APCL Announces Sponsorship of Royal Navy Rugby League Australia Tour.

APCL Group has announced that it has chosen to sponsor the Royal Navy Rugby League team’s tour of Australia this year.

In what promises to be an action-packed few weeks, the Royal Navy Rugby League team will arrive in Australia on April 13 for training. On April 16, they play their first match as they take on Renown United for a blockbusting clash. They will then go head-to-head with Coogee Dolphins Reserve Grade on April 20 at the Kensington Oval.

In what promises to be the clash of the tour, on Friday, April 26, Brookvale Oval in Manly will see the team square up to their counterparts the Navy Tridents - the Royal Australian Navy’s Rugby League team.

A&P Australia, part of the APCL Group, headquartered in Sydney, will be hosting the Royal Navy team during the tour, in what is a significant milestone in the history of what is a relative newcomer for the Royal Navy’s sporting scene.

The Royal Navy Rugby League team represents the Royal Navy and plays its home matches at the United Services Recreation Ground in Portsmouth.

Rugby Union has more traditionally been associated with the senior service - with the Royal Navy’s Union side tracing its roots all the way back to 1907. But the growth of the popularity of the Rugby League code of the sport in the Royal Navy led to the team being founded in 1997.

David McGinley, APCL Group Chief Executive, said: “We’re hugely excited to be playing a part in helping to make this tour a reality and we’ll be right behind them, cheering them on all the way.

“The APCL Group is deeply committed to supporting the Royal Navy, with our Cammell Laird and A&P facilities providing vital shipbuilding and ship repair services to the fleet.

“There is also large number of former Royal Navy personnel working right across the group, and lots of Rugby League fans working within our businesses too.

“We were delighted to welcome members of the Royal Navy League Tour at our Cammell Laird facility and give them a tour of our facility. The North West is the heartland of rugby league and Cammell Laird provided the perfect background for this announcement.

“The whole of the APCL Group send their best wishes to the team for a successful tour.”

Keith Humpleby, RNRL, added: "The Royal Navy Rugy League team are looking forward to its forthcoming Australian tour - the first of its kind in ten years.

"The RNRL is extremely grateful to APCL and its co-sponsors for bringing the tour to reality. This tour will afford our players the opportunity to test themselves against the might of the Royal Australian Navy Rugby League. We look forward to working with A&P in Australia whilst in Sydney and, collectively, reporting our successes."