ASRU v Victoria, Jun 2009, Melbourne

By LTCOL Adam Boyd

If you’re a rugby union fanatic, you’re in for a treat in 2010. The Australian Services Rugby Union, in partnership with the three Single Service Rugby Unions (SSUs) recently unveiled its representative rugby program for 2010, and it’s bursting at the seams.

CDRE Grant Ferguson, Chairman of ASRU is looking forward to the busy year ahead. ‘The program represents our most extensive undertaking in many years and I’m delighted with the match and tour opportunities on offer. It’s important for us to get the key information circulated as early as possible so players and their commanders can plan the year ahead, particularly considering the ADF’s current operational tempo.’ he said.

ASRU and the three SSUs have worked hard over the past twelve months to develop a new 4-year playing cycle. The new cycle serves to reinforce cooperative engagement between the SSUs and ASRU, it provides the ability to plan matches and tours well in advance, and it takes into account inevitable constraints on time away from work. CDRE Ferguson also said ‘the new cycle facilitates greater domestic and international opportunities for those aspiring to represent Australian Services – it’s exciting and expansive, and 2010 is a fundamental step towards the full implementation of the new playing cycle.’

In the lead up to the annual Australian Services Rugby Championship (ASRC) in May, the senior men’s team from each SSU will play a match against their New Zealand counterpart. For Army, it’s been a decade since the two Trans Tasman teams squared up against each other. As well as playing NZ Navy, RAN will host the French Navy mid-year.

In early Jun the ASRU women’s team will compete at the annual ARU Women’s Nationals in Canberra. Selection for the ASRU women’s squad will occur at the ASRC in May. The women are focussed firmly on building on their success at last year’s Nationals which saw them win their pool. Two players – Kate Porter and Caroline Vakalahi, both from Army – were selected in the Wallaroos squad.

For the ASRU men’s team the focus is twofold. The United States Combined Services team will travel to Australia in mid July for a four-match tour, including two games against an ‘Emerging ASRU’ team. ‘Emerging ASRU’ is a new initiative which strives to provide an opportunity for Defence’s best up-and-coming players to further hone their skills and increase their competitiveness at senior representative level. In October, the senior ASRU men’s team will contest the biennial Pacific Nations Military (PACMIL) Cup, which this year will be staged in Canberra.

Invitations to the 2010 PACMIL Cup will soon be issued to teams from New Zealand, Tonga, PNG, French New Caledonia and Japan. ASRU has its eye on the prize and is committed to fielding the strongest possible team to claim the trophy from the reigning champions, New Zealand.

Detailed information on the 2010 program will be available very shortly via ASRU’s website at www.servicesrugby.asn.au