Made up of the very best players from the three services (Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force), UKAF will be captained by Wales international Sian Williams. She is joined by fellow Wales teammates Gemma Rowland – fresh from World Cup action in the summer – and Charlie Murray in taking on their compatriots in the capital city. England front rower Amy Cokayne is another notable inclusion for UKAF.
Wales Women Development yesterday announced an exciting, new-look side for tonight’s fixture, more on which can be read here.
UKAF Team Manager Lieutenant (RN) Jane West spoke of her admiration for how quickly the players bonded into a tight-knit team. “In many ways, it’s just like watching the way we come together in training onboard ship and all our operations,” said West. “Individuals trained to the highest standards in their own disciplines, from diverse backgrounds, bonding quickly to become more than the sum of their parts.
“It makes me proud to see our women showcasing the talent our Armed Forces have to offer, and the centrality of women’s role in everything we do. On the pitch will be not only seven international rugby players with some ninety-plus caps between them, but some of the best aircrew, gunners, engineers and personnel of many other trades that the Armed Forces produces – all united in Remembrance and rugby.”
The fixture will mark the 100th year since the United Kingdom held its first recorded women’s rugby match. On 16th December 1917, a women’s rugby team from the munitions factories came together for a game at the Arms Park to raise money in support of those who served. This was shortly after some 247,000 Allied casualties had fallen at the battle of Passchendaele.
Catherine Henshaw, of the Royal British Legion, said she was proud to watch the players train yesterday, and thanked all involved for their support: “It’s a remarkable centenary of rugby and Remembrance. These remarkable women are crucial to the Armed Forces. We’re proud of what they do and the example they set and thank them for their support for the Poppy Appeal and the Royal British Legion”.
The Welsh Guards will be present to flank the standard bearers of the Royal British Legion at the pre-match Remembrance ceremony, with a military band to entertain the crowd before kick-off. After the national anthems, a bugler will announce reveille across the ground to commence the Remembrance ceremony, and end the two minutes’ silence to remember the fallen.
At half-time the crowd will be entertained by the Corp of Drummers of the Royal Welsh, in full ceremonial dress – uniforms which date back those worn at the famous Battle of Rorke’s Drift. After the match, the trophy presentation will be guarded and honoured by the presence of two of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards (also known as the Welsh Cavalry) in full regalia.
Tickets will be available on the gate for tonight’s match.
UKAF team
1. Cpl Sarah Batley
2. Cpl Amy Cokayne
3. Sgt Bee Dawson
4. LCpl Ellie Gatlin
5. Cpl Chelsea Snead
6. LCpl Heidi Silcox
7. SAC Sian Williams (c)
8. Capt Alex Hardy
9. AC Lucy Nye
10 Capt Gemma Rowland
11 Flt Lt Chrissy Siczowa
12 Cpl Lou Dodd
13 Cpl Jade Mullen
14. Gnr Jess MaCauley
15. SAC Charlie Murray
Replacements
16. Pte Sarah Mimnagh
17. Flt Lt Kay Simmons
18. Cpl Maria Waghorn
19. Fg Off Emma Tadman
20. Lt Cdr Charlie Fredrickson RN
21. Capt Erica Mills
22. Cpl Maz Claesens
23. Fg Off Sophie Gale
