Army Rugby League ran a bespoke Rugby Football League UKCC Level 2 Rugby League Coaching Course, in the Army School of Physical Training (ASPT) 15th – 18th October 2012, qualifying 19 new Army Rugby League coaches.

This was the first centrally organised Army Rugby League sponsored coaching course delivered in over 8 years.

 The last time Army Rugby League managed to centrally run a coaching course was when a course was last run in the ASPT.  The RFL has now produced a 4 day bespoke course just for the Armed Forces, which enabled this course to be run.

Captain Eddie Williams Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) the Chief Instructor in the ASPT had the vision, drive and initiative to make it happen.  The RFL Coach Educator Andy Lindley from the Leeds Rhinos ran a superb course supported by Coach Educator WO2 Chris Richards RM, a founding member and the lead in Royal Marines Rugby League.  

Mrs Jackie Monk, the ASPT Nurse, delivered an Emergency 1st Aid at Work Course, on day 5 wherever possible related to Rugby League, attended by 6 of the students from the Coaching Course and 6 already qualified Army Rugby League coaches.  

Jackie delivered an excellent package, ideal for the purpose of Rugby League Coaching, Continuous Personal Development.

The most appropriate individuals were identified and loaded, with the broadest spread across Army Rugby League, including at least one representative from all 10 current Rugby League Corps playing sides.  

The course was also notable in that Army Rugby League qualified the first Army Women Rugby League coaches in the short history of Army Rugby League; in Bombardier Katie Garside RA and Sergeant Rosie Haigh REME, both of who have skippered the Army and Combined Services Women’s Rugby League sides, leading the way, on and off the field of play.  

The course could not have been run without the generous support of the Secretary Army Sports Control Board, Manager Army Sports Lottery and Commanding Officer of the ASPT.  

Army Rugby League would like to thank George Taylor the RFL Armed Forces Development Officer who has been a great support to Army Rugby League; Coach Education just one of the many strings to his bow.

Army Rugby League has generated a core of the most likely individuals to deliver effect in the future, to take Army Rugby League forward and to get soldiers onto the field of play in good order.