Charity rugby match honours fallen soldier

A charity rugby match has been held to honour a serviceman who lost his life in Afghanistan last month.

Rifleman Luke Farmer, 19, of Upton, near Pontefract, was killed while on foot patrol on January 15th and his friends and family recently held a game of his favourite sport in order to raise money.

The soldier’s former rugby coach, David Welsh, told the BBC he believed that up to £4,000 could be raised for good causes, adding that Rifleman Farmer had the potential to be an "unbelievable" rugby player.

"He could have, and I truly believe he could have, made it at rugby league but he chose to go in the army, which is what he wanted to do," he said.

Meanwhile, a minute’s silence was recently held following the funeral of Rifleman Farmer at Wakefield Cathedral, with residents from the city all urged to join in as a mark of respect.

Posted by Trevor Smith