the league would be reduced to eight teams in the 2024 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Challenge Cup</span> Womens rugby league competition

The Women's Challenge Cup is a rugby league knockout competition organised by the Rugby Football League. The competition started in 2012.

The 2021 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2021 Betfred Challenge Cup, was the 120th edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout tournament in British rugby league run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). This year's competition will be contested between only the professional clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Air Force Rugby League</span> British rugby league team representing the Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force Rugby League is a British rugby league team representing the Royal Air Force. They were officially set up in 1994 following an unofficial team set up in 1992 to circumvent a British Armed Forces ban on rugby league. They play in the Challenge Cup and they play their home matches at RAF Cranwell in Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

The Rugby Football League Women's Super League South was introduced as a top tier women's rugby league club competitions in Great Britain for teams Southern England and South Wales that ran parallel to the RFL Women's Super League.

The 2022 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2022 Betfred Challenge Cup, was the 121st edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It started on 15 January 2022 and ended, with the final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 28 May.

The 2022 Women's Challenge Cup was the 10th staging of the Rugby Football League's cup competition for women's rugby league clubs. The competition was won by St Helens who beat Leeds Rhinos 18–8 in the final at Elland Road on 7 May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheelchair Challenge Cup</span>

The Wheelchair Challenge Cup is a wheelchair rugby league competition organised by the Rugby Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York Valkyrie</span> English womens rugby league team, based in York

The York Valkyrie are the women's rugby league team of York RLFC based in York, England. The Valkyrie, who were established in 2016 as the York City Knights Ladies, compete in the Women's Super League and play their home games at York Community Stadium which is also home to the York RLFC men's team, the York Knights, and football club, York City F.C.

The 2023 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2023 Betfred Challenge Cup, was the 122nd edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It began over the weekend of 11–12 February 2023 and ended with the final, at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 August.

The Featherstone Rovers Women are the women's rugby league team of Featherstone Rovers in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They compete in the RFL Women's Super League and play their home games at Post Office Road which is also home to the men's team.

The Wakefield Trinity Ladies are the women's rugby league team of Wakefield Trinity in Wakefield, England. They were founded in 2016 and between 2018 and 2022 they played in the Super League. As of 2024, they compete in Northern League One, the third tier of women's rugby league in Britain.

The Huddersfield Giants Women are the women's rugby league team of Huddersfield Giants from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. They compete in the RFL Women's Super League, playing their home games at Laund Hill and double header matches with the men's team at the John Smith's Stadium.

The Warrington Wolves Women are the women's rugby league team of Warrington Wolves in Warrington, Cheshire, England. They compete in the RFL Women's Super League, playing their home games at Victoria Park and some games at the Halliwell Jones Stadium; the home of the men's team.

The 2024 Challenge Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup, is the 123rd edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout cup tournament in British rugby league, run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It began over the weekend of 13–14 January 2024, and ended with the final, at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 June.

The Barrow Raiders Ladies are the women's rugby league team of Barrow Raiders from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. They compete in the Women's Super League, and play their home games at Craven Park. Before taking the Barrow Raiders name the team were called the Barrow Island Ladies.

References

  1. 1 2 "VE Day 75 and the bond between rugby league and the armed forces". Rugby-League.com. 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Army's cup challenge". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 Nauright, John (2020). "9". Routledge Handbook of Global Sport. Taylor & Francis. ISBN   9781317500476.
  4. ↑ Fanning, Sean (2013). Soldiers' League: The Story of Army Rugby League. London League Publications. pp. 264–265. ISBN   978-1-903659-69-4.
  5. ↑ "Sporting Digest: Rugby League". The Independent. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "LEND LEASE'S MARTIN COYD WINS MAJOR RUGBY LEAGUE ACCOLADE AT WORLD CUP DINNER". Intouch Rugby Magazine. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Coral Challenge Cup round 4 – draw". London Skolars. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  8. ↑ Fanning, Sean (2013). Soldiers' League: The Story of Army Rugby League. London League Publications. pp. 15–16. ISBN   978-1-903659-69-4.
  9. ↑ "British Army march on in Challenge Cup". LoveRugbyLeague. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Challenge Cup: Army Rugby League Fourth Round Opponent Confirmed". Forces Network. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Andy (5 March 2010). "Royal Navy ready to break new ground against Blackpool in Challenge Cup". the Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Rugby League: Military Teams Ruled Out Of 2021 Challenge Cup". Forces Network. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "The Sportsman to Broadcast Historic Army vs Navy Betfred Challenge Cup Clash". 21 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "Army are relishing Coral Women's Challenge Cup tie". Rugby-League.com. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Rugby League honoured at Army Sports Awards". Rugby-League.com. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Womens Round up". Rugby-League.com. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Womens Weekly Round up". Rugby-League.com. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  18. ↑ Powell, Jennie (1 August 2017). "Bradford Bulls take the Challenge Cup and York City the Shield" . Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  19. ↑ "REPLAY | Army Rugby League 40-4 York City Knights | Women's Challenge Shield". Rugby-League.com. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "Saints to face The Army in Betfred Women's Challenge Cup". Rugby-League.com. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "Hull FC help form Army Wheelchair RL team". Rugby-League.com. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  22. ↑ "Wales Wheelchair to take on The Army". Wales Rugby League. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  23. ↑ "Wheelaroos take on Wales & Scotland in World Rankings clashes". European Rugby League. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  24. ↑ "Cadair Olwyn | Wales 34 The Army 24". Wales Rugby League. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  25. ↑ "10-03-2008 - Lézignan, Pia et Toulouse qualifiés pour les 16ème de la Cup" [10-03-2008 - Lézignan, Pia and Toulouse qualify for the round of 16 of the Cup]. www.ffr13.com (in French). 10 March 2008. Archived from the original on 28 May 2008.
  26. ↑ "Challenge Cup round-up". Rugby-League.com. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  27. ↑ "Disappointment For Forces Sides In Challenge Cup". Forces.net. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  28. ↑ "Challenge Cup: First Round wrap-up". Rugby-League.com. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  29. ↑ "Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Round-up". Rugby-League.com. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  30. ↑ "Coral Challenge Cup First Round wrap-up". Rugby-League.com. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  31. ↑ "Coral Challenge Cup Round Four round-up". Rugby-League.com. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  32. ↑ "Betfred Challenge Cup Round Two Round-Up". Rugby-League.com. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  33. ↑ "Betfred Challenge Cup Round One Round-Up". Rugby-League.com. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  34. ↑ "Betfred Challenge Cup Round One Review". Rugby-League.com. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  35. ↑ "Bulls run riot in Women's Challenge Cup!". Rugby-League.com. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  36. ↑ "Warriors to host Rhinos in Women's Challenge Cup semi-final". Rugby-League.com. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  37. ↑ "Women's Rugby League Round-Up". Rugby-League.com. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  38. ↑ "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Quarter-finalists confirmed". Rugby-League.com. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  39. ↑ "Match Centre". Rugby-League.com. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.