Rugby Union

RAF women ready to unleash 'unreal pace' to take on Navy in Inter Service opener

Watch: RAF Women excited to show what they can do against Navy in Inter Service curtain-raiser

The Royal Air Force are relishing the chance to get their Inter Service Rugby Championship off to a flying start as they take on the Royal Navy in Northampton.

The sides meet at the home of Premiership Champions, Northampton Saints – Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens – which makes its debut in the historic military competition, taking its place as the host of the curtain-raising double header between the teams in blue.

The RAF won 34-12 in the corresponding fixture last year – a brace of tries for Carys Williams-Morris, Rebecca Defilippo and Orla Proctor saw off their naval opponents at Brickfields Stadium in Plymouth.

This time around, vastly experienced RAF scrumhalf and skipper, Flight Lieutenant Lucy Nye is hoping for a dry day (albeit an uncertainty in the forecast) to be able to showcase "unreal pace" in her backline.

Coming off the back of recent wins against representative fire and police teams, Nye told BFBS: "I don't know why, but this year's felt like quite a long lead up.

"We've obviously managed to get quite a few fixtures in beforehand, so just super excited that this week's actually finally here. The campaign's starting.

Watch: RAF players talk up team cohesion in 'Light Blue Family'

"I think playing the fixtures that we've played, they're similar teams to us, ie they come together for a week or so, play a fixture and then go and depart their separate ways, so playing against teams like that’s been really good for us, a good test.

"And obviously we’ve got two wins so far, so momentum's definitely going in our favour."

Nye spoke of the benefit of introducing "fresh faces" into the squad, exhibiting depth, joking about how she feels "like one of the old ones now" but noting how it’s been nice to see what they can do on the field, and wants the entire squad to show what they can do against the Navy.

Fully aware of the Royal Navy talent across the field, the RAF captain expects a stern test in Northampton but is hopeful of unlocking speed out wide: "I think the Navy always give us a really physical game, they're very, very strong up front, so that's obviously something we've been working on.

"In terms of our backs, we've got some unreal pace, so I think we'll obviously look to try and unleash our backs a bit more, which will be some exciting rugby."

Watch: New RAF Head Coach Sian Williams loving her role on eve of Inter Service Championships

Paying tribute to the growth of the profile of Inter Service rugby union, Nye added: "It's just really nice to see women's rugby in the forces growing, especially in the Air Force."

New Head Coach and highly decorated Wales and RAF star Corporal Sian Williams has been urging her players to maintain their discipline in the face of powerful Navy pressure around the rucks.

She told BFBS: "They've got a few threats, they've got some big ball carriers in their back row, Rowann Sinclair, Jess Bryan and Rose Dixon obviously pulls the strings for them, and we know exactly how they like to attack.

Watch: Royal Navy anticipate tight tussle with RAF in Inter Service Rugby opener

"They'll test us around the guard, bodyguard around the ruck and it's just for us, we have to keep our standards – last season we dropped our standards throughout the game, we let them come back in at times."

Williams spoke highly of her enjoyment in her new role and praised the atmosphere created by the group: "I love it. I obviously used to play with a lot of these girls. I spent two seasons away and then coming back, a lot of them are my friends.

"We've got a good balance of professionalism – as soon as we step foot on that field, that's it, we're playing rugby, we're professional – but it's ensuring that the girls are still enjoying themselves off the field, we have a laugh and it keeps it fun for me as well."