RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

This Wednesday sees the final of the 2017-18 Inverdale Challenge competition to be played at United Service Sports Ground, Portsmouth.  And for the first time in many years the team representing RN West are through to the final and are hoping they can win the trophy, last held by the Plymouth region in the 2004-2005 season.

Petty Officer Physical Trainer Sam Sims has been playing the long game.  Since becoming the RN Western Region team manager in 2015 he has seen a steady improvement in the fortunes of his team.  Having been involved in Navy Rugby since his Leading Physical Trainer assignments in HMS Argyll and HMS Somerset Sam has built a great network of Navy Rugby players, representative and community players alike, who he can call upon to pull on the red shirt.  Together with POPT Jamie Kern, fellow POPT at HMS Raleigh, they have worked tirelessly to bring together the players from across the region and earn they place in the final. 

Their team, like their opposition the Fleet Air Arm, have played all their matches in the heats stage of the Inverdale Challenge.  Heartened by their early success over the RN North team in October in the opening match of the completion, they travelled to Yeovilton to take on the Fleet Air Arm and put up a very strong fight.  Although the final score was 45 - 26 to the Aviators the match was declared an official draw after the Fleet Air Arm were found to have contravened the competition regulations by inadvertently fielding one too many capped players in their side.  RN West then followed up with a win away in Portsmouth to the RN East side before a hard encounter against the Royal Marines in January.  Despite losing this match their final points total put them second overall, and saw them through to the final.

The Fleet Air Arm started tentatively, away to RN East, however they did secure a win with a final score of RN East 21 - FAA 26.  The second match was the one described above against RN West before they hosted RN North in November and showed how strong they can be  winning 45 - 5.  Like RN West they also lost their final match away against the Royal Marines in December.

You may be wondering why the Royal Marines, having beaten both RN West and the Fleet Air Arm earlier in the tournament, aren't taking a place in the final.  Well despite winning their other 3 matches they forfeited their match against RN North and had 3 points deducted from their total and as a result came third overall.

So the defending champions the Royal Marines will not be able to retain the title this year and we wait to see if the RN West team have saved their best performance of the season for the final.  Good luck to both teams and if you would like to come and support head along to the United Services Sports Ground at Burnaby Road, Portsmouth for a 1930 kick off.  The match will be preceded by the RN Women's Development teams East v West KO 1700.  

Images: Royal Navy Rugby Union © Mark Andrews and Keith Woodland