RAF Treated French Clash As 'Third Inter Services Match'

The Royal Air Force rugby union captain says they treated the French Air Force "as a third Inter Services match".

Lance Corporal Daniel Johnson was speaking after the RAF’s 22-14 ‘Le Crunch’ win.

Before the match, I said 'We can treat this as a third Inter Services match', with the intensity that we played at," he said.

"It’s good experience, especially for the new boys that are coming through and haven’t got a cap yet."

The RAF fielded a number of younger players in their squad, but LCpl Johnson says the team was keen not to let that affect them.

"It’s always a hard thing but at the same time, we’ve had a couple of weeks together.

"We’ve said to ourselves to not make that excuse. Let’s get out and put the performance in and we did."

The RAF will play in the opening fixture of this year’s Inter Services Championships in April when they travel to Gloucester to face the Army.

However, a new training schedule means the RAF team will have more time than ever to prepare which pleases the captain.

He said: "I think it’s been an issue in the past to come together for two or three days.

"That wasn’t long enough, but the new system we have in place now seems to be paying off."