A number of the Navy U23's were part of the Combined Services U23 team that beat Middlesex U23 52 - 12 at Aldershot on Sunday 17 April. Upfront SLt Tom Blackburn (HMS Sultan) moved across to the tighthead side having only on Wednesday won his first Senior XV cap as a loosehead. He was joined in the CS pack by AET Kyle Beasley (824NAAS, RNAS Culdrose), who played out of position in the second row. Both contributed significantly to a dominant display of driving rugby from the Combined Service pack that provided a first class platform from which the backline could shine.
Through the course of the game 5 Navy backs were on display. In the first half Navy wing, NA A...
The 2011 Inter Service Rugby competition finally got underway under blue skies at Newbury RFC with the opening fixture being the Mariners up against last seasons' Vets Champions the RAF Vultures. The squad were well prepared following a good training camp and although there were a few aches and pains, there were no injuries. This left head coach Lt Mick Connolly (CNR) with a few interesting decisions to deal with during selection.
The Mariners dominated from the kick-off, Justin Doney (820 NAS) took a great catch and made yardage to give Vice Captain Paul Clark (FLEET EDO), the first opportunity to put the Vultures under pressure in their own 22. From the Line Out, A c...
The first round of the 2011Inter Service Competition saw the RAF host the Royal Navy at Newbury RFC in Wednesday 13 April. The day has already seen success for the Royal Navy Rugby Union with an emphatic win by the Navy Mariners over the RAF Vultures 3-40. Unfortunately, the Navy Women were unable to repeat last year's win over the RAF losing 26-0.
This set the scene for the Royal Navy Senior XV to start their campaign to retain the Babcock Inter Service Trophy. The opening 20 minutes was a bruising affair as the RAF made it very clear that on their own ground they would be a force to be reckoned with. However, a well worked move following a lineout saw Cpl (Calum) MaCrae (C...
Due to a short notice operational deployment, the Royal Navy Senior XV has been forced in to a late change to the team. Royal Marine lock forward Capt (Stu) McLaren RM (DMOC RAF Halton) was due to renew his partnership, from last season, with returning second row POAET (Marsh) Cormack (854NAS, RNAS Culdrose). However, professional duties now mean that his place will be taken by Lt (Niall) Copeland RN (HMS Collingwood). The match will be a first start for Weapon Engineering Officer, Niall, and his first Inter Service match. However, Niall was part of the starting XV that took the field in front of 10,000 partisan fans at the Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon, and last seas...
Two of the Navy Rugby's up and coming stars have had to withdraw from the CS U23 season. Loosehead prop Mne (Josh) Terry (539 ASRM) has failed to rehabilitate from a back injury and is also deploying on Exercise Cougar whilst Navy play maker , fly half / fullback AB (Tom) Davies (HMS Liverpool) has deployed with his ship to the Med. The Navy will still be well represented when the CS U23s take on Middlesex on 17 Apr at Aldershot Military Stadium. The match kicks off at 1400 and will feature Navy players SLt (Tom) Blackburn RN (HMS Sultan) who has also been selected to play against the RAF at Senior level, AET (Kye) Beasley (RNAS Culdrose), AET (John) MacMillan, AET (Ben...
