Vice-captain Nye to start her first IDRC game

Exeter Chiefs’ Lucy Nye will make her first appearance in an International Defence Rugby Competition (IDRC) tournament when she runs out for the UK Armed Forces (UKAF).

The scrum-half, who usually plays for the RAF when not with Chiefs, was called up to the combined squad ahead of what is the forces’ equivalent of a world cup. She has also been named as UKAF’s vice-captain.

Nye will start tomorrow’s game against Tonga at Esher RFC (KO 13:00).

She said: “I’m super excited for the IDRC to start. I feel proud to be a part of such a huge tournament that is going to really grow the game and put women’s rugby in the military on the map!

“Starting and being vice-captain for the opening game is an honour and I’m sure Tonga will give us a physical game.”

There are eight teams in the tournament, split into two pools representing Australia, Fiji, France, Ireland, Tonga, UK, Zambia and an invitational side, known as the Vodafone Looseheadz.

The UKAF will play Ireland in round two at Basingstoke RFC on August 21 (KO 16:00) and Zambia at Aldershot on August 25 (KO 13:00). The semi-finals will be played on the weekend of August 29/30 and the final on September 3 at Kingsholm (KO 14:00).

Tickets for all IDRC games are available here.

UKAF’s team v Tonga

15 Jaz Abel
14 Daisy Aspinall
13 Jade Mullen (c)
12 Rebecca Defilippo
11 Kim Grundy
10 Daisy Fahey
9 Lucy Nye (vc)
1 Sarah Batley
2 Rae Metters
3 Sophie Benavent
4 Heidi Silcox
5 Amy Reynolds
6 Chantelle Miller
7 Rowan Sinclair
8 Bethan Dainton

Replacements:
16 Becky Wilson
17 Elise Fletcher
18 Holly Beacom
19 Tyler Lewis
20 Ellie Brightwell
21 Sam West
22 Millie Williams
23 Courtney Pursglove