UK Armed Forces Rugby continues unbeaten run with resounding victory over Spain

In a historic match-up that saw the UK Armed Forces (UKAF) Rugby team face Spain for the first time, UKAF delivered a masterclass in rugby, demolishing their opponents 128-3. The fixture, played under the sunny skies of Melesse, France, solidified UKAF’s standing as a team to beat in the International Defence Rugby Competition.

From the first whistle, UKAF came out with purpose and intensity, setting the tone for what would be a record-breaking match. The opening try came just a minute in, when Manau Cakau’s quick thinking set up Joe Parkin for a score. Jack Johnson nailed the conversion, and UKAF was off and running at 7-0.

UKAF’s backline was particularly electric, with Vice Captain Ben Chambers and Iferimi Qorowale putting in performances for the ages. Chambers, who had already scored five tries for UKAF in previous matches, notched a hat-trick, becoming UKAF’s all-time leading try scorer in the process. On the other hand, Qorowale made an unforgettable impact by scoring an astonishing five tries.

It wasn’t just individual brilliance that saw UKAF soar; their tactical nous was on full display. According to Dave Manning, a player who was rested for this match, UKAF’s structured play and strategy paid dividends. “We got through the structure and the systems I talked about. A lot of those tries came from that system, which is great,” he commented post-match.

Although it was a day to forget for Spain, they showed glimpses of promise, particularly in their physical defending. Jose Reina managed to put Spain on the scoreboard with a penalty kick, making it 33-3 at one point. Despite the scoreline, the Spaniards never stopped fighting, a point acknowledged by Manning, who expects them to come back stronger in the future.

UKAF now sets its sights on the semi-finals, with their next match to be live-streamed on Forces News TV YouTube channel. While they await to see who they’ll be facing, one thing is clear: after three very different victories in the group stages, including this record-setting win, UKAF are surely a team everyone else will want to avoid.

For the UK Armed Forces Rugby team, the tournament has thus far been a magnificent display of team strategy and individual performances, leaving fans and competitors alike in awe of their prowess on the rugby field.

Lt Cdr Jim Gallagher RN

UKAF Rugby Communications