It only seems like a few weeks ago that the Royal Marines were facing up to the best of the Fleet Air Arm side at United Services Sports Ground in Portsmouth looking to retain their title as Inverdale Challenge trophy winners. It was an exciting final of the regional competition and on the night (back in January 2017) the Royal Marines went home to the West Country victorious, triumphing over their WAFU colleagues 30 - 22. This season's competition kicks off on Wednesday with home games for RN West and RN East. At the Rectory, Devonport, the best of the West Country players will host the team from the North of the Border, RN North, kicking off at 1330. Meanwhile over i...
The Royal Navy U23 squad travelled to Oaklands Pavilion, home of Chichester RFC, to take on a strong Chichester U23 select side. Under floodlights and in extremely challenging conditions the Royal Navy Rugby Union set about their last trial match before trimming the squad in preparation for the defence of their Inter Service title. They were facing a very well drilled, confident Chichester U23 Select 15 and found themselves on the back foot from the off. Chichester playing an expansive game, despite the horrendous conditions, stretched the Navy team across the field with some smart handling and direct running. The Royal Navy U23s defended well for 20 minutes and s...
The Royal Navy Rugby Union Mariners are providing half a dozen players for a Royal British Legion veteran combined services side (Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Army, and Police) to take on a team bristling with international caps including the likes of Colin Charvis, Thinus Delport, Issac Boss and former Royal Marine Band Service and England cap Spencer Brown. The Mariners will have to dig deep to take on the challenge as well as quickly learning the playing patterns of a new bunch of boys but like all things military and all things sport a cadre is soon established and the players will have made friends for life. So to the reason for the match: we all know the good work that the R...
The Royal Navy Rugby Union 10s championship final saw the airmen from HMS Heron take on the mighty sailors of HMS Albion and the new entry officer cadets from Dartmouth. In the end it was youth that won out and saw Britannia Royal Naval College crowned the RNRU 10s champions for 2017. HMS Heron hosted the competition this year, welcoming the teams who had successfully competed in the regional events earlier in the Autumn. Late withdrawals from HMS Collingwood and HMS Sultan reduced the number of teams taking part but the competition was still well attended and the standard of rugby was high. The BRNC team won through after winning the Western Region event and were able to c...
The Royal Navy Rugby Union U23s' second match of the season ended in a 20 - 20 draw when they took on the Cambridge University LX side on Sunday afternoon. A small group of loyal supporters enjoyed the sunshine at Burnaby Road and saw the Royal Navy side come from behind in the first half and take the lead in the second half. Unfortunately they couldn't stop the capable Cambridge team drawing level in the final moments of the match. From the kick off the Navy side moved quickly into the opposition half, asserting their authority and making the most of their home advantage however Cambridge responded well to the early pressure and found a way through the Navy line. The ...
