RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

Royal Navy U23 v Army U23 Match Preview

Following victory over their RAF counterparts in a tense game at Burnaby Road last Friday, the focus of the Royal Navy U23 Inter Service campaign now shifts to Aldershot for the second round of the competition this coming Friday, the 23November KO 7.30pm.

The Aldershot stadium has proved a happy hunting ground for the Navy U23s in recent history. The corresponding fixture between the two sides in the 2010 Inter Service Championship saw the Navy triumph in a hard fought contest, running out 20-18 winners against a physical and combative Army U23 XV. Having remained undefeated in their warm up games prior to that fixture, the close fought win provided a firm foundation for a talented U23 side to then go on and beat the RAF at Burnaby Road and clinch the title of 2010 Inter Service Champions.

The Army U23s are always a tough nut to crack, and their most recent 47-0 victory against a Havant XV shows their intent and determination to remain a potent force. The Navy U23s are under no illusions about the challenge they face on Friday night at the home of Army rugby, but the game against the RAF U23s showed some very promising passages of play. In their training camp this week the team have worked hard to improve on this performance, under the ever watchful eye of Head Coach Captain (Scott) Ashley RM (NCHQ) who commenting on the game said "The game against the Army will be a tough and pressurised environment, but I have been really impressed by the commitment and dedication the players have shown so far, especially during the win against the RAF. If they show the same commitment and devotion and stick to their game plan on Friday night we can beat the Army."

The victory against the RAF saw several individuals produce impressive performances, none more so than Navy ‘Man of the Match' No 8 ET (WE SM) (Jon) Henty (HMS Collingwood). In his first season in a Navy shirt and aged only 19, he has several promising years left to contribute to the U23s and is one worthy of keeping an eye on. Along with the other newcomers in the squad, he will be sure to draw upon the experience of those individuals who know what it is to beat the Army on their home turf, namely Mne (Josh) Terry (RM Poole) and Navy U23 Captain AB (WS) (Tom) Davies (HMS Illustrious) both veterans of that November night in 2010. Both players have since gone from strength to strength and have made their presence felt at Senior XV level, and have been a credit to both the U23s and Navy Rugby in general.

Kick off this Friday at the Aldershot Stadium is at 7.30pm, and followers of Navy Rugby can follow progress of the U23s on the RNRU website http://www.navyrugbyunion.co.uk/ and also on our Twitter feed @RNRugby

RNRU U23 INTER-SERVICES SQUAD 2012