GB Armed Forces squad named for Australia tour

Great Britain Armed Forces Rugby League (GBAFRL) have named their squad for their forthcoming tour to Australia.

The squad will fly out on Saturday June 27 for a two-week tour of Queensland, Australia, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli and ANZAC day.

During the tour, GBAFRL will play a warm-up fixture against Combined Universities of Queensland in Ipswich on Friday July 3 before the game against the Combined Australian Services RL which will be the curtain-raiser to Game Three of State of Origin at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.

“It will be a huge honour to pay our respects by playing the CASRL in a commemoration match,” said GBAFRL coach Damian Clayton.

“There was a significant loss of life during the Battle of Gallipoli. It’s great that we can come together and remember them.

“We’ll be heading into schools and the local community in Ipswich to engage with the population and make them aware of what the Armed Forces are about.

“Rugby League players and people in the Armed Forces have similar attributes, they’re very courageous people who put their bodies on the line.”

Great Britain Armed Forces RL squad (rank and station, unit or ship in brackets):

Jordan Andrade (SAC, RAF Brize Norton)
Liam Bradley (SAC, RAF Marham)
Lee Davies (SAC, RAF Coningsby
Garry Dunn (SGT, RAF Marham)
Dave Hankinson (CPL, RAF Scampton)
James Hutchinson – captain (CPL, FDTC Crickhowell)
Lee Queeley (CPL, RAF Leeming)
Josh Scott (SAC, RAF Halton)
Simon Wray (CPL, RAF Marham)
Mike Harrison (Cpl, Andover)
Tom Howley (Capt, Corsham)
Jordan Kerman (CSgt, Plymouth)
Vuli Veikune (SPR, Ireland)
James Young (CPL, Hereford)
Kev Botwood (CPO, HMS Queen Elizabeth)
Siliv Buinimasi (Logs, RM Stonehouse / RNRU Camp)
Tom Loxam (MNE, 45 CDO RM)
Ryan Matthews (AB, HMS Penzance)
Mark Robinson (LAET, RAF Waddington)
Ben Taylor (LAET, HMS Heron)
Tommy Wilkinson (AET, HMS Seahawk)