The Corps Championship League 3 final provides an intriguing match-up for the supporters who will be watching on the Queens Avenue pitches on March 8th.
For the Adjutant General’s Corps there is the opportunity to go one better than last year and lift the silverware which was denied them by the Royal Army Physical Training Corps. Meanwhile the Army Air Corps are 80 minutes away from a promotion which was being aimed at in several years’ time when the season kicked off in September.
The AGC may have the experience of the big occasion in Aldershot, but the AAC has the form in 2022/23, winning all six matches with bonus points.
Nevertheless, reaching the final represents just how much the AAC team has developed in leaps and bounds over the last 12 months, according to Director of Rugby, Capt Jason Rees.
“The transformation from last season to this season has been incredible,” he says. “We have heavily invested in our younger players. The squad has continued to grow and our numbers are growing.
“Having said that, for such a small Corps we do lack the playing positions, for example the front row and specialist positions such as fly half. But we have come through a tough season and I am justly proud of our achievements this season.
“I did set a three-year plan: 1st year building phase, 2nd year was consolidation and building towards competing for promotion in year 3. To be where we are in year 2 and competing for a promotion spot is credit to both new coaches and players.
“We have had members of our squad represent the Army Under 23s and now onto UKAF which is fantastic for the AAC and has brought more experience to the team.”
“The buy in from the players has increased massively and real positive mindset has taken over at the club with the guys genuinely wanting to become better rugby players,” adds AAC captain, WO2 Luke Keatley. “A new coaching team led to new systems and with that a new mindset required from the players. A number of players really put their hand up this season and fought hard for their places on the team, which have been rightfully earned.”
The AAC come into the Final unbeaten this season.
The AGC will be looking to right the wrongs of defeat in last seasons Final.
Every Corps team needs players to be released by their chains of command to represent their cap badge. But for the AGC this is magnified by the nature of the work of the personnel within the Corps, who often work in small teams or as individuals within other chains of command.
So for Maj Johnathan Atterton and the rest of the AGC management, achieving a full squad selection requires the support of a range of individuals.
“We are small organisations and often just single individual staff officers, particularly some of the lawyers and teachers that we use,” he says. “Many of our players are don’t play regular military rugby for a Battalion or regimental team, so for a lot of them their first rung on the Army rugby ladder is playing for their Corps. It’s a challenge for us and we have to rely on them getting out for their local club teams, although we do have some playing at quite a high standard.
“At the same time there is quite a lot of pressure on the individual, when they work in small teams. They’ve got busy day jobs and getting away can be difficult.
“It’s not been a great season for us in terms of availability, but plenty of credit to the players who have been able to make the effort and engage with their chain of command. We’re really happy we have a core player base.”
However the disjointed start to the Army season meant that the AGC – as with all the Corps – did not only miss out on the traditional curtain raising Corps Festival, but also could not muster a team for the scheduled round 1 clash with the AAC.
“This was really disappointing,” adds Maj Atterton, “so we didn’t start the season particularly well. But we went into the next two fixtures against the PT Corps, who have been a bit of a nemesis for us, so we were really happy to have bonus point wins home and away against them.
“The kicker in League 3 has unfortunately been the lack of games against the Intelligence Corps, and it’s been a real shame not to see them. We still got our guys together for training as we would normally do and had an opportunity to play against a Royal Artillery development team, which kept the players active and engaged.
“Having lost at home to the Air Corps it will be interesting to see what it’s like playing on a neutral venue. It is the home of Army rugby and put notices out to our Corps, and hopefully it’ll be great to have some support.”
The AGC has been based at Salisbury RFC, and Maj Atterton says that the team’s management is thankful for the support which they have received from the club.
“They’re fantastic in letting us use their facilities,” he says. “They have strong military links and have a number of framed Army shirts in their clubhouse. We’re really grateful for them to let us use their facilities.”
The AAC may have the bragging rights from the league matches, but Capt Rees insists that is all behind the team as they plan for the final.
“We are expecting a tough physical battle up front with the AGC,” he says. “They have great ball carriers and we need to be on top of our game come finals day. I do not expect the game to be anything like our league game this season. It is going to be a tough game and I know the best team on the day will come out on top.
We have to prepare well and ensure we are in the best shape come game day. It is quite ironic that I spent all my playing days playing for the AGC, yet here I am as DOR for the AAC up against my old team; it is certainly a head and heart scenario. But I wish all the very best to the AGC and hope that we can give the expectant crowd a great game of rugby.”
Maj Atterton says that the AGC are benefitting from a new voice at the helm.
“Maj Brett Bader came in as head coach at the start of the season,” he says. “He has a different style of play, getting the players to be productive with the ball and have fun. He wants them to be creative and try something, and the players have been open to that. In the past we’ve been quite regimented, but now we’re a bit more free flowing. There’s a risk and reward to that, but so far it seems to have been pretty positive for us.”
Kick off on Queens Avenue between the AAC and AGC on Wednesday, March 8th is at 1330hrs. Entry is free and all are welcome.
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks
All images – Alligin Photography © Lee Crabb
