UKAF's trophy hopes end after losing bruising IDRC semi-final against champions France

The UK Armed Forces’ adventure at the 2025 International Defence Rugby Competition is over after a semi-final defeat to France in Richmond.

A strong, physical performance from the reigning champions saw them race into a 19-7 lead at half-time.

UKAF were off the boil at times on their set-pieces and fluidity and fell to a 31-12 loss by the end of the contest.

• World Cup winner Rocky Clark's best players from pool stages
• International Defence Rugby Competition 2025: Fixtures, results and schedule
• Australia and Zambia set for cup final showdown after wins in semi-finals at Guildford

It was the French who started the better of the two teams and took the lead after nine minutes through Adeline Carrasquet’s unconverted try.

That lead was furthered ten minutes later as Clemence Rypen dived over the line and this time, Melissa Bergeron nailed the conversion to give them a 12-0 advantage.

UKAF needed to respond and it was a driving maul from a line out that did the trick. Sarah Batley, a scorer against the Irish Defence Forces in the pool stage, was the player whooping took advantage to dot down and Daisy Fahey delivered the extras with the conversion.

Sarah Mitchelson’s team would have liked to have taken that momentum into half-time but a French converted try through Annabelle Souillard on the stroke of the break destroyed that plan.

A big comeback for UKAF was needed, but the French second half performance was stifling in defence and ruthless in attack.

They stopped UKAF from putting together attacking phrases and hit them on the break with two tries of their own through Andrea Chastin and Fanny Camus.

Jasmine Abel grabbed a consolation try for UKAF in the final moments but it was a 31-12 French win.

France will now look to defend their crown in the IDRC final on Wednesday at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester while UKAF will play in the 3rd/4th place play-off.