The French Women’s Rugby Club de la Marine Nationale (RCMN) 2-week rugby tour to Australia culminate

The French Women’s Rugby Club de la Marine Nationale (RCMN) 2-week rugby tour to Australia culminated at Victoria Barracks on Friday, with a thrilling 39-21 victory against the Royal Australian Navy Rugby Union (RANRU) women's side.

The two teams were playing for the inaugural Admiral's Cup.

The aim of the match was to solidify the passion and common beliefs the two nations share, and take the mutual cooperation between both Navies onto the rugby field. While there is a history of competition between the men's sides, this was the first, and certainly not the last, between the two women's teams. From today onwards the Admiral's Cup will be played between either the men or the women, in Australia or France.

The quality of the match didn't disappoint, with both teams leaving nothing on the field. It was a fast and hard hitting game with impressive skills on display from both nations. Player of the Match, Leading Seaman Shannon Evans, reflected on the experience and what it meant to her to wear the Navy blue.

“It is always such an honour putting on the Navy jersey, and it meant so much more to run out on an international stage.”

“The French were tough, but I believe our defence stuck together and put the pressure we needed on them. They were good in the scrums which hurt us a bit, but I think collectively as a team we gave it everything we could.”