Welsh Guardsmen preparing to provide the guard of honour for the international women’s rugby match at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay, were surprised this week when they unexpectedly met the Welsh team arriving for a practice session.

Sgt Pete Duffy, who comes from Llandudno Junction and who was in charge of the Guardsmen said: “The lads were surprised at the arrival of the girls and were delighted to have met them. They all had a good laugh and passed a rugby ball about, that’s when we saw how good the girls are.

At one stage fly half Elinor Snowshill, tried on one of the Guardsmen’s bearskins, Pete added: “I think she looked quite becoming in it, but I can’t imagine what the French girls would think if they saw her.”

“We were practising the drill for the guard of honour for both the Welsh and French teams. We will be standing at attention when the girls come on the field at the start of the match. But after that you can imagine who we will all be rooting for.”

All the soldiers come from North Wales.