The New Zealand team members playing in the first International Defence Rugby Competition come from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, and they're gathered at the Devonport Naval Base, Philomel, enjoying the sunshine and sea views between training sessions.
The competition brings together 12 defence force teams from nine different countries - including China, Tonga and Papua New Guinea - and kicks off in Australia before coming to New Zealand for the semis and final (see side bar).
Craig Moore and Jay Culhane are members of the New Zealand Defence Force team and they're confident the fit young squad will make it through to the finals, being played here in Auckland.
Craig's been based at Whenuapai airbase for two years where he works as a Hercules and Boeing aircraft technician. The 26-year-old lock, who's been playing rugby since he was 5, says he's looking forward to the three-week long competition.
"Hopefully we'll be coming back here and winning the final. It would be nice going to watch the All Blacks in their final, knowing we'd had a win in ours."
Jay, 26, is based at Philomel where he's a leading diver at the Royal New Zealand Navy dive school. The lose-forward thinks the New Zealanders' fiercest competition will be the British army and navy teams.
"They are semi-professional, they sell out Twickenham when they play," he says.
"We've got a bye in the first round so we'll be able to check out the competition and work on our tactics."
Craig says though most of the team have only just met each other, there's a natural camaraderie that comes from being in the services.
"We've already got that discipline instilled in us so there's no mucking around in training and there's a lot of respect. In saying that, the other teams we're coming up against will have that advantage too."
The Kiwi squad of 29 was selected following a recent inter-services tournament and the team will play its first game on October 5 in Sydney against the UK's Royal Air Force.
Team manager Ross James says it's been a challenge to get everyone off work for a month of rugby and the players have shown huge commitment.
"This is the inaugural cup so there are a lot of unknowns but we imagine the British and South African teams are going to be strong.''
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