Most of the Army’s contingent of players at professional clubs are still in the rigours of pre-season, with the Premiership, Championship and URC not scheduled to kick off until later in September.
But for LCpl Lloyd Wheeldon (3 Para) the competitive rugby has been coming thick and fast over the last few weeks north of the border, where he has been playing for Heriot’s in the Scottish Super 6.
Launched in 2019, the Super 6 has become a summer tournament for the Scottish Rugby Union, giving part-time players the opportunity to shine and potentially earn themselves a contract in the professional game.
For LCpl Wheeldon the Super 6 has come along at an ideal time. The 24-year-old scrum-half had spent the first half of the year at Castleford RL in Super League following his departure from Harlequins. With opportunities limited both at The Jungle – not least due to the form of players like Paul McShane – and within rugby union’s Premiership, Championship and National League One, LCpl Wheeldon was offered a short-term deal in Scotland.
“It’s a good level of rugby,” he says. “The aim of the league is to broaden horizons and it’s in its early stages, so it’s hard to compare it to either the Championship or National League One because they’re a lot bigger. There are only five other teams and you play each other twice a season so it’s hard to gauge yourself.”
LCpl Wheeldon has been a regular for Heriot’s, coming off the bench in his first game and starting in three of the other four matches played to date. After a week off Heriot’s resume their campaign with a trip to Watsonians on Friday night, and with all six teams evenly matched in terms of results there is plenty to play for in the second half of the tournament.
For LCpl Wheeldon it is also an opportunity to continue putting into practice some of the skills and lessons he learned and developed while at Castleford, where he spent time at hooker, one of the main ball playing positions in the team.
“People talk about it as a completely different sport – which it is – but I think you can take something from both codes into each other,” he says. “Running lines off short balls you can take away from rugby league, they’re so good at it, and you’ve only got five tackles to come up with something, whereas in rugby union you’ve got multiple phases. You have to think on your feet to make sure that set moves come off before you have to give the ball back.”
Lloyd playing for the Army v Championship team Coventry in March 2020 just before sport was suspended due to the pandemic.
Image © Alligin Photography, Scrumpix
As well as enjoying his spell at Castleford, LCpl Wheeldon also looks back on his time at the Twickenham Stoop fondly as a learning experience, too, and was delighted for his former team mates when they finished off the 2020/21 season in spectacular style with the knockout wins over Bristol and Exeter to life the Premiership title.
“I loved my time at Harlequins,” he says. “It was my first time in a professional environment and I can’t speak too highly of the club. They made me so welcome coming from the Army and I created friends who I’ve still got and speak to.
“The players involved deserve it, especially from where they came from, and the way they’ve built themselves up. The senior players probably nurtured the younger players in their specific positions, too, and that was massively important in the title win. It’s a very close-knit club and it was class to watch.
“When Bristol came out of the blocks you’re thinking ‘bloody hell’. But it only takes one thing to go in your direction to change momentum, they got that and just pushed. Quins play expansive rugby and if you let them play like that you’re going to have a hard time.”
Lloyd playing for the Army in the 2019 Inter Service match v the Royal Air Force at Kingsholm.
Image © Alligin Photography, Scrumpix
Once the Scottish 6 campaign is done and dusted then attention can turn to the Army’s own season, and LCpl Wheeldon is eagerly anticipating a big year for the red shirts.
“I can’t wait!” he says. “I’ve already been speaking to Mal Roberts about the new season which is coming up, and it’s been a long time coming. We’ve had to be patient with everything that’s been going on but now it’s time to kick on and build up to the Inter-Services. I think we’re going to have a good season building up to that.”
Heriot’s’ trip to Watsonians this Friday is being shown live on BBC Sport Scotland and via the BBC iPlayer, with kick off at 19:30hrs.
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks, Header and Featured Images © Alligin Photography, Scrumpix
