The Western Force will play in honour of the service men and women this Saturday, holding a personal sentiment to Force Lock Ryan McCauley.
McCauley "couldn't be closer" to his brother, who is currently serving in the Armed Forces.
This Armed Force Round is extremely important to him and his family, stating he couldn't be prouder of his brother's sacrifices for his country.
"He has sacrificed a lot, living all around Australia and deployed overseas once. I don't often tell him, but I am very proud of him. He loves what he does, and my family is very proud of him, he has worked bloody hard to get to where he is now."
"I will be playing for him this Saturday."
The two of then often sharing stories of their careers, highlighting the similarities in their careers.
"You don't often see what they do, they put a lot of work in behind the scenes. We often talk over dinner about the similarities of our training and leadership structures; this connects us in a way."
"My brother has a membership even though I can give him tickets every week. He and his mates from the Defence Force all get their memberships each year and sit in the same seats; they love it."
"The Defence Force here has a strong connection to rugby, they play Army vs Navy games and love getting around and supporting the Force."
The club's continued efforts each year to uphold our gratitude to those who have served in many ways is not lost on McCauley or the wider playing group.
"Since I've been here, we have emphasised ANZAC Round and supporting our Armed Forces by getting in touch with them throughout the week and season; it's a great thing we do as a club."
When the men face our trans-Tasman counterparts on Saturday night, the match will also symbolise the great mateship that Australian and New Zealanders share—stemming from our allied front on the world's battlefields.
The fixture will feature a traditional ANZAC ceremony along with the National Anthems of Australia and New Zealand, amongst other pre-match activities. McCauley acknowledges that these services each year are a reminder of the selfless acts of his brother and the ones that have served before him.
"The ANZAC Round is a great game to be a part of as we can play our small part and play for those who have sacrificed so much for our country. The players know it's extremely important to honour and play for the men and women who have served and are serving this week."
"The Last Post is a very moving thing; no matter how many times you listen to it, it always reminds me of what the ANZAC’s sacrificed for us."
The Armed Forces round will kick off at HBF Park at 3:05pm with Super W team hosting the brumbies. The men will then face the Highlanders at 5:35pm following the traditional ANZAC ceremony.
