Rugby Union

RAF 'absolutely firing' as they raise intensity for Inter Service showdown with Navy

Watch: RAF raring to go for date with defending champions

The Royal Air Force are "absolutely firing" as they ramp up final preparations for their clash with the Royal Navy in the men's Inter Service rugby championships, their captain says.

The sides go head to head at Brickfields in Plymouth on Saturday 20 April, keen for a winning start to the 2024 competition, and RAF skipper, Flying Officer Alex Stanley says they have increased their intensity as they move ever closer to game day.

Their Royal Navy opponents are defending champions after a sensational win over the British Army at Twickenham.

The Royal Air Force meanwhile began their 2023 campaign with a rare draw against the Navy in difficult, muddy conditions.

Watch: Royal Navy men's rugby team prepared to deal with pressure of being Inter Service champions

In the second round, the RAF were hammered 48-17 by the British Army at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester.

Flying Officer Stanley missed last year's championships but is back to lead his side this time around.

He told BFBS Sport Editor Jon Knighton: "I'm immensely proud to be named the captain and having that year out, I'm hungrier than ever to put in two big performances against the Army and Navy."

As the highly anticipated tournament edges ever closer, he spoke of his side's excitement: "All of a sudden things are starting to click in place and it's starting to build really nicely and it's exciting.

"We're raising the intensity in training and we're going to be absolutely firing and ready to go when it comes to both the games."

Well-documented recent wet weather has stymied preparations for the team, due to waterlogged pitches.

Head coach Flight Sergeant Justin Coleman said: "Hopefully the conditions are a bit better, and we get a bit more of a spectacle rather than a bit of a wrestle in open mud like we did last year.

"It's a fair old trek down there and the Navy will be tough but we're looking forward to the challenge."

The head coach said the team has been able to spend more time together than usual but is missing some squad members due to injury and availability issues.

Nevertheless, he outlined the importance on focusing on the game itself: "Hopefully the result goes our way and tactically we get it right on the day.

"It's about 80 minutes of rugby, we know the guys will do everything they can to crawl off that pitch and give 100%."

The team recorded an emphatic victory in their final match in the build-up.

RAF back Air Specialist 1 Kieron Prescott was the star of the show as he scored four times in a 43-21 RAF win in Reading.

Watch: How to see all key RAF v British Army v Royal Navy matches live

He is hoping to make an impact if selected, having scored four times in a 43-21 RAF win in Reading in the lead-up.

Prescott has crossed the line for his side 10 times so far this season, but is searching for his first Inter Service try.

"Last year I made my debut against the Navy but didn't get too many minutes then came on against the Army, proved myself, proved my worth and came on and looked dangerous from the off," he said.

The dual-code rugby star spoke of how the group is benefiting from even more time together than in previous seasons: "Compared to last year, all the lads are so much closer, we're getting a lot more out of this year.

"We're learning so much more; we're getting contested sessions against good opposition and really looking forward to how we're going and it's looking good."

Prescott is hopeful of beating the Navy to set up a huge clash against the Army at Gloucester on 11 May, where they could lift the trophy: "If we get a good win against the Navy, then go and give it to the Army at Gloucester, then it's ours after a few years."

You can watch both the men's and women's Navy v RAF clashes LIVE with BFBS Sport – find out more here.