7RAR Rugby winners

Kapooka K-Series Sports – 7RAR represents 1 Bde at K-Series

By Sgt Dave Morley

 ARTC is a great place for combat brigades to mix it up with the rest of the Army in physical contest, according to OC B Coy, 7RAR, Maj Von Lambert.

Maj Lambert led a team of 7RAR rugby players on an almost 2000km road trip from Adelaide to Kapooka and back to take part in the Kapooka K-Series Rugby 10s on March 7.

He said this was the first time 7RAR had had the opportunity to participate on behalf of 1 Bde and he was hoping the unit would become a regular contender in the future.

“I am really proud of our soldiers and the way they have represented 7RAR and 1 Bde,” he said.

“It is a great way to showcase our sporting talent.

“We should try to do this more often to raise the profile and participation from within the brigades.

“7RAR intends to commit to future K10s competitions and maximise the number of players that can represent 1 Bde in sport.”

Maj Lambert said the battalion’s participation in the Kapooka Summer Series was the first since it moved to Adelaide in 2010, and demonstrated a commitment can be made to this type of event despite a busy training year.

He said the team travelled via Mildura utilising C Coy, 8/7RVR’s Depot, which further strengthened the working relationships between the two battalions.

“7 RAR Vietnam veterans were engaged through the Mildura RSL and the soldiers were regaled with tales from their own history during their stay,” he said.

“For the players, there was much more to be involved in than simply the time spent on the field, which is a good way to ensure that sport can engender many good things for the battalion’s culture.”

Maj Lambert said participation in the K10s competition was the starting point of the overall plan for 7RAR to generate a consistent sporting presence in South Australia as part of 1 Bde’s community engagement.

“This will give soldiers the opportunity to participate in what was a very enjoyable event,” he said.

“The playing squad of 17, with a small support staff, saw the South Australian-based unit miss the finals by five points in the for and against tally.

“7 RAR also loaned players to the home side, Riverina Army Rugby Club, in a show of goodwill to ensure that the team was able to field a worthwhile interchange with some of the 7RAR players also scoring on their behalf.”

The trip was made all the more significant when 7RAR’s LCpl Mike Lowrie was named player of the tournament.

From Chris Ashenden