The big Six Nations rugby union clash between England and France is to have a curtain-raiser in the shape of a match slugged out beforehand by players representing the respective navies.

The Americans were gearing up for their Golden Gloves contest, and asked the sailors and Royal Marines to spar with them at the world-famous Gleeson’s Gym – used by greats such as George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, and Muhammed Ali.

Fresh from a half-million pound overhaul, bosses at the verdant Southwick Park Naval Recreation Centre are hoping even more sailors will make use of its facilities.

HMS Collingwood gym will host this year’s RN Boxing Cup Championships on February 24.

The Navy’s rugby league side went down fighting in the third round of the GMB Union National Cup, the sport’s top amateur knock-out competition.