Army Navy Match
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| The Army Navy Match Part of the Inter-Services Competition |
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| Contested by | |
     Principal
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Principal
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| ARU | RNRU |
| Official website | |
| First match | 13 February 1878 |
| Annual event since | 6 March 1909 |
| Current champion | Army |
| Largest margin of victory | Army, 50-3 (2009) |
| Smallest margin of victory | Navy, 9-8 (1948) |
| Venue | Twickenham Stadium London |
| Current sponsor | Babcock International |
| Trophy | The Babcock Trophy |
| Number of wins | |
| Army | Navy |
| 58 | 36 |
| Note: There have been three draws: 1939, 1969 and 1980 | |
The Army Navy Match is the annual rugby union match played between the senior XV teams of the Royal Navy and British Army. It marks the culmination of the annual Inter-Services Competition. Although a match was played between the officers of the British Army and the officers of the Royal Navy at Kennington Oval, London on 13 February 1878, it was not until 1909 that the Army Navy Match became an annual fixture, when it was jointly administered by the newly formed Royal Navy Rugby Union (RNRU - 1906) and the Army Rugby Union (ARU - 1906). Since then it has been played every year, with the exception of during the world wars (1914-1919 and 1940–45) when the matches were suspended. The 2013 Army Navy match saw another new record crowd of 72471 watch the Army Navy match which was one of the most compelling ever. The Navy took an early 19 - 0 lead before the Army pegged them back to be all square at half time. The Army then went on to a 43 - 26 victory with their captain, Darrell Ball, being named Man of the Match.[1]
Note: The table of wins on the right does not include the matches of 1905 or 1906. 1907 was the first official Army Navy match played after the formation of the two respective Unions.[2]
Contents
The first Army vs Navy game was held on 13 February 1878. A contemporary newspaper The Broad Arrow gave the following account of the match:
A fine exhibition of football delighted the somewhat small number of spectators. Bush scored the first try for the Navy from a scrummage near the line. The goal was kicked by Orford. A band of naval spectators who had taken up their position beneath a white ensign mounted on the roof of a drag greeted this score with great cheering. The greasy state of the ground was not favourable for any great display of running. Encouraged by a cry from their supporters 'Come on Navy, Force the Passage of the Straights' the Navy mounted great pressure and scored a touch down. In the second half the Navy scored a second try. Wrench of the Army took advantage of some bad passing by the Navy and scored the Army try: The goal was kicked but this ended the scoring and the Navy deservedly won the first match between the Services.
The full version of the report from the Broad Arrow seems to suggest that the correct quote of 'Force the Passage of the Straits' was used.[3]
The Army selectors made a generous contribution towards the Navy victory by selecting a Royal Artillery officer, R Bannatyne, as Team Captain. He was serving overseas at the time and received no notification of his selection. As a result he was absent for the game. The situation was further confounded by the fact that another Army player arrived late and missed a good part of the match.
The teams were:
| Army | Ties | Navy |
|---|---|---|
| (58) | (3) | (36) |
| 1911 1914 1924 1925 1926 1928 1929 1930 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1946 1947 1949 1950 1952 1953 1956 1957 1960 1962 1963 1964 1965 1967 1968 1972 1976 1979 1982 1983 1984 1985 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 |
1939 1969 1980 | 1878 1907 1907 1909 1910 1912 1913 1920 1921 1922 1923 1927 1931 1938 1948 1951 1954 1955 1958 1959 1961 1966 1970 1971 1973 1974 1975 1977 1978 1981 1986 1987 1995 1996 2001 2010 |
| British Army | Royal Navy | |
| Name | Regiment/Corps | Name |
| R. A. Bannatyne (Capt.) | Royal Artillery | F. Campbell |
| C. F. Crombie | 37th North Hampshire Regiment | C. Bishop |
| C. H. Coke | 86th Royal County Down Regiment | E. Daniells |
| J. N. Cowan | Royal Engineers | C. Hart |
| F. C. Heath | Royal Engineers | P. Bush |
| A. J. C. French | 76th Regiment of Foot | J. Startin |
| A. R. Barker | Royal Artillery | G. Henderson (Capt) |
| A. J. Street | Unidentified | J. Orford |
| J. Spens | 85th King’s Light Infantry | C. Trower |
| I. M. Urquhart | 108th Regiment of Foot (Madras Infantry) | R. Montgomerie |
| G. Campbell | 77th Regiment (East Middlesex) | J. Bennett |
| I. G. Adamson | 108th Foot | F. Thring |
| Gould-Adams | 1st Royal Scots Regiment | H. Goldfinch |
| T. H. Manser | Army Hospital Corps | C. Bayly |
| S. Ogilvie | Unidentified | C. Walters |
Both the Royal navy Rugby Union and the Army Rugby Union were formed in 1906. February 1907 was when the first match organised by the two Unions was played. The match was held at the Queen's Club, West Kensington and was won by the Officers of the Royal Navy 15-14.[4] The match was played at Queen's Club until 1914. After the First World War the first match was hosted by Twickenham in 1920 and the game has been played there ever since.[5]
Team colours
Navy - Navy blue shorts, socks and shirt.
Army - White shorts, red shirt and socks.
In the first match of 1878 the Army played in white. The Navy have always played in blue jerseys though for a time their shorts were white.[6]
Match Results
Inter-Services Championship (1878–1914)
| Year | Winner | Points | Loser | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1878 | Royal Navy | 1G1T | Army | 1G |
| 1907 | Royal Navy | 15 | Army | 14 |
| 1907 | Royal Navy | 15 | Army | 0 |
| 1909 | Royal Navy | 25 | Army | 0 |
| 1910 | Royal Navy | 19 | Army | 10 |
| 1911 | Army | 22 | Royal Navy | 13 |
| 1912 | Royal Navy | 16 | Army | 8 |
| 1913 | Royal Navy | 18 | Army | 8 |
| 1914 | Army | 26 | Royal Navy | 14 |
| 1915-1919 | No matches played due to First World War[7] | |||
Inter-Services Championship (1920 to present day)
In 1920 a Tri-Service competition was created to include the newly formed Royal Air Force (RAF). However, the great rivalry between the Army and Navy has continued and their match, now held at the home of the English Rugby Football Union (Twickenham Stadium), remains the highlight of the annual inter-services rugby competition.[8][9]
| Inter-Services Championship | ||
| Teams: | Army Rugby Union Royal Navy Rugby Union Royal Air Force Rugby Union |
|
| Originated: | 1920 | |
| Championship Series: | Army leads with 43 outright championships[10] | |
| Recent Winner: | Army | |
| Army (43) 1926 1928 1929 1930 1932 1933 1934 1936 1937 1946 1950 1952 1953 1957 1960 1963 1964 1965 1967 1968 1969 1972 1976 1980 1983 1988 1989 1990 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 |
Royal Navy (19) 1920 1921 1922 1927 1931 1938 1939 1951 1961 1966 1970 1973 1974 1977 1981 1987 1995 2001 2010 |
Royal Air Force (13) 1923 1947 1955 1958 1959 1962 1971 1979 1985 1986 1991 1993 1994 2015 |
| Three Way Ties (10) 1924 1935 1948 1954 1956 1975 1978 1984 1992 1996 |
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| Two Way Ties (2) 1925 1949 Both Between Army and Royal Air Force |
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Yearly Results
Army victories are shown in ██ red, Royal Navy victories in ██ navy, Royal Air Force victories in ██ light blue. Tied games and tied seasons are shown in ██ white.
| Year | Champion | Army – Navy score | Army – RAF score | Navy – RAF score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Royal Navy | 32-11 | 21-9 | 12-3 |
| 1921 | Royal Navy | 11-10 | 26-3 | 33-3 |
| 1922 | Royal Navy | 7-3 | 23-8 | 9-6 |
| 1923 | Royal Air Force | 16-11 | 13-5 | 3-0 |
| 1924 | Tie | 19-5 | 8-3 | 16-9 |
| 1925 | Army & Royal Air Force | 11-8 | 6-6 | 3-0 |
| 1926 | Army | 24-10 | 11-0 | 8-3 |
| 1927 | Royal Navy | 6-3 | 22-0 | 8-3 |
| 1928 | Army | 11-5 | 18-6 | 5-0 |
| 1929 | Army | 17-11 | 27-0 | 8-3 |
| 1930 | Army | 16-10 | 14-8 | 8-3 |
| 1931 | Royal Navy | 6-0 | 16-5 | 16-0 |
| 1932 | Army | 11-0 | 21-4 | 22-5 |
| 1933 | Army | 19-0 | 12-3 | 14-3 |
| 1934 | Army | 16-8 | 14-3 | 36-0 |
| 1935 | Tie | 11-8 | 6-3 | 13-8 |
| 1936 | Army | 12-3 | 16-3 | 3-0 |
| 1937 | Army | 14-3 | 29-9 | 3-3 |
| 1938 | Royal Navy | 10-9 | 15-7 | 10-6 |
| 1939 | Royal Navy | 6-6 | 18-3 | 8-3 |
| 1940-45 | No matches played due to Second World War[11] | |||
| 1946 | Army | 11-6 | 11-6 | 9-6 |
| 1947 | Royal Air Force | 19-11 | 8-0 | 5-5 |
| 1948 | Tie | 9-8 | 15-8 | 16-11 |
| 1949 | Army & Royal Air Force | 23-3 | 3-3 | 11-0 |
| 1950 | Army | 16-6 | 11-3 | 6-6 |
| 1951 | Royal Navy | 11-0 | 14-0 | 6-5 |
| 1952 | Army | 11-3 | 9-6 | 6-0 |
| 1953 | Army | 3-0 | 11-3 | 3-3 |
| 1954 | Tie | 8-6 | 16-3 | 12-6 |
| 1955 | Royal Air Force | 8-3 | 6-6 | 6-3 |
| 1956 | Tie | 6-3 | 26-9 | 11-9 |
| 1957 | Army | 6-3 | 14-9 | 8-6 |
| 1958 | Royal Air Force | 14-0 | 3-3 | 14-3 |
| 1959 | Royal Air Force | 6-0 | 11-3 | 12-9 |
| 1960 | Army | 12-3 | 6-3 | 8-0 |
| 1961 | Royal Navy | 6-3 | 19-11 | 9-3 |
| 1962 | Royal Air Force | 9-6 | 19-14 | 12-6 |
| 1963 | Army | 11-3 | 8-6 | 3-0 |
| 1964 | Army | 8-0 | 19-6 | 5-3 |
| 1965 | Army | 5-3 | 11-11 | 15-6 |
| 1966 | Royal Navy | 10-9 | 12-3 | 11-3 |
| 1967 | Army | 6-3 | 17-6 | 5-3 |
| 1968 | Army | 9-6 | 3-3 | 17-15 |
| 1969 | Army | 3-3 | 26-21 | 9-5 |
| 1970 | Royal Navy | 15-9 | 15-12 | 13-6 |
| 1971 | Royal Air Force | 11-9 | 6-6 | 17-6 |
| 1972 | Army | 13-3 | 14-6 | 18-4 |
| 1973 | Royal Navy | 10-7 | 19-9 | 15-0 |
| 1974 | Royal Navy | 25-3 | 9-4 | 23-13 |
| 1975 | Tie | 19-0 | 41-13 | 20-7 |
| 1976 | Army | 15-6 | 6-3 | 21-13 |
| 1977 | Royal Navy | 16-0 | 19-13 | 15-9 |
| 1978 | Tie | 17-16 | 16-6 | 15-8 |
| 1979 | Royal Air Force | 10-3 | 10-3 | 23-6 |
| 1980 | Army | 0-0 | 26-7 | 16-7 |
| 1981 | Royal Navy | 7-3 | 6-4 | 15-12 |
| 1982 | Royal Air Force | 11-7 | 10-6 | 16-14 |
| 1983 | Army | 10-9 | 16-7 | 8-4 |
| 1984 | Tie | 13-6 | 15-9 | 10-9 |
| 1985 | Royal Air Force | 11-6 | 15-12 | 29-23 |
| 1986 | Royal Air Force | 13-3 | 16-13 | 20-9 |
| 1987 | Royal Navy | 21-10 | 12-12 | 13-6 |
| 1988 | Army | 35-3 | 26-3 | 10-7 |
| 1989 | Army | 21-9 | 42-10 | 30-23 |
| 1990 | Army | 16-7 | 32-14 | 22-14 |
| 1991 | Royal Air Force | 10-0 | 32-12 | 22-13 |
| 1992 | Tie | 16-9 | 18-6 | 22-13 |
| 1993 | Royal Air Force | 37-15 | 20-17 | 23-7 |
| 1994 | Royal Air Force | 18-6 | 28-22 | 22-12 |
| 1995 | Royal Navy | 34-17 | 28-26 | 43-19 |
| 1996 | Tie | 9-6 | 31-23 | 14-12 |
| 1997 | Army | 18-16 | 35-35 | 24-24 |
| 1998 | Army | 36-22 | 23-7 | 11-8 |
| 1999 | Army | 24-13 | 43-8 | 28-7 |
| 2000 | Army | 32-14 | 13-11 | 23-5 |
| 2001 | Royal Navy | 31-20 | 13-8 | 23-3 |
| 2002 | Army | 18-13 | 74-3 | 24-19 |
| 2003 | Army | 53-16 | 52-13 | 34-27 |
| 2004 | Army | 32-16 | 46-6 | 49-5 |
| 2005 | Army | 41-15 | 55-12 | 24-16 |
| 2006 | Army | 9-3 | 82-10 | 34-6 |
| 2007 | Army | 39-25 | 54-10 | 57-3 |
| 2008 | Army | 22-11 | 42-6 | 67-12 |
| 2009 | Army | 50-7 | 67-11 | 34-20 |
| 2010 | Royal Navy | 24-22 | No Match | 73-3 |
| 2011 | Army | 44-10 | 52-0 | 52-3 |
| 2012 | Army | 48-9 | 59-0 | 13-6 |
| 2013[12] | Army | 43-26 | 33-18 | 55-26 |
| 2014[13] | Army | 30-17 | 35-26 | 10-0 |
| 2015[14][15] | Royal Air Force | 36-18 | 33-29 | 32-32 |
2010 is the only occasion that an Inter Service match has not taken place for a reason apart from World War. The RAF v Army match was cancelled as the Army were stranded in their overseas training camp in South Africa due to flight disruptions caused by the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull.
Ladies Inter-Services Championship (2003-)
Since 2003 the women from the three Armed Services have been fielding their own rugby teams and have been competing in an annual inter-service competition.[16][17][18]
| Ladies Inter-Services Championship | ||
| Teams: | Army Rugby Union Royal Navy Rugby Union Royal Air Force Rugby Union |
|
| Originated: | 2003 | |
| Championship Series: | Army leads with 11 outright championships | |
| Recent Winner: | Army | |
| Army (11) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 |
Royal Navy (0) | Royal Air Force (0) |
| Three Way Ties (0) | ||
| Two Way Ties (0) | ||
Ladies Yearly Results
Army victories are shown in ██ red, Royal Navy victories in ██ navy, Royal Air Force victories in ██ light blue. Tied games and tied seasons are shown in ██ white.
| Year | Champion | Army – Navy score | Army – RAF score | Navy – RAF score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Army | 35-5 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2004 | Army | 39-3 | 17-3 | Unknown |
| 2005 | Army | 61-5 | 34-0 | 10-5 |
| 2006 | Army | 47-7 | 38-0 | 13-5 |
| 2007 | Army | 36-3 | 36-0 | 17-10 |
| 2008 | Army | 75-0 | 56-0 | 23-10 |
| 2009 | Army | 60-0 | 72-0 | 36-0 |
| 2010 | Army | 25-11 | 35-12 | 14-11 |
| 2011 | Army | 52 - 0 | 44-10 | 26-0 |
| 2012 | Army | 41-5 | 24-7 | 7-5 |
| 2013[19] | Army | 54-12 | 62-0 | 10-3 |
| 2014[20] | Army | 64-0 | 93-3 | 17-6 |
| 2015[21] | tbc | tbc | 51-10 | 55-15 |
References
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/senior-xv/senior-xv-inter-service-results/senior-xv-v-army/
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/history-of-the-union/historical-events/1878-the-first-first-match/
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/history-of-the-union/historical-events/1907-the-second-first-match/
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/senior-xv/senior-xv-inter-service-results/senior-xv-v-army/
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk
- ↑ http://www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk/about-the-aru/history-of-the-aru/army-navy-matches-1878-1914
- ↑ http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafrugbyunion/interservices/sstats.cfm
- ↑ http://www.aru.org.uk/aru-history-interservice.htm
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/senior-xv/senior-xv-inter-service-results/
- ↑ http://www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk/about-the-aru/history-of-the-aru/inter-services-championships
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/senior-xv/senior-xv-inter-service-results/
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/senior-xv/senior-xv-inter-service-results/
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/senior-xv/senior-xv-inter-service-results/
- ↑ http://forces.tv/09304595
- ↑ http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafrugbyunion/interservices/lstats.cfm
- ↑ http://www.aru.org.uk/aru-history-women.htm#interservice
- ↑ http://www.alliginphotography.co.uk
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/women-xv/women-xv-inter-service-results/
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/women-xv/women-xv-inter-service-results/
- ↑ http://navyrugby.co.uk/women-xv/women-xv-inter-service-results/
- McLaren Col Lt J:The History of Army Rugby (Aldershot, The Army RFU, 1986)
External links
- Army Navy Match Official website
- Army Rugby Union ARU - official website
- Royal Navy Rugby Union RNRU - official website
- Royal Air Force Rugby Union RAFRU - official website
- Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography Un Official website with largest online resource of Navy Rugby information
