As in last year’s corresponding fixture, one of Wales’ own, flanker Sian Williams, will feature for the military side. This time, though, 24-times capped Williams, a serving member of the Royal Air Force, has the honour of leading UKAF against her country.
Williams is adamant there will be no hesitation when she pulls on UKAF’s famous white jersey, adorned with the poppies of Remembrance, to captain a team determined to avenge their heavy defeat in 2016. “The tradition of the game is one of huge emotion and I will do everything I can to lead the UK Armed Force to victory,” explains Williams, who turned 27 this week.
“We know what to expect and are ready to go to battle against a team that I know will throw everything at us. The Remembrance ceremony is moving and poignant, uniting us all – both sides, the crowd, those on parade – in Remembrance of the fallen.”
This year’s fixture is particularly poignant, with the teams facing each other a century after the first women’s rugby match was played in mainland Britain. Fittingly, it was played at none other than the Cardiff Arms Park itself on 16th Dember 1917.
“At the time, the minds of the players would have been on the 245,000 dead, wounded or missing allied casualties lost at the battle of Passchendaele that summer,” Williams says. “There is a lot of history behind this fixture as the game was played to raise money for War Charities, just as ours is today. The beauty of the game is that we can go head-to-head against a fierce opposition and still unite at the end and remember what really matters.”
Adding further intrigue to the UKAF line-up is the inclusion of Wales centre Gemma Rowland (Army) and England hooker Amy Cokayne (RAF), both of whom were recently in action at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
At the Arms Park on 8th November, 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 for the match will be available on the gate (£5 adults/£1 U16s). The Wales Women Development squad will be announced later next week. Any UKAF media enquiries should be directed to Wing Commander Keith Dear at media@ukafru.com.
UKAF squad to face Wales Women Development:
Senior Aircraftswoman, S, Williams, RAF (UKAF Captain)
RN Lieutenant, C, Fredrickson, RN
Midshipwoman, O, Critchley, RN*
Captain, G, Rowland, Army
Captain E, Mills, Army
Captain, A, Hardy, Army
Corporal, B, Dawson, Army
Corporal, L, Dodd, Army*
Corporal, J, Mullen, Army
Corporal, C, Snead, Army*
Lance Corporal,, H, Silcox, Army
Lance Corporal, S, Batley, Army
Lance Corporal, M, Claassens, Army
Gunner, J, McAuley, Army
Private, S, Mimnagh, Army*
Private, E, Gattlin, Army
Flight Lieutenant, C, Siczowa, RAF
Flight Lieutenant, K, Simmons, RAF*
Flying Officer, E, Tadman, RAF*
Flying Officer, S, Gale, RAF*
Corporal, M, Waghorn, RAF
Senior Aircraftswoman, R, Walton, RAF*
Senior Aircraftswoman, C, Murray, RAF
Corporal, A, Newey, RAF
Aircraftswoman, A, Cokayne, RAF*
Aircraftswoman, L, Nye, RAF*
*Uncapped
