Head coach Lt Col Tim Osman has named the UKAF team to face Belgium at Kingsholm on Wednesday 11 November. Capt Jarrard Hayler RM captains the side for his second Remembrance fixture. Meanwhile, Bdr Pete Austin, PO Ben Chambers and Flt Lt Kieran Forbes are named as vice-captains.
The 23 is drawn from all three services: 11 players from the British Army, 10 from the Royal Navy and 2 from the Royal Air Force. The squad prepared at Sandhurst last week, where they also trained with England’s coaches.
Three players will win their first UKAF caps against Belgium. Capt Frank Kelly and LCpl Levi Roper of the British Army start at centre and on the wing, while Lt Cdr Dec Johnson of the Royal Navy starts in the second row.
Hayler leads UKAF v Belgium
Hayler captained UKAF against Germany last November and keeps the armband for Belgium. This year, the Royal Marines officer led the Royal Navy to back-to-back Inter-Services titles, their first since 1974. He plays his club rugby for Plymouth Albion.
He is backed by a vice-captain from each service. Austin captains the British Army and plays for Rams RFC. Chambers has won 12 UKAF caps and took bronze at the 2023 International Defence Rugby Championship. Forbes scored a hat-trick against Tonga at the same tournament.
The pack
Tam Lindsay, Austin and Dom Cleverley form the front row. Behind them, Alex Hayton and Dec Johnson pair up in the second row. Matt Dawson, Hayler and Senitiki Nayalo complete the back row.
Dawson has 11 UKAF caps and scored against both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force this year. Nayalo brings Championship experience from Coventry, where he has played more than 120 games.
The backs
Will Rigelsford and Jack Johnson are the half-backs. Rigelsford plays for London Scottish this season. In midfield, Levi Roper partners Frank Kelly.
Penaia Tagutu of Doncaster Knights and Freddy Elliott start on the wings, with Chambers at full-back. Tagutu scored twice in the Army’s win over the RAF in May. Elliott scored in the Royal Navy’s win over the Army at Twickenham in May.
UKAF team sheet
- LH Tam Lindsay (Royal Navy)
- Bdr Pete Austin (British Army) (vc)
- LH Dom Cleverley (Royal Navy)
- Cpl Alex Hayton (Royal Air Force)
- Lt Cdr Dec Johnson (Royal Navy)
- SSgt Matt Dawson (British Army)
- Capt RM Jarrard Hayler (Royal Navy) (c)
- LBdr Senitiki Nayalo (British Army)
- AB Will Rigelsford (Royal Navy)
- LCpl Jack Johnson (British Army)
- Cfn Penaia Tagutu (British Army)
- Capt Frank Kelly (British Army)
- LCpl Levi Roper (British Army)
- Mne Freddy Elliott (Royal Navy)
- PO Ben Chambers (Royal Navy) (vc)
Replacements: 16 PO Chris Mills (Royal Navy), 17 PO Kye Beasley (Royal Navy), 18 Gnr Sitiveni Vasuturaga (British Army), 19 LCpl Kody Vereti (British Army), 20 Flt Lt Kieran Forbes (Royal Air Force) (vc), 21 LBdr Drew Davison (British Army), 22 LCpl Mikey McDonald (British Army), 23 LH Jake Hanley (Royal Navy).
The 23 brings together players from all three services: 11 from the British Army, 10 from the Royal Navy and 2 from the Royal Air Force.
UKAF coaching and support staff
Head coach Lt Col Tim Osman leads the coaching team. A former Army and UKAF representative, he won four Royal Artillery Corps Championship titles in five years as a coach. He also guided the Army Senior Men’s XV to victories over France and the US Military, and to the Inter-Services Championship in 2024.
Like the players, the staff come from all three services. Together, they have prepared the squad at their training camp at Sandhurst.
- Director of Rugby: Lt Col Ben Birkbeck (British Army)
- Head Coach: Lt Col Tim Osman (British Army)
- Team Manager: Flt Lt Aidan Duffy (Royal Air Force)
- Attack Coach: Lt Cdr Andy Vance (Royal Navy)
- Set-Piece Coach: Flt Lt Dave Manning (Royal Air Force)
- Strength and Conditioning Coach: SSgt Conor Holmes (British Army)
- Defence Coach: PO Ben Priddey (Royal Navy)
- Team Doctor: Sqn Ldr Steve Case-Upton (Royal Air Force)
- Physio: Sqn Ldr Ellen Slungaard (Royal Air Force)
- Physio: Capt Rory Hannan (British Army)
Match officials
The match officials also come from the services.
- Referee: Capt Iain Kiy (British Army)
- Assistant Referee 1: Lt Michael Todd (British Army)
- Assistant Referee 2: Flt Lt Mike Gray (Royal Air Force)
- 4th Official: Wg Cdr Fraser Gray (Royal Air Force)
- 5th Official: Sqn Ldr Del Tickner (Royal Air Force)
How to watch UKAF v Belgium
Can’t make it to Kingsholm? You can still watch every minute live. The match is shown on three channels:
- Premier Sports: live in the UK for subscribers.
- BFBS: live for service personnel and their families overseas.
- UKAF Rugby YouTube channel: free to watch anywhere in the world. Watch the live stream here.
How to get your ticket
Nothing beats being there, though. A big crowd makes a real difference to the players on a night like this. Tickets cost no more than £5, with concessions available. You can book now through Gloucester Rugby. Get your tickets here.
Left it late? Tickets are also available at Kingsholm on the night, at the same prices. Kick-off is at 7.45pm on Wednesday 11 November at Kingsholm Stadium, Kingsholm Road, Gloucester, GL1 3AX.
This is UKAF’s Remembrance match, and the squad plays in memory of those no longer with us. Come and support them.