RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

HMS Dragon Rucking and Roaring on the Rock 

The HMS Dragon rugby team dusted off their boots and ran out for their first game of rugby in 2 years whilst deployed in the Mediterranean. They played at the new fantastic facility at Europa Point, Gibraltar against the Royal Gibraltar Regiment (RGR). The teams had never played each-other before and both had a long lay-off due to the pandemic with minimal training time. Expectations for a fast-paced skilful game were not the highest to begin with!

However, the critics were wrong. The first 20 mins was all action. Dragon brought the intensity from the outset. Driven by the crowd’s cheers, they used the wide 4G pitch to their benefit drawing their opponents out to the widths before AB Jake Wells claimed the first try with a great running line up the middle. Wells added the conversion.  

The game intensified with some surging runs, big hits and even some handbags thrown in for good measure! After some back and forth between the teams, Man of the match AB Riglesford went over for Dragon’s second try with a sniping run from scrum half.  Conversion added by Wells. 

Momentum remained with Dragon, with some great performances from both young and old. A penalty try and a further score from AB ‘Taff’ Llewellyn completed the scoring for Dragon. Taff displaying his dancing feet and great power to get over the line. RGR managed a try of their own before the final whistle after some strong defence from Dragon.  

All in all a great victory for Dragon and a very good standard of game all things considering. After the match the teams traded some gifts and made the usual thank you speeches which further cemented a great relationship between RN ships and RGR.