Two late tries not enough to save RAF from Le Crunch loss to French Air Force

The RAF men's senior rugby union team have begun their season with a testing defeat to the French Air Force in the Le Crunch match at the Stade André Moga in Bordeaux.

Corporal James Roberts and Flight Lieutenant Jacob Seddon both managed to score RAF tries late in the second half, but the French win was already in the bag as they held on for a 48-12 score.

The hosts were imperious in the first half and led 27-0 at the break, giving the RAF too much of a mountain to climb.

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This season's Le Crunch match served as the opening match of the RAF's campaign after management made changes to schedule.

Head Coach Tom Gardner wanted to test his side from the first minute of the season saying: "The message is clear: we start as we mean to go on. If we want to win in April and May, we have to be demanding of ourselves in September.

"We are deliberately stacking our opening block with tough opposition, because that's the only way we'll raise our bar early doors and build the edge we'll need when it really matters."

It was also a youthful team that travelled to France with 14 players under the age of 25 and seven making their senior debut for the RAF.

Gardner said: "That's not just numbers – that's the future of RAF Rugby. It's an exciting time."

The RAF's next challenge will be a test against English National League One side Rams at the end of the month.