THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT VERSUS THE ROYAL MARINES
The Trafalgar Cup

RIVALRY LIKE NO OTHER IN SPORT … AND ON THE BATTLEFIELD, ‘PARAS’ VERSUS ‘BOOTNECKS’ THE ULTIMATE BEST OF ENEMIES!

For one day each year Rugby League’s fiercest rivalry is reignited, yet there's not a single professional player in sight. The Trafalgar Cup is the annual Armed Forces Rugby League Challenge Match played between The Parachute Regiment and The Royal Marines. The intense rivalry between the toughest and fittest members of our elite Armed Forces leads them to consider themselves as sporting arch enemies. It’s not just the silverware that they play for Regimental and Corps pride know no bounds, and year long bragging rights are at stake. This ‘robust’ fixture remains one of the Army Rugby League’s blue ribbon events and is one definitely not to miss!

On Sunday the 12th of July 2015 the battle for the Trafalgar Cup will take place at the home of The Salford Red Devils, The AJ Bell Stadium, Salford, Manchester. The contest will kick off at 1:00 and will act as a curtain raiser to the Superleague fixture between The Salford Red Devils and Hull Kingston Rovers which follows the game and kicks off at 3:00.

The Trafalgar Cup has been contested for since 1998, where military operations and commitments have allowed, and is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the Armed Forces Rugby League calendar. Although many on both sides have had, or have been on the cusp of, professional rugby contracts, the rivalry at the Trafalgar Cup isn’t based upon just sporting prowess. It runs much deeper. Both teams represent the British military elite, and with passion and pride at stake, both would take any opportunity to claim superiority over the other, whatever challenge is presented, whether it be on the rugby field or the field of combat.

It’s not only the intensity of the training that both sets of men have endured – P Company for the ‘Paras’ and the Commando Course for the Royal Marines - that makes them elite. It is the expectations instilled in them, where every facet of life is executed to a more exacting standard. Being a ‘Bootneck’ or ‘Para’ requires operating at a level far above the ordinary. Being the best is a given.

The Royal Marines are currently hold a 7-5 lead in the series and with the cup now back in their hands (having spent the previous two years being held with the maroon berets) 2015 will no doubt see another fierce and brutal encounter as the ‘Paras’ seek to regain the trophy from the ‘Bootnecks’.

“It’s not the winning, it’s the taking apart!”
‘ANONYMOUS’ ROYAL MARINE

www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/32 ... falgar-cup

THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT VERSUS THE ROYAL MARINES
The Trafalgar Cup

RIVALRY LIKE NO OTHER IN SPORT … AND ON THE BATTLEFIELD, ‘PARAS’ VERSUS ‘BOOTNECKS’ THE ULTIMATE BEST OF ENEMIES!

For one day each year Rugby League’s fiercest rivalry is reignited, yet there's not a single professional player in sight. The Trafalgar Cup is the annual Armed Forces Rugby League Challenge Match played between The Parachute Regiment and The Royal Marines. The intense rivalry between the toughest and fittest members of our elite Armed Forces leads them to consider themselves as sporting arch enemies. It’s not just the silverware that they play for Regimental and Corps pride know no bounds, and year long bragging rights are at stake. This ‘robust’ fixture remains one of the Army Rugby League’s blue ribbon events and is one definitely not to miss!

On Sunday the 12th of July 2015 the battle for the Trafalgar Cup will take place at the home of The Salford Red Devils, The AJ Bell Stadium, Salford, Manchester. The contest will kick off at 1:00 and will act as a curtain raiser to the Superleague fixture between The Salford Red Devils and Hull Kingston Rovers which follows the game and kicks off at 3:00.

The Trafalgar Cup has been contested for since 1998, where military operations and commitments have allowed, and is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the Armed Forces Rugby League calendar. Although many on both sides have had, or have been on the cusp of, professional rugby contracts, the rivalry at the Trafalgar Cup isn’t based upon just sporting prowess. It runs much deeper. Both teams represent the British military elite, and with passion and pride at stake, both would take any opportunity to claim superiority over the other, whatever challenge is presented, whether it be on the rugby field or the field of combat.

It’s not only the intensity of the training that both sets of men have endured – P Company for the ‘Paras’ and the Commando Course for the Royal Marines - that makes them elite. It is the expectations instilled in them, where every facet of life is executed to a more exacting standard. Being a ‘Bootneck’ or ‘Para’ requires operating at a level far above the ordinary. Being the best is a given.

The Royal Marines are currently hold a 7-5 lead in the series and with the cup now back in their hands (having spent the previous two years being held with the maroon berets) 2015 will no doubt see another fierce and brutal encounter as the ‘Paras’ seek to regain the trophy from the ‘Bootnecks’.

“It’s not the winning, it’s the taking apart!”
‘ANONYMOUS’ ROYAL MARINE

www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/32 ... falgar-cup