UKAF Rugby League Forces World Cup Squad Announced

The 24-man UKAF Rugby League Squad for the Forces World Cup in Australia has been announced.

UKAF will be captained by the Navy's Ben Taylor with the RAF's James Hutchinson as vice-captain.

The squad contains 11 airmen, seven soldiers, five sailors and one marine.

Head coach Flt Lt Damian Clayton said:

“I feel I have selected a squad that is capable of dealing with a hectic schedule in Australia, which, results dependent, could see us play four matches in eight days.

"They are a great bunch of lads and we have talent and strength in depth, with plenty of experience of overseas tours to draw on along with some excellent young lads hungry to prove themselves on such an important stage at the elite level of rugby league in the military.”

Team captain LAET Ben Taylor said:

“Obviously I am over moon to be selected, and being chosen to captain my country in Australia in a World Cup is literally a dream come true.

“The squad's looking very strong, some faces that have been around a while and played in a World Cup against Aussies before, so their experience will be invaluable, but also it is good to see some new faces in there that have earned their place over last few games."

The team will play matches against the hosts Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, with the top two from the round-robin matches meeting in the final at the Pepper Stadium on July 16.

They kick off their schedule against Fiji on July 7, before facing the hosts on July 9 and New Zealand on July 12.

Full squad list

Jordan Andrade - RAF

Jamie Birdsall - RM

Liam Bradley - RAF

Kev Brown - Army

Kes Cartmell - Army

George Clarke- Army

Luke Cooper - RN

Garry Dunn - RAF

Adam Flintham - RAF

Mike Haldenby - RN

Dave Hankinson - RAF

James Hutchinson (VC) - RAF

Mike Hoyle - Army

Jordan Kerman - Army

Ryan Matthews - RN

Ben Mellor - RAF

James Parry - RN

Lee Queeley - RAF

Ben Rowan - Army

Josh Scott - RAF

Scott Stevenson - RAF

Ben Taylor (C) - RN

Steve Wicks - Army

Si Wray - RAF

Non Travelling Reserve

Sam Breeze - RAF

Management

Head Coach - Damian Clayton MBE RAF

Tour Manager - Dave Groce - Army

Equipment Manager - Jamie Doig - Army

S & C - Paul McCormick - RAF