UK Armed Forces 24 – 29 Germany

Germany come from behind to edge UKAF at Kingsholm

UK Armed Forces 24 – 29 Germany

UKAF v Germany: the UK Armed Forces led at half-time but were beaten 29–24 by the German national side in the annual Remembrance fixture at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester. Germany scored four second-half tries to complete a second successive win over UKAF.

This was a night for more than rugby. The UKAF players wore the number 12 embroidered on their shirts in memory of Stefan Rees, who wore that jersey when he lost his life representing UKAF at the International Defence Rugby Championship in France in 2023. The player of the match award was presented in his name. Before kick-off, both sides lined up for an act of remembrance and wreath-laying, followed by the national anthems.

Head coach Lt Col Tim Osman named a strong side, including six debutants and four-cap England winger Semesa Rokoduguni, who was making his first UKAF appearance. Jarrard Haylor captained the side from number 8. Before the game, Osman described the challenge ahead. UKAF had not beaten an international side since 1999, and his players wanted to change that.

A blistering start

UKAF were ahead almost immediately. Fly-half Jack Johnson found touch with a superb 50:22. From the lineout, the ball was moved left and Craig Duncan put Imi Qorowale over in the corner with barely two minutes played. Johnson converted from out wide to make it 7–0.

Germany answered with a clever set-piece move. After two driving mauls had softened up the UKAF defence, they peeled around the front of a lineout, and flanker Shaun Ingle powered over. The conversion was missed.

UKAF’s second try was the pick of the night. Qorowale lurked behind a scrum, and Jordan Gott’s pull-back pass sent him into a gap in midfield. Qorowale bounced off would-be tacklers and handed off the last defender to score. Johnson converted again.

Germany pressed hard before the break and came close twice. Hooker Andrew Reintges lost the ball over the line, and winger Felix Lammers was brought down by a tap tackle with the line at his mercy. UKAF went in 14–5 up.

Germany take control

The second half belonged to Germany. Their set piece and close-range carrying had been dangerous all evening, and UKAF’s discipline at the breakdown began to slip. Ingle picked and went for his second try, which Leo Wolf converted to cut the gap to 14–12. A run of German pressure on the line then ended with Wolf diving over himself. Shortly afterwards, Oliver Stein reached out through a ruck to score, and Wolf’s conversion made it 24–14.

UKAF responded. Their lineout maul, led by replacement hooker Rhys Williams, was dragged down illegally near the German line. The referee awarded a penalty try and showed a yellow card, bringing UKAF back to 24–21. But even with fourteen men, Germany struck again. Captain Justin Renc broke off the side of a maul and ran in almost unopposed.

Johnson kicked a late penalty to bring UKAF within a converted try at 29–24, and they had one last chance from a scrum. Germany’s defence held at the breakdown, though, and the final whistle confirmed their win.

© Luke Hastings

Stefan Rees Memorial Trophy

The player of the match award went to Imi Qorowale for his two first-half tries. The trophy was presented by Stefan’s father and by Angela Cross of the match sponsor. Qorowale’s tries took him to nine for UKAF, level with Ben Chambers at the top of the all-time try-scoring list.

The result went Germany’s way, but the evening was really about the people it remembered. UKAF return to Kingsholm November 2026 to face Belgium.

You can watch the match replay on the UKAF Rugby YouTube channel here.