This year’s Friday Night Lights again sees the Skolars hold one of the region’s biggest ever masters events. With players from seven different clubs or associations represented:
- London Skolars
- Medway Dragons
- South London Storm
- Sussex Merlins
- St Albans Centurions
- Political Animals
- Yorkshire Masters
The action begins at 3pm and both aspects involve London Representative sides playing against guest outfits; Yorkshire Masters and the Political Animals. The first games see London/South East sides comprised of Medway Dragons, South London Storm, Sussex Merlins and St Albans Centurions take on first time Friday Night Lights attendees the Yorkshire Masters in a triangle festival.
The second part of the Masters event sees some familiar faces turning out for the London side which is made up primarily of London Skolars old boys, against friends of the Skolars in their 3rd appearance at Friday Night Lights, the Political Animals.
Their opponents the Political Animals are a rugby league club that was founded in 2010 by MP for Leeds North West, Greg Mulholland. It is intended to be made up of ‘parliamentarians, councillors and political staff from all political parties.’ Greg Mulholland is the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group and believes that the team can make the issues of sport more prominent in Parliament, stating on his website: “The Political Animals will bring more and more politicians and MP’s into the game making them aware of the enjoyment gained from playing the sport.”
Both games will be played under Masters rules. Masters Rugby League can only be played by persons aged 35 or over, is strictly a social version of the sport and the rules are slightly modified to cater for the older gentleman. There are no winners, no champions and no cup finals. It is all in the spirit of the game rather proving a point or settling a score. The most important rule is “Everyone has to buy a drink for their opposite number”. And with the Skolars having their famous beer festival, what better way to celebrate!
