Super Rugby
'There's only one sport in the army': Corporal Adam Brown
ESPN Staff
April 21, 2015
James Slipper unveils the Reds' commemorative Anzac Jersey alongside Corporal Adam Brown and Private Leone Fifita © QRU Media Unit/Sportography
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Queensland Reds have unveiled the commemorative jersey they will wear during the Anzac Day clash with the Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon. Teaming up with the Australian Defence Force, the Reds' jersey features the rising sun emblem of the ADF and a commemorative note on the chest with the jumpers to be auctioned off in support of the Mates4Mates charity.

Presented with the commemorative jersey at Anzac Square in Brisbane, Reds captain James Slipper - whose great-grandfather Daniel Archibald McIntyre from Townsville served in Europe during the First World War - said the chance to play against a New Zealand side and wear the rising sun emblem was just a small token of the side's appreciation.

"It's close to all Australians and New Zealanders, it's a special time in the year that you can look back and appreciate the sacrifices that were made for the greater good of Australians," Slipper said. "To have the honour of captaining Queensland on this special day and in an Anzac jersey is obviously very special. Knowing these jerseys will help raise money for real heroes in our community just makes it all the more memorable."

Coming off the back of a tight one-point win over the Cheetahs in South Africa, the Reds are hoping to make it back-to-back victories for the first time this season. But it will be a big task against the Hurricanes, particularly after the competition-leaders suffered their first defeat for 2015 last weekend.

"Coming back from South Africa, you do struggle with jet-lag, but we do have the long turn around we are playing on Sunday, so there's no excuses of being under prepared," Slipper said. "The way we ended the tour with the win was something that we needed, I think the boys are pretty excited to get back and play in front of our fans.

"In the past, especially this year, we went into hiding when we had a good lead. For us on the weekend we played the full 80 minutes and with that miskick at the end, I think the rugby gods were looking down on us finally and really helped us get over the line."

Nominated by Brisbane's 7th Brigade, the Mates4Mates charity assists soldiers who are currently undertaking treatment for PTSD at the Australian Army's Soldier Recovery Centre in Brisbane. Brisbane-based Corporal Adam Brown, who is currently undergoing treatment for PTSD, said the Australian army has always had a unique connection with rugby and the support of the Reds was significant.

"When I joined the army I got told there's only one sport in the army, I'm probably not allowed to say that, but it's rugby," Corporal Brown said. "It's great when you get back and for 80 minutes playing rugby, you don't think of anything else. It's great for blokes to have that comradery; it's just a great game.

"It's very heartening to see the support of Queensland Rugby and the Reds for a charity that provides such crucial support to soldiers returning from war. Rugby and the army have a unique shared history and it's a sport I've always enjoyed. We share many of the same core values, as is evidenced by the actions of the Queensland Rugby to donate the profits of this jersey auction to Mates4Mates.

"Anzac Day is an important event in the Australian calendar and this year it will be extra special as the country recognises the 100-year anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. It's great to see the Reds mark it with this themed jersey and with all the initiatives planned this week and on the day of the game."

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