The toughest sport with the world's toughest men: UKAF seek revenge at forces rugby world cup

The UK Armed Forces' top rugby union stars have arrived in France to begin their quest for revenge at the International Defence Rugby Competition (IDRC).

The IDRC, dubbed the forces rugby world cup, sees the best rugby players from militaries across the globe do battle on the pitch for the chance to win the greatest prize in forces rugby.

Military teams from the UK, Tonga, Georgia, Spain, France, Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, Fiji, New Zealand, Ireland and Uzbekistan are all competing to lift the prestigious trophy.

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UKAF fell just short of the title in 2019 when beaten by a strong Fijian side in the final.

On that occasion, the Japanese venue had to be rearranged at the last minute, owing to hurricane winds blowing down the posts at the original ground.

This time around, UKAF will be hoping for warm French August sunshine in Brittany to assist them in their push to win the military world cup.

Every match featuring the UK team will be shown live on the Forces News YouTube channel, including any semi-finals and finals – if they qualify.

Who stands in UKAF's way?

The tournament includes 12 military teams from around the world.

If UKAF are to win, they will have to first get through the group stage, in which they take on Tonga (19 Aug; 16:45 BST), Georgia (23 Aug; 17:45 BST) and Spain (27 Aug; 14:15 BST) in Pool 2.

UKAF will play Tonga in Fourgeres, before a showdown with Georgia in Brest, and then a final pool game against Spain in Melesse.

Pool 1 has hosts France, Australia, Japan and the Netherlands, whilst Pool 3 sees 2019 finalists Fiji go up against New Zealand, Ireland and Uzbekistan.

'Always going to be a battle'

How will UKAF deal with the physical challenge of Tonga as they seek to get their tournament off to a start with a win in their first match?

UKAF assistant coach and former player Leading Hand Silivenusi 'B' Buinimasi described the challenge the Tongans will bring, much like the physical presence of the Fijians: "I think everyone knows the rugby on the island – it is always going to be a battle and, of course, Fiji is the ultimate challenge, as we know.

"I was involved in the last two events as well, one as a player and as a coach. I know Tonga, it's the first time for them to come to this side of the world.

"For a team to come all the way to this side of the world, they must have something with them. Of course, they are the island boys so they will bring everything with them.

"Collectively, we want to start well, and to start well we have to beat Tonga, but also in our group, we've got Georgia so we can't let Georgia off."

UKAF ready for 'really combative' opponents

UKAF's Captain, Flying Officer Dave Manning, is no stranger to the intensity of the tournament, having represented the side at the tournament before.

Describing the challenge in front of his men, he told Forces News: "Having played in the previous three iterations, and this will be my fourth, every single one has been really combative – you're playing opponents like Georgians, the Tongans, the French, on home turf.

"They're all going to be really physical and tough encounters, so it's going to be no inch given."

Intensity high but discipline key

BFBS Sports Editor Jon Knighton believes the players must keep their composure under pressure.

He said: "I think the most important thing to remember about any world cup, whatever level it is, is the intensity, and for these players, this is the pinnacle of their military rugby career – to play in a forces world cup.

"Inevitably, on the field, when you're up against the French, you're up against the Fijians, you're up against Georgia, you're up against other international teams, occasionally, things are going to boil over a bit and the intensity does get to that level.

"What's most important, really, and it's something that the coaches have been stressing here with the UKAF players before they even get to France, is that need for discipline, to make sure that they keep that discipline on the field."

Can single service stars play effectively in a combined team?

UKAF assistant coach Lieutenant Colonel Tim Osman explained how, with a tri-service coaching set-up, it helps to bring everyone together: "It's the same for the players, it's a mix. Everyone's got different ideas and brings different skills to the party.

"We've been working hard over the last couple of months, gelling as much as we can too, the various conversations about game plan and styles, selection, so we've been doing the same process for a number of months now and it's really important that we all pull together and get the boys in the right place to challenge for the competition title."

Check out the photos above of the team training at HMS Temeraire in Portsmouth ahead of the tournament.

BFBS Sports Editor Jon Knighton added: "They will bond very, very quickly because the common enemy, suddenly, is another international side.

"Obviously, there's Inter Services rivalry all the time, but it's all put to one side when you get to the IDRC."

UKAF did not always play as a team – the single services competed individually in earlier editions of the tournament – as recently as 2015, when the British Army made it to the final but lost to Fiji.

The Army won the tournament in 2011.

Good luck wishes from rugby legends

UKAF have been sent numerous good luck messages from rugby legends, including England Rugby Defence Coach Kevin Sinfield, former Wales and Lions star Shane Williams and Alex Goode of England and Saracens.

Rugby World Cup 2003 winner Jason 'Billy Whizz' Robinson posted a good luck message to LinkedIn, the business social media site, to say he hopes the UKAF side can go "one step further" this time around.

Robinson said: "Bring the trophy home boys."