Letter: Army helps others but not its own

Sir: On 29 January you published a photograph of the England Women's Rugby Union team being trained by army instructors at Arborfield Garrison. I trust the team recognises the efforts of the Army in assisting with their training for the forthcoming England vs Wales match.

What a shame that the Army, so long a bastion of the greatest team game, no longer appears to have sufficient resources to coach a high level of rugby skills to its recruits.

This fact is especially poignant as Arborfield, home to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers apprentice college, has an admirable history of colts rugby, and yet was used to do for others what the Army used to take justifiable pride in doing for its own.

Yours faithfully,

David C. Allen

Newbury, Berkshire