Having completed his deployment as part of the medical treatment facility set up by 16 Medical Regiment at Türkoğlu, a town close to the epicentre of February’s devastating earthquake, Sgt Dan Lewis (RAMC) returns to the rugby field this weekend as part of the London Scottish team that will take on Cornish Pirates at the Richmond Athletic Ground on Saturday afternoon (KO 1500hrs).
Sgt Lewis and the rest of the specialist team arrived in Turkey three days after the earthquake to work with the British Embassy in Ankara, and for the first few days he was the only working radiographer in a 180-mile radius.
16 Medical Regiment’s core role is to provide medical support to 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, the British Army’s global response force, and is trained and equipped to deploy at short notice by parachute, helicopter or air landing.
Sgt Lewis told the Army website at the time: “It is very difficult to achieve a work-life balance when you’re in a high readiness role, but how the unit is set up for it is brilliant and London Scottish are very understanding about my military commitments.
“The gratitude I’ve had from patients was amazing and I felt I was helping by being there, and that’s my reward. I’d like to think that if the shoe was on the other foot, people would be there for us as we were there for the Turkish people and we would show the same appreciation. That’s what I’m going to take away from this operation, that humanity is still beautiful.”
Sgt Lewis will start in the second row for his first appearance for the Exiles since November, with London Scottish seeking their first win in the Championship since December 3rd and sitting bottom of the league table.
They host a Pirates outfit which has won its last two outings and overcame Scottish 32-0 in the return fixture back in late October.
Elsewhere, Sappers Michael and Cameron McDonald (both RE) are in the Germany squad which will face the Netherlands in Amsterdam to decide who finishes fifth in the 2023 Rugby Europe Championship.
Spr Michael McDonald came off the bench when the Netherlands edged the match between the two nations in February 33-29, and was a replacement when Germany booked their place in this ranking match with a win over Poland last time out.
Spr Cameron McDonald was an unused replacement that day, but both brothers head to Amsterdam fresh from helping the Army Senior Men see off the French Army in Aldershot on Wednesday night.
Germany Head Coach, Mark Kuhlmann, says that the squad has learned lessons from February’s disappointment, telling Rugby Europe: “We know what we have to do better in this game against the Netherlands than we did against them in the last one. This time we have to be wide awake from the first minute and not give away so many penalties.
“We grow with every game and last time against Poland we made a big step forward. Therefore, we are very positive and looking forward to another interesting match.”
Saturday’s game kicks off at 1400hrs UK time, with live streaming via www.rugbyeurope.eu
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks
Header and featured image – Alligin Photography © Lee Crabb
