Rugby Union

Inter Services Rugby Union: Army women to 'focus on us' ahead of clash with RAF

Watch: Army women's rugby team looks ahead to their clash with the RAF

Women's Army Rugby Union team captain, Staff Sergeant Jade Mullen, has said her players will "focus on us as a team" as the reds attempt to get their title defence off to a strong start on Saturday.

The Army will be looking to replicate their success from last year, when they decisively beat the RAF 24-10.

This year however the Army may well be facing a much stronger RAF side following the light blues' 10-17 victory against the Navy in Plymouth three weeks ago.

The light blues will also be bringing in their international stars, Amy Cokayne and Carys Williams-Morris, on Saturday to put up a stronger challenge against the Army.

SSgt Mullen emphasised that she is "not interested" in what the RAF are doing in the lead up to their clash in Gloucester.

She said: "I just want to focus on us as a team, I'm not really interested in what the RAF are doing.

"Focus on us, what we do and how we play and our structure, and if we look at ourselves and we work hard and get what we want to get right, then hopefully the game will speak for itself and we will come away with a victory."

Watch: The Army women's team beat the RAF in a convincing victory at last year's Inter Services.

Head Coach of the Women's Army Rugby Union Team, Warrant Officer Class 2 Sarah Mitchelson, has said the coaches have done "everything we can" as she approaches her first Inter Services in the role.

WO2 Mitchelson, who serves in the Royal Logistics Corps, was appointed head coach last September following a stellar rugby career where she captained the Army and the UK Armed Forces.

She said: "I'm obviously very happy that I'm here and still involved in Army rugby.

"I can be proud of the role that I've taken on. but it's definitely a completely different feel to what I usually feel at this time of year.

"It still feels the same, it's just now I can't control it, whereas as a player, once you kick off then it's under your control.

"But now it's not under my control so I just have to hope that I've done everything that I can."

The Army women will kick off their Inter Services campaign against the RAF at 11:00 GMT on Saturday 15 April which will be shown LIVE on Forces News YouTube channel and Facebook page.