Army Senior Women teammates will be putting camaraderie aside this weekend when they go head-to-head in the Premier 15s.
Capt Gemma Rowland (Bristol Bears) and Bdr Bethan Dainton (Harlequins) will be vying for bragging rights within the Royal Artillery, too, when their two teams face off at Shaftesbury Park on Saturday afternoon (KO 14:00).
With Capt Alexandra Eddie (QARANC) also in the Harlequins match day squad there is plenty of interest from a red shirt perspective.
It will be a challenge for Bristol, who have struggled for results over recent weeks, as Harlequins head down the M4 needing a win to maintain their second-place position in the league table.
Elsewhere in the Premier 15s there is Army representation in the tie of the round, SSgt Sarah Mitchelson (RLC) on Wasps’ bench for their trip to Loughborough, a match which can be watched live via www.Premier15s.com
Loughborough and Wasps sit third and fourth respectively in the table, but it is the Lightning who have more winning momentum behind them having been unbeaten since mid-December. Wasps remain in contention, however, albeit with a couple of results having gone against them in recent weeks.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 14:00.
In the Premiership Pte Ratu ‘Siva’ Naulago (Yorks) keeps his place as Bristol Bears men make three changes for Sunday’s trip to Northampton Saints (KO 15:00).
Bristol’s recent road form has been excellent, with only three defeats away from Ashton Gate since August 2020, and all of them were against Wasps! Furthermore, with Bristol unbeaten in the last five rounds of Premiership action and top of the table, confidence will be high heading to the home of the Saints.
Northampton turned a corner against Sale last weekend, shrugging off two successive defeats to overcome a Sharks outfit packed with international experience, and with both teams renowned for their running this is one not to be missed! Tune in to watch on BT Sport 1.
There are two more Army Senior Men playing in the Championship this weekend.
Tonight (Friday), Gunner Senitiki Nayalo (7 Para RHA) is on the Coventry bench for their tough challenge against table-topping Ealing Trailfinders, who head to Butts Park Arena having scored more than 100 points in their opening two matches and conceding just the nine.
Gunner Nayalo came off the bench in Round 2’s one-point loss at Doncaster, which left Coventry mid-table with a one-and-one win/loss record.
On Sunday, Cpl Lewis Bean (Rifles) is part of an unchanged Bedford Blues team which heads to Penzance to play Cornish Pirates (KO 12:30).
Bedford shrugged off their opening day blues to see off Hartpury in Round 2, but they face the toughest of trips to play a Pirates outfit which is both unbeaten and still on a high from beating Saracens on opening day.
Both of the Championship matches can be watched live via www.championshiprugby.co.uk/live-streams
