First-ever foes: Army women to face Canadian Armed Forces in historic rugby curtain-raiser

The British Army women's rugby team will feature in a landmark fixture as they tackle the Canadian Armed Forces women for the first time.

The Army faced the touring Canada women's under-21s side as part of the home team's Inter Services preparations at Aldershot last season – the junior Canuks won that encounter 58-10.

Now, the Army can test themselves against their Canadian counterparts at the TD Place Stadium in Ottawa on 23 October.

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The military clash is the official curtain-raiser ahead of the international showdown between old adversaries Canada Women and England's Red Roses.

England are the reigning world champions after they beat Canada 33-13 in the final at Twickenham last year.

In their most recent clash, Canada ended the Red Roses' 39-match winning run as the two teams shared a thrilling 26-26 draw at Sandy Park, Exeter, last weekend.