MILITARY RUGBY was represented at the Women’s Rugby World Cup by the likes of the RAF’s Amy Cokayne and Sarah Bonar, and Army Guardsman Manuqalo Komaitai, who turned out for Fiji. But a whole lot more serving personnel could be seen on English playing fields as the second Women’s International Defence Rugby Competition (IDRC) took place in late summer.
IDRC 2025 was an eight-team tournament, with the UK, Ireland, France, Australia, Fiji, Tonga and Zambia being joined by a scratch Vodafone LooseHeadz side to provide two equal pools. All the teams stayed at Sandhurst and travelled to clubs in the region.
Zambia were the outlier. In the land of short holidays, USA players couldn’t take three weeks’ leave to participate. But Mark Drown, head of the charity USA Military Rugby,…