Royal Navy Rugby Union
Encyclopedia
The Royal Navy Rugby Union (RNRU) was formed in 1906 to administer the playing of rugby union
in the Royal Navy
. It fields a representative side that competes in the Army Navy Match
, although a side representing the Royal Navy predates the formation of the union by twenty-eight years. The RNRU also has had a number of international players within its representative squads.
to stimulate interest. The club quickly began performing strongly and gained an excellent reputation and equally strong fixture list. The appeal that had been sent out to all naval players to support Service clubs had worked and a definite movement had been made to induce all officers in the Navy to give up playing for civilian clubs. Soon after in 1906 the RNRU was formed, with many of its players international standard.
The highlight of the RNRU season is the annual Army Navy Match
held at Twickenham
. The first of these matches took place in 1878 at the Kennington Oval, but it was not until 1907 that the match became an annual fixture as part of the Inter-Service Competition. In 1919, an Inter-Service Championship was arranged by the Army Rugby Union
, which included Service teams from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as an Royal Air Force
team and a British Army team playing under the name 'Mother Country'. The Mother Country and New Zealand Army
reached the final at Twickenham, with New Zealand winning the encounter to lift the King's Cup. In 1920 the Army Navy competition was expanded to included the Royal Air Force.
Aside from the Army Navy match and the Inter Service Championship the various Navy Representative teams (1st XV, A, U21, Women and Veterans) play in a number of competitions during the season in both the fifteen and seven aside games. There are three knockout cups run exclusively for the ships of the Fleet and in the middle of December there is the final of the RNRU Knockout Cup, open to all Establishments, Ships and Royal Marine Units. The Blakeney Cup is also held in which the five Commands of the Fleet Air Arm, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Royal Marines and Scotland compete over a week for the right to be called RNRU Command Champions and the opportunity to represent the RNRU at an overseas tournament.
The RNRU is a Constituent Body of the Rugby Football Union
and in honouring its role in the evolution of the game in England it has as a mission statement: "To promote, develop, administer and finance rugby football in the Royal Navy throughout the world in support of the Rugby Football Union". This is achieved by financing coaching seminars and courses; administrating the game, and officiating the games through the provision of referees and touch judges.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. It fields a representative side that competes in the Army Navy Match
Army Navy Match
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 side representing the Royal Navy predates the formation of the union by twenty-eight years. The RNRU also has had a number of international players within its representative squads.
History
At the beginning of the twentieth century a number of service based clubs existed but found it hard to gain support from service players, because it was considered necessary to turn out for civilian clubs to get first-class games. However, in 1902 the United Services Recreation Ground began to give financial support to the United Services Portsmouth Rugby Football ClubUnited Services Portsmouth Rugby Football Club
The United Services Portsmouth RFC is a long established rugby union club that although no longer in the top flight of English rugby has a strong history boasting a number of former international players as well as formerly being a regular feature on the fixture list of touring international teams...
to stimulate interest. The club quickly began performing strongly and gained an excellent reputation and equally strong fixture list. The appeal that had been sent out to all naval players to support Service clubs had worked and a definite movement had been made to induce all officers in the Navy to give up playing for civilian clubs. Soon after in 1906 the RNRU was formed, with many of its players international standard.
The highlight of the RNRU season is the annual Army Navy Match
Army Navy Match
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...
held at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
. The first of these matches took place in 1878 at the Kennington Oval, but it was not until 1907 that the match became an annual fixture as part of the Inter-Service Competition. In 1919, an Inter-Service Championship was arranged by the Army Rugby Union
Army Rugby Union
The Army Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the British Army and a constituent body of the Rugby Football Union . The ARU was formed on 31 December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant J.E.C...
, which included Service teams from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as an Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
team and a British Army team playing under the name 'Mother Country'. The Mother Country and New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919
The New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919 was a rugby union team which represented New Zealand after the end of the First World War. Although spoken of as a single team, there were several New Zealand Services teams playing in Britain at the conclusion of the War...
reached the final at Twickenham, with New Zealand winning the encounter to lift the King's Cup. In 1920 the Army Navy competition was expanded to included the Royal Air Force.
Aside from the Army Navy match and the Inter Service Championship the various Navy Representative teams (1st XV, A, U21, Women and Veterans) play in a number of competitions during the season in both the fifteen and seven aside games. There are three knockout cups run exclusively for the ships of the Fleet and in the middle of December there is the final of the RNRU Knockout Cup, open to all Establishments, Ships and Royal Marine Units. The Blakeney Cup is also held in which the five Commands of the Fleet Air Arm, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Royal Marines and Scotland compete over a week for the right to be called RNRU Command Champions and the opportunity to represent the RNRU at an overseas tournament.
The RNRU is a Constituent Body of the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
and in honouring its role in the evolution of the game in England it has as a mission statement: "To promote, develop, administer and finance rugby football in the Royal Navy throughout the world in support of the Rugby Football Union". This is achieved by financing coaching seminars and courses; administrating the game, and officiating the games through the provision of referees and touch judges.
Women's rugby
The RNRU does field a women's rugby side although in the women’s Inter-Service competition that was introduced in 2003 only the army have been successful and remain its undisputed champions.External links
- Royal Navy Rugby Union - Official site
- Army Navy Match - Official site
- 2010 Army v Navy Rugby Match - Youtube