Kneller Hall, two matches run in parallel, the ever-increasing crowd on top of the play. Twickenham, 82,000 partisan fans and the Armed Forces most significant sporting event. Army Navy Day in South West London and the 97 th edition of this fearsome sporting rivalry. Between Kneller Hall and 15:00 the car parks of the stadium host the biggest Service reunion of the year. The raucous banter drowns out the forgotten match. With a 12:00 kick off the fourth match that takes place on Army Navy day, sees the best of the Combined Services’ U23s take on the combined Oxford and Cambridge University U23s. This year, having missed out on refereeing t...
With Twickenham likely to be sold out and with Kneller Hall providing a bear pit environment, the 97 th Army Navy match preceded by the Women and the Veterans promises to be another compelling day of rugby. Once more the Army will be favourites in all three games but then that is what makes sport so compelling. It is now four years since the Navy tasted success, but last season’s opening quarter at Twickenham showed that fortune favours the brave and the three Royal Navy sides must take the field with a determination to take the match to the Army, to be bold and to be fearless.
Dale Sleeman celebrates after opening the scoring last season and getting the Navy o...
Following the very successful day of rugby at HMS Temeraire and US Portsmouth on Wed 23 Apr 14, the Royal Navy Rugby Union not only ended the day with three wins from three, but also awarded three players their first cap. Emily Park, Stacey Hargrave and Eldon Myers became the latest players to receive their velvet cap from the Union’s President, Vice Admiral Phil Jones CB.
The Women players have only been eligible for caps since 2011; with the two new inductees there are now nineteen capped players in the select group. Emily ‘Peanut’ Park became the eighteenth member of the club with Stacey Hargrave becoming number nineteen.
This season, Emily has capt...
As is now tradition on the eve of the Royal Navy v Royal Air Force matches the Life Members of the Royal Navy Rugby Union, along with Vice Presidents and sponsors met for their annual dinner at the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Before dinner the Senior XV squad joined the guests and today’s playing team were presented with their match jerseys. The jerseys were presented by Rugby Football Union President, Bob Reeves, and RFU Chairman, Bill Beaumont, the principle guests for the evening. As a former Grand Slam winning captain Bill, it was thought, would need no introduction, however, it soon became apparent amongst the younger, current playing generation, Bill is better remember...
For the first twenty five minutes of their opening 2014 Inter Service match, the Mariners produced a brand of rugby that was full of intensity, movement, support play and continuity. For the next fifty five they fail to deliver on this early promise, although they continued strong in defence. The Mariners deserved their 27-15 win because of their opening play. However as they now look towards Kneller Hall, they need to make sure that Mr Hyde is not available to travel.
Unlike the RAF v Army veterans match last week, the game started in a bright fashion with both sides looking to move the ball and probe each other’s defences. An early penalty conceded for ...
