This will be only the second time Dockers and the Navy have met and in their only previous encounter the Royal Navy were victorious 4-0 in the Challenge Cup in 1999.

This was just two years after the Royal Navy had formed the Rugby League team in 1997 and was seen as a massive upset at the time.

Each team will field a squad of 24 in the first of what is hoped to be an annual pre-season event for Hull Dockers that will also help the Navy prepare for their upcoming Challenge Cup and Inter-Services campaigns.

After many years of opposition from various quarters in the Royal Navy, Rugby League finally became a recognised sport within the service in 1997.

The brainchild of now Warrant Officer Wayne Okell, current Royal Navy Rugby League Director of Rugby and with the support of a small but dedicated group of Committee members RNRL is now one of the fastest growing sports within the Service and is seen as a model for all other sports who are trying to become established in the Service.

From the early days Humberside has always provided a great number of skilled and talented players to RNRL, highlighted by Danny Johnson (brother of Dockers Martin) who is the current RNRL Head Coach and Club Captain Steve Lockton along with several others in the current line up.

The influence of Hull based players was ironically borne out in the only other meeting between the sides in a Challenge Cup fixture in 1999 in which two Humberside born players were instrumental in the victory.

This result was a major shock and woke the Rugby League world to what the Royal Navy could achieve.

Since then the sport has gone from strength to strength attracting players from around the country and from overseas especially from Fiji to the extent where for the last three years the service has fielded four teams in the annual Inter Services Competition.

Despite being the smallest service numerically RNRL has won the Inter Services trophy at Senior and Academy level, each squad having two victories as well.

RNRL has also played overseas, three single service tours to Australia and New Zealand and two Combined Service tours to Australia.The second of these tours saw Combined Services Rugby League being crowned Armed Forces Rugby League World Champions.

Many RNRL Players were involved in that triumph with Wayne Okell masterminding the victory from the coaches’ bench.

This year also sees the RNRL Ladies team the Wrenegades embark on their first overseas visit with a match in France against Catalan Dragons Ladies ahead of the Dragons v Warriors clash in June.

RNRL is grateful for the continuing sponsorship of CSC and NAAFI as well as the support from our Charity Partners the RN & RM Charity.

For more on RNRL visit: www.pitchero.com/clubs/royalnavyrugbyleague

The Navy Squad will is selected from:

1, Darren Bamford
2, Kita Kamica
3, Bee Buinamassi
4, James Wagstaffe
5, Mike Haldenby
6, Steve Lockton
7, Kev Botwood
8, Richie Metcalfe
9, Mark Robinson (Capt)
10, Lewis Taylor
11, Gareth Cadmore
12, Craig Sutton
13, Ben Taylor
14, Dane Smallbone
15, Tommy Wilkinson
16, Matty Corrigan
17, John Cooper
18,George Qaranivalu
19, Tim Vodonvaivalu
20. Roko Kurasasa
21, Kyle Larvin
22, Lloyd Williamson
23, Max Boyce

Chairman, Cdr Gareth Hughes
Vice Chairman, Lt Cdr Mark Hertzberg
Secretary, Lt Matt Gee
PRO, WO1 Keith Humpleby
Head Coach, POPT Danny Johnson
Team Manager, Lt Steele
Asst Team Manager, POPT Turner

The Hull Dockers Squad will be selected from:

1.Danny Ulyatt
2.Kristian Birch
3.Martin Johnson
4.Jason Bowesley
5.Dom Proctor
6.Chris Stevenson
7.Karl Smirk
8.Aron Bradley
9.Steve Sellers
10.Matty Emerson
11.John Eccles
12.Kallum Birch
13.Nick Powley
14.Darren Bunby
15.Gareth Moore
16.Matty Ellis
17. Lee Forth
18.Steve Milne
19.Paul Fletcher
20.Craig Skelton
21.Craig Render
22.Alex Everson
23.Robbie Smith
24.Jack Snowdon

Chairman Stan Pickering
Head Coach Chris Kay
Assistant Coach Des Harrison
Assistant Coach Terry Smirk