In a poignant gesture of respect and remembrance, the Rugby League is set to hold a special Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph this Friday. This event, which has become a significant feature of the Challenge Cup Finals weekend in London, will take on added significance as the Rugby League mourns the loss of Rob Burrow CBE.
Dignitaries and senior representatives from the six clubs involved in Saturday’s Finals at Wembley Stadium will gather to pay tribute to fallen heroes of the past. Among those in attendance will be Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the President of the Rugby Football League, and Martin Offiah MBE, who will be the Chief Guest at Wembley on Saturday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the most celebrated try in Challenge Cup Final history.
The UK Armed Forces Rugby League will host the event and lay a wreath at the Cenotaph, in collaboration with the Royal British Legion. Simon Johnson, the RFL Chair, expressed, “In this most difficult of weeks for all who have admired Rob Burrow, our Service of Remembrance will allow the sport to come together and reflect.”
The unique ceremony, exclusive to Rugby League, is scheduled for Friday morning before the Challenge Cup Finals Day at Wembley. It offers a rare opportunity for supporters, players, coaches, and officials from the finalists to unite and pay their respects. The ceremony will conclude with a two-minute silence and the traditional bugle-call “The Rouse.”
The significance of the event was underscored by Simon Johnson, who noted the attendance of club captains Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors, Stefan Ratchford and Liam Farrell. “What a reflection of the values of their clubs and the sport that they will take time out the day before the biggest match of the season to join this occasion,” Johnson remarked.
Last year’s ceremony made history when representatives of the Leeds Rhinos and St Helens teams, who contested the first Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, joined the event. This year, given the recent events, the participation of these representatives will hold even greater significance.
The inclusion of officials from the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup finalists, Sheffield Eagles and Wakefield Trinity, as well as match official Beth Neilson, adds to the ceremonial significance. Neilson is set to make history of her own at Wembley on Saturday as the first woman to earn an appointment as a touch judge for a senior Final at Wembley.
The initiative to include the Service of Remembrance in plans for fans in London for the weekend was spearheaded by Simon Johnson, who encouraged Rugby League supporters to partake in this meaningful event. “On such a significant weekend for the sport, there is no better way to set the tone.”
This year’s proceedings hold particular significance with the added commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. The bravery shown and sacrifices made by so many during the Second World War will be specifically remembered during the event.
The Service of Remembrance has evolved into more than an event – it is a symbol of unity and respect that brings together the Rugby League community in a shared moment of remembrance and reflection for fallen heroes.