"Stand to Attention" 5 Rugby Stars in the Armed Forces

The Army v Navy showdown is the final match on the calendar, and will take place on May 13th at Twickenham Stadium.

Despite this being an amateur tournament on paper, the matches are of the highest quality, and often feature professional rugby players within the ranks of each squad.

Here are the five internationally capped rugby players, who also serve in the Army, Navy or the RAF.

Lance Corporal Semesa Rokoduguni is arguably the most recognisable player to have worn the famous red of the Army rugby team. The versatile back has lit up the Gallagher Premiership for the past decade, having spent 10 years with Bath and making over 150 appearances. The 35-year-old also achieved international recognition with England, making four caps between 2014 and 2017.

Rokoduguni made his international debut in England's Stuart Lancaster era, as he took on the All Blacks in the Autumn series. Upon making this achievement, the winger became the first serving Army soldier to play for England since hard-hitting back-rower Tim Rodber in 1999. Rokoduguni has made 13 Senior XV Army caps, and has represented the coveted UK Armed Forces three times, who are the equivalent of the British Lions to the services.

'Rocco' has seen frontline service, as a tank driver and gunner in Iraq and Afghanistan. He currently serves with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, who through the Royal Scots Greys, are the oldest surviving Cavalry Regiment of the Line in the British Army. After leaving Bath at the end of last season, Rokoduguni has stepped away from Army rugby duties, and is playing his rugby in France's D2 division. He signed for US Montauban, who are based in Occitania region of Southern France.

Flight Lieutenant Amy Cokayne took a brief break from her Red Roses commitments this past weekend, to represent the Royal Air Force Women against the Army Women. Cokayne's England teammates got the job done against Wales, in the third round of the 2023 Women's Six Nations, with the hooker personifying how being a member of the Armed Forces takes precedence over any other commitments.

Cokayne moved over to New Zealand with her family at the age of nine. Cokayne's father joined the New Zealand RAF, and she was sure to follow in his footsteps upon returning to the UK. Amy had the choice to play for the Black Ferns in 2013, yet playing for England was the only option for the 26-year-old, who was selected for the Red Roses U20s set-up the following year.

Amy has since gone on to make 71 appearances for England, since her first team debut in 2015. She continued to impress and when the England Women became a professional outfit in January 2019, Cokayne was offered a full-time contract with the Red Roses, and has gone on to win four Women's Six Nations Grand Slams. Cokayne also currently plays for Harlequins in the Allianz Premier 15s, and scored twice in the final against Saracens, when Quins won their first title in 2021.

Having grown up in Cornwall, rugby and the Royal Navy came hand-in-hand for Able Rate (Supply Chain) Sam Matavesi. His father moved to Cornwall from Fiji, and brought up his family in Truro and Camborne. Sam soon joined up with the Navy, and is stationed at RNAS Culdrose on the Cornish Lizard Point.

During his time in the services, Matavesi enjoyed three seasons with Plymouth Albion in Devon, and later returned to his home county and signed with the Cornish Pirates. Matavesi has gone on to shine on rugby's brightest stages, achieving his break with a short-term loan to Toulouse in 2019. This led to the versatile forward winning the 2019 Top 14 title, and earning himself a spot in the Fiji squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

This top-tier exposure led to Matavesi being promptly picked up by Northampton Saints, where he has become a predominant feature at hooker. The 31-year-old has now enjoyed four seasons at Franklin's Gardens, having made 63 appearances and scoring nine tries.

Matavesi returns to the Navy each year for the inter-services competition, and has on four occassions battled against the Army for the Babcock Trophy at Twickenham Stadium. Despite playing hooker for Saints, Matavesi is the first choice number eight for the Royal Navy, and was named UK Armed Forces Sportsman of the Year award in 2020. Matavesi is looking to represent Fiji in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, this coming September, with hopes of an upcoming return to France.

Flying Officer Carys Williams-Morris is apart of the Air Forces' Elite Athlete Scheme, and upon return to the service, she is based at RAF Cosford. The winger has played for both England and Wales, firstly starring for the Red Roses on five occasions between 2018 and 2019.

The 29-year-old made the change from white to red, and made her debut for Wales in 2022 following World Rugby's eligibility rule changes. Williams-Morris is currently competing for Wales in the 2023 Women's Six Nations, but like Amy Cokayne, she prioritised her RAF commitments and stepped out for last weekend's Wales v England match in Cardiff.

Williams-Morris featured in the inter-services competition for the first time last season, and put in stand-out performances against the Navy and the Army. Williams-Morris is currently playing for Loughborough Lightning in the Allianz Premier 15s, who are currently eighth in the table. Lightning are having a difficult season by their high standards, with just four wins in 14 matches. They are eagerly awaiting Carys' return from the RAF and Wales, to build towards a strong finish to the season.

Staff Sergeant Jade Mullen is the Captain of the Army Women's side, with the 2023 inter-services competition being her second year at the reigns. Jade is an experienced back who was proven abilities across the back-line, but shines brightest at centre.

The 31-year-old has previously played for Harlequins Women in the Allianz Premier 15s, as well as International representation with Wales. Mullen joined Quins ahead of the 2018/19 season, and made her Wales debut on the 2021 sevens circuit. She has since been called up into the 42-player training group for Wales Women, as they venture into the inaugural Celtic Challenge competition, against Ireland and Scotland.

Mullen led the Army to the 2022 Inter-Service Championship, with the crowning match being a historic moment for women's services sport. Last season, the Army defeated the Royal Navy with the match being held at Twickenham Stadium for the very first time. Mullen has achieved a monumental 27 senior caps for the Army, as well as nine appearances in the Women's UK Armed Forces side.