There are two people who through my association with Navy Rugby have always stood out with their enthusiasm for the game of rugby and the special nature of Navy Rugby. The way they speak about matches, former players and escapades is full of passion, their eyes sparkling with the deep rooted belief that, whatever the result, Navy Rugby remains the best club in the world. Both are now Life Members of the Union, rightly acknowledging their achievements and contribution to the game within the Royal Navy.
My first encounter with Glynn Thomas was after a ships’ game on the Navy’s old Hilsea pitches. As a newly qualified referee I had just whistled no side at m...
Bulwark arrived later than expected at the venue, courtesy of a coach driver who did not know how to get to the ground and so decided to take the team on a sightseeing tour of Muscat whilst attempting to ascertain how to get to the ground. The team even dropped in on an unsuspecting ex-pats home where the driver seemed to think the ground was in his back garden!! With both teams on the park warming up, the local workmen delayed kick off even further by slicing through the power cable for the floodlights.
The game was to be played in 4 - 20 minute quarters. Bulwark eventually kicked off, on a Soccer pitch with no posts and lines marked with cones, with two sides eager to play and looki...
Captain Chris Alcock OBE Royal Navy has handed over the RNRU Chairman responsibilities to Colonel Ewen Murchison DSO MBE Royal Marines, effective 18 Oct 14.
RNRU Chairman - Colonel Ewen Murchison DSO MBE Royal Marines
A bright finish to the week as the Royal Navy U23 XV salvaged some worthwhile game time that on Friday looked a distant hope. With Brighton University pulling out of the fixture at the last minute, the whole RN U23 XV squad, plus some extras from the local area came together to ensure that a match went ahead and to allow the coaching team to make a meaningful selection for the upcoming Inter Services. It was not surprising therefore that the game took a while to get going, with a number of unforced errors leading to a very stop start opening quarter. However by the end both teams produced some entertaining rugby and a couple of players have caused the selection team a f...
Tomorrow sees the start of the 2014/15 Inverdale Challenge competition with the Royal Marines looking for a third consecutive win and a seventh title in total. They open their defence away to the Fleet Air Arm, a repeat of last year’s final. In Plymouth, RN West host RN East, in the battle of the ports and after last season’s impressive win on the road will look to keep the bragging rights for another season.
Last year the Fleet Air Arm were probably thankful that the monsoon like conditions kept the score down because the 31-15 winning margin could have been more as they tried in vain to match the intensity of Nathan Huntley’s Royal Marines side. W...
