Army Rugby Union 'Going There To Win' Against French Army

Army rugby union head coach Major Burnie Burnard says his team is going to France "to win" on Friday.

The military team face the French Army in Toulouse, as their Inter Services preparations continue.

Maj Burnard has confirmed that the squad "will be tweaked" from the team that lost to Southern Nights in Melrose last week.

"These fixtures this year are all designed to be tougher than the fixtures we had last year," he said.

"The Southern Knights were a really strong outfit."

Maj Burnard led the Army to an Inter Services triumph in his first season at Twickenham Stadium in May, and revealed the secrets to his success.

"Services rugby is a privilege to be involved in and representative rugby is no different," he said.

"It’s a unique environment and what you need is people that are in form and completely confident in their own ability.

"More importantly, you need to be as strong as a team as you can be.

"It’s no good getting a load of individuals and not being a team because you won’t win.

"We’re working really hard to make it as strong as we can be."

The Army will follow up the French fixture with games against the British Police and Coventry.

They will also travel to Portugal for a warm-weather training camp and a fixture before returning for the Mobbs Memorial match.

Following that fixture against Northampton Saints, the Army’s Inter Services campaign will begin at Gloucester’s Kingsholm Stadium against the RAF.

Their season will conclude with the historic clash against the Navy at Twickenham on 2 May 2020, when the women's fixture will be held at the stadium for the first time.