True blue competition

FOR the 2026 ADF Rugby Union Championships, women from Air Force and Navy joined forces to become a combined Two Blues team that competed against Army women in two games on days 1 and 3 of the competition.

Army won both games, with neither side willing to surrender momentum. Army brought physicality and pressure, but the Two Blues responded with courage, skill and discipline.

Two Blues co-head coach FLTLT Daniel Beames said considering the limited preparation time they had as a full team, the Two Blues women shone on the field.

“Their effort demonstrated not only athletic ability, but also the pride and spirit that comes from serving and competing together as one team,” FLTLT Beames said.

Co-captain LS Teresia Horrocks said while the scoreboard didn’t reflect the performance of the Two Blues, the team demonstrated teamwork and dedication.

“The game was a fantastic showcase of women’s ADF rugby, and the strong bond shared between us,” LS Horrocks said.

The camaraderie within the squad was notable. In less than a week, players from the two services trained, competed and came together as one team, forming strong connections on and off the field throughout the championships in Brisbane.

Air Force men also went down in both of their matches against Navy and Army respectfully, but not without a fight. This put them in good stead for their final game, an invitational match against local club team West Bulldogs, which they won 36-31.

The match also strengthened Air Force Rugby Union’s connection with the local rugby community and enabled players to showcase their abilities in a competitive environment.

Air Force men’s coach FSGT Zac Studders praised the performance of the team.

“The culture we’ve developed over the last three years is one of our biggest strengths, and the new players who came into the squad this year picked up on that very quickly,” FSGT Studders said.

“That culture was on full display in the way the team performed.”