Page 45 - The Bugle 2018

THE BATTALION RUGBY PLAYERS HAVE STILL HAD A
BUSY AND SUCCESSFUL SEASON
Serjeant Burr on the offensive for the Infantry
Cpl Bean featuring on the Army versus Navy rugby union poster
Battalion Rugby
Due to our operational commitments, this season 2 RIFLES did not enter a team in the Army Rugby Union (ARU) Premiership. However, the Battalion rugby players have still had a busy and successful season representing the Army at Rugby Union and Rugby League, and the Infantry at Rugby Union, Rugby League and Sevens.
In rugby union Corporal Bean continued to represent the Army and Combined Services whilst contracted to Birmingham Mosley RFC in National League 1. His season culminated in an outstanding performance for the Army in the 100th Army versus Navy match at Twickenham.
Infantry Rugby has benefitted from our season out from the Premiership; we have provided both players and coaches throughout the season. Two Battalion players were part of the Infantry 7s side that won the inaugural Inter-Corps 7s title (Corporal Vatu and Lance Corporal Domonikibau) and a total of 8 players represented the Infantry this season. The Battalion are back in ARU Premiership League 1 as of September 2018 and are looking to build on this year’s successful seasons with Army and Infantry Rugby.
The Battalion have also used this season to re-establish ourselves with Infantry Rugby League. Our players have contributed to the re-emergence of Infantry Rugby League with numerous players playing a part in their season. The season highlight was a phenomenal 46 – 14 win against the Royal Engineers in the final game of the season, the Infan-
try’s first victory over them in many years. Lance Corporals Kaseta and Domonikibau then both went on to earn their first Army A Rugby League caps in a dominant Army win against Thato Heath Crusaders. Both players have been relatively recent converts to the sport and have worked their way into the Army
side after excellent seasons with the Infantry.
To round off an excellent and very busy season Lance Corporal Domonikibau became the first serving soldier to play for the Northern Ireland Elks
in their All Ireland
Origin series
against the
Republic of
Ireland Eagles.
The Elks won
both legs
with Lance
Corporal
Domonikibau
scoring his first
try for the team.
Serjeant Elliot
Assistant Intelligence Officer
LCpl Domonikibau in his Army Rugby League strip
LCpl Kaseta in his Army Rugby League strip
THE RIFLES