Rugby Union

Army rugby holds trial game as attention turns to Inter Services defence

Army rugby have begun their season with a trial fixture against the Army Under-23 side as they set their sights on retaining their Inter Services title.

The clash in Aldershot featured those who are hoping for a chance to represent their service in upcoming fixtures, a procedure that the Army Management hope will be beneficial.

The Director of the Army rugby men's senior team, Colonel Sandy Fitzpatrick, said they hoped "to see some stars" in the trial game.

He said: "We hope to see some stars, some new talent, it is always good to keep the squad fresh and we still have some people coming back from last season.

"But this fixture is the second time we are running it, it allows us to see potentially some Under-23s that might come through, but also any new individuals that are putting their hat in the ring for a red shirt.

"We have got some new players in key positions, and we've got some key positions that we don't have the depth of, so we need to re-establish that depth so that we're not just thinking about this season but the seasons beyond that."

Sapper Jack Johnson played for the Army Under-23s and the Senior side last season and says that it is "a nervous time" for the players.

He said: "Last year when I was here, I was 23, so I was playing for the Under-23s and we trialled against the senior boys and that was, sort of, how I made my stamp in the shirt.

"It is a nervous time, the 23s should be all right because they've had a few games together, I'd be more worried if I was a trialist for the Army because you meet up on a Monday and you have only got three days to get up to the game plan."

Spr Johnson is one of four nominees for the Rising Star category at this year's Army Sports Awards, a nomination which took him by surprise.

He said: "When it got posted out on social media it was the first time I saw it as well, so a friend of mine told me first and I thought this guy was pulling my leg, but on Instagram, I had messages from Army Rugby to say congratulations for your nomination on the Rising Star.

"The family were more happy than I was, but it was a great achievement, and it is really humbling for me to be fair."

The Army has plenty of high-profile fixtures planned before they attempt to defend their Inter Services title at Twickenham, where the original date for the clash is being rearranged as the original date, 6 May, clashed with the coronation of King Charles III.