This Friday the annual Rugby League Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph will take place, an event which has become such a significant feature of the Challenge Cup Finals weekend in London.
Senior representatives of the four clubs involved in Saturday’s Finals at Wembley Stadium will gather to pay tribute to fallen heroes of the past.
Rugby Football League, at Wembley on Saturday to mark the 32nd anniversary of the most celebrated try in Challenge Cup Final history.
The event will be hosted by the UK Armed Forces Rugby League, who will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph, as will the Royal British Legion.
Nigel Wood, RFL Chair, said:
“Once again, our annual Service of Remembrance will allow the sport to come together and reflect.
“Each year since I joined the RFL, I have been honoured and humbled to attend this event in tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This year we will also be aware of the 81st Anniversary of VE Day – the courage shown, and sacrifices made, by so many, in the course of the Second World War.
“It is a ceremony unique to Rugby League, as for a short period on a Friday morning before our Challenge Cup Finals Day at Wembley, Whitehall is closed to traffic, and supporters of many clubs join players, coaches and officials from the finalists to pay their respects."
The service will commence shortly before 11am with an introduction and prayers, preceding a two-minute silence. Following the wreath-laying, there will be prayers and the traditional bugle-call “The Rouse”, which will bring the ceremony to a close.
