UKAF v Belgium is the Remembrance match for 2026. The UK Armed Forces face Belgium at Kingsholm on Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November, with kick-off at 7.45pm. Head coach Lt Col Tim Osman has named Capt Jarrard Hayler RM as captain. Bdr Pete Austin, PO Ben Chambers and Flt Lt Kieran Forbes are 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. Three players will win their first UKAF caps. 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.
Belgium arrive in form
Belgium are new opponents for UKAF, and they come to Gloucester on a winning run. Laurent Dossat’s side have won their last four Tests. Most recently, they beat Hong Kong China 27-17 in Brussels on 31 October.
Earlier this year, Belgium finished fifth in the Rugby Europe Championship. After defeats to Portugal and Romania, they beat Germany 18-3, the Netherlands 38-15 and Switzerland 39-16. That win over Germany stands out, because Germany beat UKAF 29-24 at Kingsholm last November. In addition, Belgium held Samoa to a 13-13 draw at the final Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament in November 2025.
Unsurprisingly, UKAF expect a stern test. “Belgium are a tough, tough opposition,” said UKAF Director of Rugby Lt Col Ben Birkbeck. “They are a very good side.”
UKAF form and preparation
UKAF go into the match on the back of a win. After last year’s narrow defeat to Germany, they beat a North of England Select XV 42-26 at Military vs Cancer 2026 in Doncaster in July.
Many of the squad are also coming off a big Inter-Services season. The Royal Navy won back-to-back titles for the first time since 1974, beating the Army 41-36 at Twickenham. Meanwhile, the Army beat the Royal Air Force 38-20 at Kingsholm, so several players already know the ground well.
Preparation for Belgium has been thorough. Last week, the squad watched England train at Pennyhill Park. The next day, England head coach Steve Borthwick and defence coach Joe El-Abd coached them at Sandhurst. As a result, the players go into the match with fresh ideas and plenty of confidence.
Hayler leads the UKAF team
Hayler captained UKAF against Germany last November and keeps the armband for Belgium. This year, the Royal Marines officer led the Royal Navy to those back-to-back Inter-Services titles. 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. Similarly, Forbes brings tournament experience, having scored a hat-trick against Tonga at the same championship.
Up front, 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 Nayalo brings Championship experience from more than 120 games for Coventry.
In the backs, Will Rigelsford and Jack Johnson are the half-backs. Rigelsford plays for London Scottish this season. In midfield, Penaia Tagutu of Doncaster Knights partners Kelly. Finally, Roper and Freddy Elliott start on the wings, with Chambers at full-back. Elliott scored in the Royal Navy’s win at Twickenham in May.
UKAF team to face Belgium
- 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).
On the bench, Vereti adds Championship experience from Nottingham. Hanley, the Royal Navy’s goal-kicker, provides cover at fly-half.
Belgium team
Winger Dazzy Cornez captains Belgium. He plays his club rugby in France for RC Aubenas Vals.
- Jannes Hofman
- Julien Masure
- Samuel Opsomer
- Maurice Fromont
- Dries De Keyser
- Flor Van Den Bussche
- Jacques Genin
- Paul Gerard
- Julien Berger
- Marius Dehoust
- Dazzy Cornez (c)
- Lindberg John Ekendahl
- Romain Goutiere
- Miguel Fachada
- Martin Marenne
Replacements: 16 Malik Hakem, 17 Lucas Rassinfosse, 18 Luka Pringier, 19 Clément Flambart, 20 Mathieu Hautier, 21 Lucas Michiels, 22 Curtis Moucheron, 23 Michael Vanlierde.
Remembrance at Kingsholm
This is UKAF’s annual Remembrance match, played on Armistice Day. The evening includes a Service of Remembrance before kick-off. The squad also 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.
Looking ahead, the match is also part of UKAF’s build-up to the International Defence Rugby Championship in Australia in 2027.
UKAF Rugby would like to thank match sponsors Dell Technologies and AMD for supporting the Remembrance match, as well as the club’s principal sponsor, Vodafone.
How to watch and get tickets
UKAF v Belgium kicks off at 7.45pm on Wednesday 11 November at Kingsholm. It is shown live on Premier Sports and BFBS, and free worldwide on the UKAF Rugby YouTube channel.
Better still, come and support the team in person. Tickets cost no more than £5, with concessions available, and you can also buy them at Kingsholm on the night. Get your tickets here.