5 Rugby League players who represented the Army or Navy (Friday 28th January 2022)

 Well, it's Challenge Cup weekend again. This time it is Round 2 of the 2022 edition. We see League 1 teams enter the competition but the biggest game of the round involves none of them- that title falls to the Army v Navy. It is the first time two of the royal services will face off in the Challenge Cup. This game is also the first time the Navy have made it to the second round of this prestigious competition since 2014. It will be played at Aldershot Military Ground, home of the Royal Army. The Sportsman will show the game live tomorrow (Saturday 29th January 2022) with kick off at 2pm. There is clearly plenty riding on this game and there'll be great talent on show. Over the years, plenty of players who represented the royal forces have gone on to play professionally, both here and overseas. Therefore, in celebration of tomorrow's game, below are some players who have gone on from the royal services to professional clubs and competitions.

Ratu Siva Naulago

The Fijian Flyer has to be the biggest name to play for both the Army and a professional team in recent years. The 30-year old is known for his electric pace and strength, which he showcased regularly at Hull FC. He is a private in the Yorkshire Regiment of the British Army, and even served in Cyprus for two years. He was then relocated and based in Warminster, Wiltshire which was where he notably played rugby for the first time. It was rugby union at this stage- he was guest player at both Bath's and Saracens' sevens team. He went on to help the latter win the premiership title. He also played Rugby Union for the Army during this period, including at least one game at Twickenham. In 2019, the Black and Whites took a chance on him, something that turned out to be very profitable for them. The prolific winger went on to make 34 appearances over two seasons at Hull, scoring 23 tries and racking up 92 points in the process. A deal 'too big for Hull to turn down' saw Naulago move to the Gallagher Premiership in Rugby Union with Bristol Bears. At the time of writing this Naulago has played 11 games, scoring 7 tries and therefore 35 points with the Somerset club.

Billy Boston MBE

The legendary Billy Boston started his career in rugby union. Before the age of 18, the Welshman played games for the CIACs, Neath and Pontypridd, including playing an integral part in the CIACs invincible season (1951-52). In 1953, Boston was called up for National Service with the Royal Signals in Catterick, North Yorkshire. Despite it being Boston's dream to play for Cardiff RFC and Wales in the 15 man code, many rugby league teams were trying to sign him during his time with the Royal Signals. It was Wigan who managed to secure his signature in the end. Boston made his first time debut in front of a crowd of 8,000 at Central Park against Barrow in November 1953. He scored a try in that game which would turn out to be the first of 478 in cherry and white over the next 15 years and 488 appearances. He also scored 7 goals in this time,  racking up an incredible 1448 points. He spent 2 seasons at Blackpool Borough to round out his career, playing only 11 games. He played 64 international games for a range of teams, scoring 88 tries. The most notable international team he played for were the GB tour games team. He played only 27 games, but scored an incredible 53 tries. He is now a Wigan Legend and second-highest try scorer in history. 

Clive Sullivan

Next on the list is a legend for both sides of Hull. The Cardiff born legend was, like Boston, sent to Catterick in the Army. However, this time it was not for National Service, with Sullivan joining the Army after finishing school. While there, he was selected for the Army Rugby Union inter-corps team. He had originally intended to play badly to avoid being picked again but he ended up scoring an impressive long range try. He had unsuccessful trial with Bradford Northern but the touch judge approached him about a trial at Hull. This turned out to be successful and over the next 13 years, Sullivan made 340 appearances for the black and whites in which he scored 247 tries. A cross-city switch to Hull KR followed. He was successful there too playing 213 games and scoring 118 tries. Short spells with Oldham, Hull FC again and Doncaster followed after he left the robins in 1980. He played 47 games for a range of international teams scoring 35 games. Sadly, the Welshman passed away in 1985 following a battle with cancer. A road connecting the Humber Bridge and Hull City Centre was consequently named Clive Sullivan Way to mark the passing of a legend. In December 2020, it was also announced he would have a statue with Billy Boston and Gus Risman built in Cardiff Bay to celebrate his, Boston and Risman's illustrious careers.

Johnny Whiteley

It's back to Hull, with the Black and Whites having a history of signing people from the royal forces. During the second world war, Whiteley's house was hit by the biggest bomb to land in Hull.  In 1948, at the age of 18, Whiteley joined the Military Police. He spent 14 months in Vienna, Austria in this role over the next two years. It is unclear as to whether he played rugby during this period but he did before with Police Boys' Club, Hull Boys' Club and Hull Rugby League under-16 representative team. He also signed for the Airlie Birds in 1950. He spent 15 years at the club playing 417 games in the loose forward, and second-row positions.  He scored an outstanding 156 tries in these years and 2 goals. He also played 15 games for Great Britain and 1 for England. Following his retirement in 1965, he stayed at the Black and Whites as head coach. Whiteley left in 1970 and coached Hull Kingston Rovers until 1972. Like Clive Sullivan, he achieved legend status in the city of Hull. At the age of 91, he still works closely with Hull FC and is a club icon. He regularly attends games supporting Hull FC.

Eldon Myers

The only notable player to sign from the Navy in recent times is Eldon Myers. Lee Radford spotted him playing for the Royal Navy. Previously, Myers had played rugby union for Billingham. He impressed and was invited to join Hull FC in their pre-season campaign in 2020. He did enough to earn himself a permanent contract at Hull, but had to turn it down on two occasions. This was due to failing to negotiate a release from the armed forces. As the coronavirus pandemic soon followed, the opportunity at Hull fell away. However in September 2021, he signed a professional contract with Bradford Bulls. He will no doubt play a pivotal role in the upcoming season, with Myers in contention to play in Bradford's round 1 game away at Dewsbury on Sunday. He could also potentially get the opportunity to play for Hull if he impresses enough through the new dual registration deal Hull and Bradford have. I look forward to seeing how the Navy member's career progresses.

RAF

The RAF have produced a fair share of talented players too. I have not gone in to detail on them here due to them not participating in tomorrow's blockbuster game but they have contributed hugely. Most notably is probably Alex Murphy. The RAF member spent 9 years at St. Helens making 320 appearances. Cyril Sykes of Hull FC also was a member of the RAF. He was a big part of Hull's side that won the 1957/58 Championship final against Workington at Odsal. Overseas, Rob Worsley also took part in a seven month assignment with the Royal Australain Air Force. That came only 4 years after being part of Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs first team. He underwent 10 months of intensive training in preparation for that assignment.

That is but a few of the brilliant players that have come from the armed forces. Make sure you keep a close eye on tomorrow's game as there could well be some more players who come through and make it professionally- if this list is anything to go by, they'll end up at Hull FC, although in recent times it was Lee Radford who brought Naulago and Myers to the club, not Brett Hodgson. Finally, good luck to Yorkshire Prose who will captain the Royal Navy in tomorrow's game- do us Yorkshire folk proud.

Thank you for reading and keep your eye out for the exclusive interview with Stephen Wild that will be out before the season starts. Remember tomorrow's historic clash between the Army and Navy will be live on The Sportsman with kick-off at 2pm tomorrow (Saturday 29th January).