Rugby with wings!

Editor

So, just how easy is it to make the grade as a services rugby player? We caught up with RAF Rugby Union team assistant coach Pete Taylor to find out how to get your RAF rugby wings…

So, just how easy is it to make the grade as a services rugby player? We caught up with RAF Rugby Union team assistant coach Pete Taylor to find out how to get your RAF rugby wings…

PR: Do people in the RAF tend to have specific qualities that make them good rugby players?

PT: The average Royal Air Force recruit wants to be the best they can be. The RAF rugby squad play rugby, not only because they love rugby, but also because they want to improve themselves and make people proud. What RAF personnel and good rugby players have in common is an endeavour to achieve great things. One of the great things for us was the massive feat of winning Inter-Services matches against the other Armed Forces' teams.

PR: Are they fit enough to play rugby?

PT: Obviously, every player is totally different, with different needs and abilities. We work closely with their civilian clubs so we can ask coaches: “How's his conditioning? “How's his fitness or his form?” We have a conditioning coach with us this week to assess where the players are with their fitness levels and, if required, we can change their diet and sleeping patterns. Ultimately, it isn't whether they're fit enough or not, it's identifying which areas individual players need to work on.

PR: Is it difficult juggling your career in the RAF and playing rugby?

PT: It can be difficult, but I manage. We find some of the younger lads struggle but we keep in touch with their line management. We also try to get the guys to do their out-of-area commitments, e.g. Falkland Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan, 'off season' if at all possible. All the work off the pitch, the admin work, is starting to show its worth. We are getting the players we want at the right time.

PR: Where are you based?

PT: RAF Wyton

PR: Do you have time to be part of a civilian team as well?

PT: I'm head coach for Bedford Athletic. I also have a wife and two kids, so it can be quite hard work!

PR: What's special about the RAF rugby team?

PT: I've been involved in RAF rugby since I joined 20 years ago. I started out as a Colt in the Under-19s team in 1988, progressed to the Under-21s and ultimately was selected for the RAF senior team and retained my place in the team for five years. Now I'm moving into a senior coaching role. Looking back, I've played at Twickenham and represented the RAF on major tours all around the world. When the lads and I look back on the life experiences the RAF has given us outside our normal work environment, that's what makes it special. As a team we really gel, and we all get a constant buzz out of it. Don't get me wrong, it's hard work and there are ups and downs, but generally it's exciting and challenging.

PR: When did you start playing rugby?

PT: When I was five I played for Scarborough Minis. My dad used to play a lot of rugby so I just followed him around and while I progressed through the age groups. When I was 17, just after I joined the RAF, I moved to Harrogate in Yorkshire, and played with the team there for 12 years. All I've ever known is rugby!

PR: What drives you?

PT: It's ever-changing. Two years ago, I got into coaching and sort of stopped playing. I still play on a Saturday for my club side, but realistically my challenge now is moving into the coaching arena and put in the work necessary to develop players. My aim is to carry on being involved in rugby as much as possible, keeping an eye of the objective of the RAF winning the Inter-Services Championship, whether it's this year, next year or the year after that.

PR: Who's going to win the Six Nations?

PT: I was going to stick my neck out at the beginning and say England will win – not with a Grand Slam though – but now I am not so sure. It's an exciting time though!


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