Quiet confidence in UKAF squad as team dream of lifting IDRC trophy at home

It is testament to UKAF's camaraderie that the imminent departure of UKAF and RAF veteran hooker Lou Langton is being used as extra motivation for success at the International Defence Rugby Competition – a tournament she describes as her "final fling".

Given her extensive military rugby experience over the years, Langton is arguably well placed to make assertions – albeit humbly – that there is a "quiet confidence" among her teammates that they can lift the IDRC trophy at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester on 3 September.

UKAF take on Tonga in the tournament curtain-raiser on Sunday 17 August at Esher RFC, before they play their other Pool A opponents – Ireland and Zambia.

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A successful pool campaign would enable them to reach the knockouts, as they aim to go further than the plate win in New Zealand three years ago, in their last IDRC experience.

"I think you have to have that quiet confidence, because if you don't, then things can crumble.

"You've got to stay as confident as possible. The training that we're doing and the work that we're putting in together and the cohesion that we have together as a team on and off the field, I think will speak for itself once we start to play.

"Yeah, you can be a bit nervous about the teams and stuff that you play, but if we focus on our game, we've got nothing to worry about."

Lessons learned

It is perhaps a cliché for players to reiterate that they are focusing on the next game, not too far ahead, but it would be remiss of them not to pay attention to what has come before.

Beyond the analysis of their last performances, head coach Sarah Mitchelson has spoken of lessons learned from their time in New Zealand and feeling more focused this time around.

It could be argued that the quiet confidence in the squad reflects Mitchelson's style – understated but hugely successful, especially with her Inter Service-conquering Army sides.

She told BFBS Sport: "When we went to New Zealand, we weren't prepared enough. I think this year, we've fixed that.

"I think we underestimated the competition [in NZ]. I think every team that will turn up here will be prepared, and they've known for a while, and they wouldn't have said yes to the tournament unless they were prepared to come here with a good squad, so I'm expecting a challenge in every game we play."

Challenges came before the tournament, too, as UKAF were comprehensively beaten by England Students in Aldershot, and if the coaching staff were hoping for some match-hardening experience for their players, they certainly got it at the Army Rugby Stadium.

Daring to dream

What would a trophy lift on home soil, in front of friends, family and fans, mean to the UKAF players?

For RAF second row Tyler Lewis, it would be "phenomenal".

She added: "It would just be an end to a great season in service rugby and on home soil as well, I don't think it can get any better.

"It's always good to win and we all want to win, but I think being at home and it's our turf, so if we could win it, that would be unbelievable."

Army forward Becky Wilson told BFBS Sport: "I'd say it would be unreal, to be able to do it with other servicewomen from different nations, and to be able to do that here in the UK, and hopefully lifting that trophy, I think, yeah, unreal."

RAF and Harlequins back Orla Proctor summed up her thoughts: "What an amazing feeling to go back to your unit, who's released you as well, to say, 'this is actually what I get up to', 'this is what you've released me to go do' and it’s to such a good standard that we've actually won it…

"For that to then be broadcast on social media, for other people to see this is the standard of military rugby, we've got a lot of champ 1, premiership players, internationals, and the game is just growing, so I just think that wider picture, it's going to just do so much good."

Beyond the pitch

Many have spoken of the special opportunity the tournament affords UKAF and the other teams in being able to engage with women and girls and encourage more to come to the grounds or take up the game themselves.

The timing is beneficial too, coming hot on the heels of a riveting Women's Six Nations victory for England's Red Roses, and the recent success of the Lionesses in their Euros football victory.

None of this is lost on the players, who are acutely aware of the bigger picture in their participation at IDRC 25.

Navy fullback Jasmine Abel said: "It's very exciting that it's in our own country, we get to show a lot of the youth coming through that might stand in our footsteps later on in the years, and definitely really exciting to have it alongside our home World Cup."

Army front row Becky Wilson said: "With this being over the school summer holidays, hopefully we get all those younger kids coming over and come watching to support and hopefully we get the sort of excitement up maybe they want to come join the forces and be a rugby player too."

You can watch UKAF v Tonga live on the BFBS Forces News YouTube channel from 12:45 UK time.