Masters Rugby League

This week saw several rounds of Master's style rugby league.

First we will visit the midweek fixture:

Tuesday 20th July marked an historic day in the development of rugby league in London and the South, when a London select side took on the touring Australians at Master Rugby League. Master Rugby League, developed in Australia, is a variant of the sport designed for over 35s, whereby players wear different coloured shorts dependent on their age, the colour of shorts defining the intensity of tackling allowed. Gold shorts are for over 60s and the Australian side had several players in their 80s !

The concept of Masters is very new to the London area with several clubs, including St Albans Centurions looking to start up sides, the emphasis very much being on inclusion and fun. Selected as part of this landmark fixture were Centurions founder members Ken Edwards ad Gary Tetlow along with one of the clubs first ever players Steve Kenworthy (whose son now players for the clubs u13s). The London side notably included Sky Sports rugby league officionado and former GB hooker Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson.

The game itself was played in blistering hot conditions at Medway Barracks and both sides deserve credit for the quality of rugby league and fine sportsmanship on show. The Aussies recoded a 5 try to nil victory, Ken taking the Man of the Match award for the London select team and Steve being sin binned for a rather robust tackle on a gold shorted Aussie !

Photos, and reports from the Sunday fixture will be up shortly.