Page 25 - The Bugle 2018

Rugby
This season 1 RIFLES rugby was back where it belonged, in the Army Rugby Union Premiership league facing stalwarts like 1 YORKS and 12 Regt RA. The core of the team from last season remained at the Battalion and so the early training sessions saw familiar faces providing a continuity allowing the team to pick up from where it left off. The momentum and exciting style of play that was nurtured last year was apparent in the opening game of the season against 1 Royal Welsh where the 1 RIFLES team came away as 28-8 victors.
The team had been written off by other regiments before the season began and so proved the critics wrong by qualifying for the premiership semi-final after recording 3 wins and 2 losses during the season. As semi-final day loomed, 1 RIFLES again benefitted from coaching support from Gloucester Rugby and Mr Terry Fanolua spent a number of training sessions with the lads in the weeks prior to the big game. The day itself saw 1 RIFLES take on a formidable 1 YORKS side at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and despite a spirited effort from the Rifles lads 1 YORKS stole the game 24-8. Despite the semi-final disappointment the team were very proud of their success this season. There were consistent stand-out performances from many of the team but a special mention must go to Sjt Admans (S Coy) whose leadership and relentless hard-work gave the team confidence and a drive to achieve. It is extremely sad that Sjt Admans has now hung up his boots after many years of service to Rifles rugby.
1 RIFLES continues to display its rugby strength and this is proven by the amount of Riflemen from
Rugby action
the Battalion that have represented the Infantry at both union and league this season. LCpl Tooth (B Coy), LCpl Roberts (B Coy) and LCpl Stuart (A Coy) represented the Infantry at both union and league while LCpl Marakalou (S Coy) along with Rfn Sugun- vanua (S Coy) represented the Infantry at rugby union. Rfn Sugunvanua went on to represent the Army in Rugby Union 7s and LCpl Tooth played for the Army rugby league team.
Next season will be a new challenge for the 1 RIFLES team. With many of the seasoned players moving on it will provide an opportunity for a fresh squad to build on the success achieved this year. Lt Clarke
2Pl Comd, A Coy
IT IS EXTREMELY SAD THAT SJT ADMANS HAS NOW HUNG UP HIS BOOTS
Diving
In the last two years I’ve been lucky enough to have spent 22 days on the beautiful island of Lanzarote, Scuba diving with 1 RIFLES. Every day in the Army is a different day and it’s no different whilst on AT. It’s been a really challenging experience in which I have learnt new skills, developed as a person and experienced the beautiful depth of the ocean. Whilst I have been pushed outside my comfort zone, I have enjoyed every second of it, gaining new qualifications and making new friends in the process.
The diving itself has been fantastic, learning both the practical and theory side of diving from the very basics of how to put your kit together and safety check it, to the more complex side of diving gases and working off gassing tables. Not only have I had the chance to develop a new skill set, the second year I had the ability to develop my leadership and help bring on the new divers from the Battalion. Scuba diving is a wonderful activity which has opened up a whole new layer of the earth to be explored. The depth of the ocean is one of the most wonderful things; the beautiful colours of the fish and the coral to the hidden history of the ship wrecks, there is something
magical about the ocean. It has been a pleasure to learn to dive and it’s something I would never have thought possible before joining the Army. I have every intention to carry on diving throughout my career and progressing with instructor qualifi- cations.
LCpl Masters
EVERY DAY IN THE ARMY IS A DIFFERENT DAY AND IT’S NO DIFFERENT WHILST ON AT
Winter Mountain Foundation course in Scotland
THE RIFLES FIRST BATTALION 31