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Army Battle Headlines Big Saturday at Coogee Oval
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
NSWRU Media Unit
Coogee will play host to international Rugby on Saturday with the Australian Army taking on its British counterpart in a battle for the Qantas International Cup.
A big crowd is expected with the international fixture serving as a curtain raiser to the Tooheys New Shute Shield match of the round between Randwick and Gordon.
The match is the continuation of a long and proud history of Australia v Great Britain Army fixtures, and there's expected to be no shortage of passion on the field.
"There'd be no two Armies that have been closer over the years," Australian Army Rugby Vice President, Colonel Roger Noble said.
"Australia and Great Britain have shared history, experience and even recent operations, from Iraq and Afghanistan to East Timor.
"That closeness means you're going to get a fairly tough match, it'll be like two brothers fighting, and it'll be just short of open warfare.
"There's no doubt this will be the toughest test the Australian side will get this year, if not ever."
The match will be watched by the Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy; and the President of Australian Army Rugby Lieutenant General David Hurley, along with Colonel Noble.
The Australian Army side will wrap up its preparation with a clash against a Randwick selection at Victoria Army Barracks on Wednesday at 3pm, after which the squad for Saturday will be finalised.
The touring British team has an experienced look about it, with a number of players boasting international experience.
Included in the touring squad is team captain, Sergeant Mal Roberts, a talented kicking fullback who has twice captained Combined Services to victory against the Barbarians; Highlander Isoa Damudamu, a Fijian born number eight who was recently selected to represent England at Sevens; Lance Corporal Ledua Jope, a flanker who has represented Fiji at Sevens and is a past captain of the Fiji Rugby Academy, and Lieutenant Mark Lee, a flanker that has captained Scotland in Sevens at two Commonwealth Games.
The British finalised their tour preparations with a 39-25 victory over Navy at Twickenham on May 7, the win their seventh in succession against their old rivals.
Saturday's match kicks off at 1.35pm and will be followed at 3.10pm by the Tooheys New Shute Shield clash between Randwick and Gordon.
QANTAS INTERNATIONAL CUP - AUSTRALIAN ARMY V BRITISH ARMY
Coogee Oval, Saturday 19 May, 2007 - 1.35pm