RERL Season 2014 Letter Manager

UNCLASSIFIED

ROYAL ENGINEERS RUGBY LEAGUE (RERL) 2014 SEASON

INTRODUCTION

1.The Royal Engineers has been the somewhat dominant Rugby League Team within the Forces since the sport was introduced 20 seasons ago, this is clear when you look at the statistics: 18 seasons,14 x Corps Champions, 2 x Runner Up and only three seasons unfortunately not making the final. Royal Engineers Rugby League (RERL) has also won every Inter Corps 9s event that has taken place and also produced some of the best Army, Combined Services and BARLA representatives. This is a hard act to follow, notwithstanding the fact that last season ended in disappointment, but I am sure with the combined efforts 2014 will not only be a successful season but part of a new era in RERL dominance.

AIM

2.The aim of this preseason letter is to give sight of the proposed season structure, RERL goals, identify key personnel and to motivate potential players/coaches over the 2014 season and beyond.

RERL KEY PERSONALITIES

3. RERL consists of dedicated, enthusiastic and experienced personnel. The 2014 committee consists of the following:

GOALS

4. The RERL committee have identified and set goals to enable focus and planning for the 2014 season. The RERL goals of the season are:

a.Maximum personnel and coaches attending the pre season training camp, Lawson Cup fixtures, ARL13s and ARL 9s therefore promoting Rugby League and all the physical, mental and moral attributes it invokes.

1. Win the pre season fixturesand strengthen community links.

1. Identify new talent to develop and strengthen RERL.

1. Identify and develop new RERL coaches and committee members if required.

1. Dominate the Lawson Cup.

1. Feed the ARL at all levels, Combined Services and the Great Britain Forces World Cup team with players and staff.

2014 SEASON STRUCTURE

5.The 2014 season is set to be an exciting time for RERL with a pre season camp, the hopeful continuance of the RE Games 9s and of course RE attendance at the increasingly popular ARL 9s and 13s ‘one day’ tournaments. These tournaments are a fantastic vehicle for RE units to get involved in Rugby League with no entrance fees or insurance required. The season will inevitably be geared around the Lawson Cup (Inter Corps Cup), currently held by the RLC but the season will also, excitingly, see the Corps participate in the 20th Anniversary of Army Rugby League Day. The season will be set out as follows:

1. Pre season training camp.The camp is planned for 22 - 27 Apr2014 and will be based in Deverill Barracks, Ripon, North Yorkshire. The main aim of training camp is to get the nucleus of the squad together and identify new players for the season and indeed the future. Therefore, the nominal roll for the camp is not fixed and unit representatives are actively encouraged to promote and send Regimental players for both assessment and the experience. WO1 (RSM) P Batley REhas planned the event and will be the main focal point for all admin and co-ord. A detailed admin instruction will follow but briefly the camp will be structured around technical training sessions, guest rugby football league (RFL) and super league (SL) coach education andcompetitive games againsta local well established amateur teams. It is also currently planned to attend a Super League or Challenge Cup match as official guests.

b.20th Anniversary of Army Rugby League Day. The 20th anniversary of Rugby League in the services will be celebrated on 2 May 14. The occasion will be marked with a day of Rugby league activities within the confines of Sandhurst military Academy. RERL will join forces with RARL to form a Combat Support team that will take on a joint RLCRL and REMERL, Combat Service Support team. The day will also feature the ARL Veterans, which contains several Sappers, match against a team called the Political Animals and a Dinner Night.

c.Army Rugby LeagueInter Unit 9s. The ARL 9s is planned for 21 May 14 and will be held at Aldershot Stadium.The main RERL aim for thisevent is to get more Royal Engineer units playing competitive Rugby League, at nil cost to units, and identifying new players for the season and indeed the future. RE Units need only to form a team and travel to the tournament. All fees and insurance is covered by ARL. The RERL management and coaching team will attend this event and promote, and assist with where necessary, Royal Engineer involvement. A detailed admin instruction will be distributed to all RE units in due course.

d.Royal Engineer Games Rugby League 9s. The recent tradition at the RE Summer Games has been to hold a RL 9s competition as part of the structure. It is the aspiration of the RERL committee that this continues and all assistance and expertises from the committee will be afforded to the organising unit. The RERL management and coaching team will attend this event and promote, and assist with where necessary, Royal Engineer involvement and any administration on the day. A detailed admin instruction will be distributed to all RE units by the organising unit once confirmed.

e.Army Rugby LeagueInter Unit 13s Competition. The ARL 13s competition is planned for 4 Jun 14 and will be held at Aldershot Stadium.The main RERL aim for this event is to get Royal Engineer units playing competitive Rugby League, at nil cost to units, and identifying new players for the season and indeed the future. RE Units need only to form a team and travel to the tournament. All fees and insurance is covered by ARL. The RERL management and coaching team will attend this event and promote, and assist with where necessary, Royal Engineer involvement. A detailed admin instruction will be distributed to all RE units in due course.

f.Lawson Cup (Inter Corp Competition). The Lawson Cup is the main focus for the 2014 season and seeing the cup return to the Sapper cabinet is the RERL mission. The Lawson Cup fixtures are as follows:

SUMMARY

6.RERL enjoyed some dominance in the sport in the early years of its introduction to the services but recent years have seen improvement throughout the Services and therefore success in the Lawson Cup has been unfortunately out of RERL’s grasp. RERL can return to victorious ways with the combined efforts of not only a dedicated committee but also Regimental Coaches and players. 2014 will see RERL build on the disappointment of the previous season elevating us back to where we belong, the very top. The aim is to identify and develop new talent not only on the field of play but also as coaches. RERL will continue to feed ARL and hopefully the GB Services touring Squad. Players will build that unique bond that only Sappers can and use this to compete at the very highest level.

On behalf of all the RERL committee and the players, I would like to thank all of the chain of command for their continued support.

Yours in Rugby

{ELECTRONICALLY SIGNED}

P J BATLEY

WO1 (RSM)

Manager

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UNCLASSIFIED