Royal Navy Rugby Women ready to help break a world record

Yvonne and Hannah (second and fourth from left) awarded their caps in France
Yvonne Mealy in action against the RAF Women 20 April 2018
Yvonne with the ball, Hannah supporting against the RAF April 2018
Kirsty brushes off the RAF Women April 2018

Three players from the Royal Navy Rugby Union Women's team will be helping their local team, Yeovil RFC, as they aim to break a world record - for the longest ever continuous rugby match this Saturday, 19 May at Yeovil RFC

Following on from their recent participation in the Inter Service Rugby Competition 2018 Yvonne Mealey, Hannah Cole and Kirsty Marlor (all serving at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton) will be giving up their free time to support a charity fund raising event.  Both Hannah and Yvonne won their first representative caps for the Royal Navy this season, firstly playing in the annual match against their French Navy counterparts in Toulon in March and then facing up to both the Royal Air Force in April and the Army Women at the beginning of May.  Kirsty meanwhile is a stalwart of Navy Women's Rugby; with 10 caps to her name she has also held the title of Assistant Director of Women's Rugby for the RNRU.  The ladies will need to bring all their grit, determination, fitness and stamina with them this weekend when they will be attempting to complete the Longest Game of Rugby Union ever played, by competing for over 29 hours and 15 minutes! The attempt has been organised by Yeovil Rugby Club and the event is aiming to raise money for the Yeovil Hospital Breast Cancer unit. If you would like to sponsor the players, please use the Just Giving link or if you are free, go along to support them at Yeovil Rugby Club, Church Lane, Dorchester Road, Yeovil BA22 9TR.  Kick off will be at 0800 and the game is expecting to finish around 1315 on Sunday afternoon. Alongside the game, there is a Festival of Women’s Sport and Fitness taking place. For more information, please go to the world record attempt Facebook page

We wish them all the best of luck!

Words: Kirsty Marlor
Images: Royal Navy Rugby Union © John Walton and Keith Woodland