England head coach Steve Borthwick coached the UKAF squad at Sandhurst on Thursday 5 November. He was joined by England assistant coach Joe El-Abd. The session came as UKAF prepare for the Remembrance fixture against Belgium at Kingsholm on Wednesday 11 November.
A day with England at Pennyhill Park
The visit followed a day with the national squad. On Wednesday, the UKAF players watched England train at Pennyhill Park, just five minutes down the road. First, they spent three hours observing how England set up and ran their day. After lunch, they watched a full session. They were then invited onto the pitch to watch the scrummaging work.
“We spent a good three hours just watching the way they were doing their business,” said UKAF Director of Rugby Lt Col Ben Birkbeck. “How they set up, the psychology behind the way they do things and the way they run it. We were very, very fortunate. Very privileged as well.”
© Jarrad Hulm
Steve Borthwick and UKAF: energy and detail
On Thursday, Borthwick and El-Abd led the session themselves at Sandhurst. Borthwick was down on the floor demonstrating ruck presentation, including the long present and the long snap.
“He’s the national coach, and he brings that extra bit of energy,” said Birkbeck. “Of course, you’re going to raise your game for who he is.”
Interestingly, the players said the content itself was familiar. Instead, the difference lay in how it was done.
“It’s the difference in the pace and the level of detail they go into,” he said. “That’s the difference between the international, the Premiership, the Championship and a Saturday afternoon player.”
© Jarrad Hulm
Building towards IDRC 2027
This year’s camp has a different focus. Last year, the theme was Remembrance and those no longer with us. This year, the squad is also looking ahead to the International Defence Rugby Championship in Australia in 2027.
Before the team work began, the camp focused on the individual. A behavioural psychologist worked with the players earlier in the week. As a result, they explored who they are as elite sportsmen and as service personnel.
“The boys did a fair bit of soul searching and asked some really hard questions of themselves,” said Birkbeck. “If you know who you are, you know what you can bring to the team.”
© Jarrad Hulm
Remembrance at Kingsholm
Belgium are new opponents for UKAF after two fixtures against Germany. Birkbeck expects a stern test. “Belgium are a tough, tough opposition,” he said. “They are a very good side.”
However, the fixture means far more than the result. The squad still wears the number 12 on their shirts in memory of Steff Rees. He died while representing UKAF at the 2023 International Defence Rugby Championship in France.
“It is poignant,” said Birkbeck. “It is poignant to us all.”
UKAF v Belgium kicks off at 7.45pm on Wednesday 11 November at Kingsholm. It will be shown live on Premier Sports and BFBS TV for those serving abroad, as well as free worldwide on the UKAF Rugby YouTube channel. Get your tickets here.