'Ready And Raring To Go': UKAF Women Prepare For French Rugby Battle
The UK Armed Forces women's rugby union team have been training in Portsmouth ahead of this week's match against the French Forces.
The clash will be shown LIVE on the Forces News Facebook page on 29 September with a 19:00 UK time start.
It's set to be the first match that the team have played since November 2018.
It's also the first UK service women's rugby match since the pandemic which is good news for UKAF captain Corporal Sian Williams.
"It's exciting, isn't it?" she said.
"It's a bit of shame we haven't been able to play a bit of RAF rugby or Army rugby but we're all absolutely buzzing.
"We're just really excited to get back on the field."
The British team includes a number of experienced international players including the Army's Bethan Dainton and the RAF's Amy Cokayne.
Flying Officer Carys Williams, from the Air Force, will make her service debut against the French.
Watch: Rugby Union triumph in Battle of the Codes.
The Wasps star has also been capped for England and is already experiencing the differences between professional sport and service level.
She said: "I think the small time that we have together in the camp leading up to the game is obviously a challenge as well.
"I think we're going to embrace that challenge and everyone will play to their strengths. We should put on a good performance."
One player who has previous against the French forces is Navy captain Leading Hand Rose Dixon.
She's been part of the regular fixture between the Senior Service and the French Marine Nationale which may give her an advantage.
She said: "The Royal Navy play the French Navy every year so I imagine I'll know a few of the players there and a bit of their style of play, but I'm really looking forward to it.
"It's exciting and we're all ready and raring to go."
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The match provides an opportunity for UKAF to get their first win since 2015.
They have only played four matches together as a team since that year and their head coach, Warrant Officer John Wilding, is expecting a good test.
"We're just really grateful they've come across," he said.
"We've had to go through a lot of hoops in the current protocols and COVID-19 and we're really grateful that they've bought into it as much as we have.
"When the whistle goes, I'm sure it will be a traditional type of game.
"It'll be quite physical but I think some really good rugby will be played," he added.
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