During a regional presence deployment in Singapore, the crew of HMAS Perth participated in a series of sporting events fostering international relationships through friendly competition.
The Perth Swans took part in men’s rugby union 15s, mixed touch football, and men’s and women’s AFL.
In a thrilling rugby match hosted by the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) at Dempsey Field, Perth’s rugby team, joined by crewmembers from HMS Spey, faced off against the SCC Nomads.
Despite the punishing tropical heat, both teams pushed their limits in a closely contested game.
The Nomads ultimately managed to break through, securing a narrow 5-0 victory in what was a hard-fought and competitive encounter.
Nomads captain Adam Waise praised the performance.
“Perth did a great job. You could tell they were a bit rusty, but the longer we played, the more their team came together. We had the advantage of being more accustomed to the tropical heat,” Mr Waise said.
After the match, the Perth rugby team was invited back to the SCC for a post-game social event.
‘The hospitality from the Singapore Cricket Club was first-class.’
Operations Officer Perth Lieutenant Commander Lachlan Marsh said it was a fantastic evening.
“The hospitality from the Singapore Cricket Club was first-class,” he said.
The rugby game marked the first time in many years that a Royal Australian Navy warship team had played rugby 15s in Singapore.
SCC member Andrew Douglas reminisced about the club’s long-standing tradition.
“SCC used to play for the Navy Cup against visiting ships from the UK, New Zealand and Australia, regularly,” Mr Douglas said.
“We enjoy the competition. It was a tough game, and we were thrilled to host Perth at the club again. We look forward to continuing this tradition of rugby and camaraderie with future Navy teams.”
The following day, Perth’s women’s touch football team played a social match at Dempsey.
The SCC team, including players from the SCC Rugby Academy U16 girls’ squad, took on a Perth team.
Head of Girls’ Touch Rugby at SCC Brendon Jones said it was a fantastic turnout from Perth on what he’s sure was a busy port visit.
“The game was competitive, played in great spirit, and Perth’s crew came out on top,” Mr Jones said.
“Our girls really enjoyed the matchup, which showcased the growth of female sport.”
‘We look forward to continuing this tradition of rugby and camaraderie with future Navy teams.’
Later that day, more of Perth’s crew participated in a 10-a-side AFL round-robin tournament at the Australian International School, competing against the Singapore Wombats and Singapore Sharks.
The fast-paced games were played under lights on synthetic turf. Chief Petty Officer Joshua Scanlon noted the strong participation.
“We had an excellent turnout for the AFL tournament and even fielded two female teams for an exhibition match,” he said.
“All games were played with great energy, and it was great to be so competitive against the recently crowned AFL Asia champions.”
Following the sporting events, Perth hosted ship tours for the Wombats AFL and SCC Rugby Academy teams, with Director of Rugby at SCC Rugby Academy Brendan Nolan expressing his gratitude.
“As an Australian living in Singapore, it’s rare for the children to tour such an impressive warship. We truly appreciated the opportunity and the warm welcome from the crew,” Mr Nolan said.
With Singapore being the final port in Perth’s regional presence deployment, the chance to engage in these sporting events was a highlight for the crew, leaving behind lasting connections and positive memories.
