The Amy Cokayne Column: RAF, new teammates & Shania Twain
In the third instalment of her Six Nations column, Amy Cokayne reflects on her RAF career and a week away from Red Roses camp
Wales week… but not for me! With the TikTok Women’s Six Nations moving into the new standalone window after the men’s championship, this fixture now clashed with the Inter-Services competition. I am serving in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and we play both the Royal Navy and the British Army for the crown of Inter-Service Champions.
The Navy fixture clashed with the Scotland game at the start of the Six Nations and the Army fixture clashed with the Wales game. The RFU and Midds (Simon Middleton) have always been really supportive of me playing for the RAF, as they know how much the RAF supports me and how much I want to play in the Inter-Services.
When I had the conversation with Midds, he was happy for me to miss the Wales game to represent the RAF, but I was under strict instructions to play hooker, as I’d previously played at fly half!
I owe a lot to the RAF. They not only support me as a full-time professional athlete, but they also helped me find the love of rugby again. Those close to me will remember how, in 2017, I struggled with rugby. Culminating in a loss to New Zealand in the World Cup final in Belfast, I felt lost. With uncertainty surrounding contracts, I decided it was best to step away from rugby and join the RAF, which ultimately couldn’t have worked out any better. And before you ask, no I’m not a pilot. I’m proud to say I’m a Provost (Police) Officer.
A NEW CAMP
Monday came around and I muted all the England WhatsApp groups ready to fully immerse myself into RAF camp. One of the biggest differences between the two camps is how I know the England girls so well. We spend weeks at a time together and my roommate Cath O’Donnell is my partner in crime. She knows how I’m feeling when I wake up purely based on how much I sing in the shower; those relationships don’t just form overnight.
Someone once said to me: “men need to battle on the pitch to bond off it; and women need to bond off the pitch to battle on it.” I was really keen to try and get to know my teammates in this new environment.
Tuesday was our first training day; in the morning we split forwards and backs. Forwards looked at line out options before the squad travelled to Leicester Tigers, where we did an opposed training session. We were able to do live scrums and line outs, and then some healthy grab team play. We were preparing for the Army game, and they were preparing for their Championship Semi Final against Old Albanians. The session was really good, despite being in the most horrendous conditions. It was wet, muddy and blowing a gale!
GAME DAY
The thing I love most about sport in the military is everyone has such different day jobs. We have Police, Personnel Support, Engineers, Logistics, Intelligence, RAF Regiment, Air Traffic Control, Nurses... the list goes on. Officially we are all different ranks, however, there’s no rank in sport. We are all just teammates. There were 9 of us that are in the RAF Police, so naturally we liked to think we were the best and had a police photo at every opportunity.
The game was hosted by Gloucester at Kingsholm. There was a good crowd in, and conditions were perfect. Right before the game we were all on our feet in a huddle belting out “Man! I feel like a woman!” by Shania Twain. Moments like that are priceless and something you can’t replicate anywhere else; made even sweeter when I found out the Army Captain was trying to do her pre match chat and all they could hear was us singing!
For the national anthem, I usually have to position myself at the end of the line to stand to attention. But for once I didn’t have to because everyone was stood to attention too! National anthems are always special moments, but it was a really proud moment to be able to sing it while representing the RAF.
The game itself couldn’t have started much better and we got an early eight points on the board. Unfortunately for me that’s where it all went downhill… As I was running to support the try, I felt my calf go (I tore my calf pretty bad last year and it felt the same). The forwards coach, who coincidentally is my dad, told me I was coming off. I pleaded with him to keep me on, but his reply was, “you’re a passenger.”
It took me back a bit as all I wanted to do was give my best for this team; however, he was right. Staying on wasn’t right for the team or me, but I couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling of letting people down.
When everyone left for the second half, I just broke down in tears in the changing room. Not because I was injured, but because I hadn’t been able to help the team in the way I wanted to. We ultimately lost the game, but for our young squad this kind of experience will be invaluable and we will be back again to give it another shot next year!
A special shoutout must go to Corporal Orla Proctor who I thought had an outstanding game. She’s only 20 years old and very, very, Scottish. I might not be able to understand a word she says but she’s good at rugby, so watch this space as we might see her in a different blue shirt very soon!
After the game we had a post-match meal and the 3 RAF internationals (Sarah Bonar, Carys Williams-Morris and me), had the opportunity to present our framed world cup shirts to the Chief of the Air Staff. This was a small token of appreciation for all the support they give us as elite athletes.
Hopefully the three Services can agree to move the dates of next year’s inter-services tournament to avoid any future clashes with the Women’s Six Nations. Carys, Bonar and I would all love to be involved in both competitions next year.
I’m gutted not to be able to play a part in the Ireland game, but I'll be supporting the team loud and proud, and I can't wait to cheer them on against Ireland at the weekend.
