Location | London |
---|---|
Teams | |
First meeting | 13 February 1878 (Annually since 6 March 1909) |
Latest meeting | 13 May 2023 Navy 39-22 |
Next meeting | 2024 |
Stadiums | Twickenham Stadium |
Trophy | The Babcock Trophy |
Statistics | |
All-time series | Army 63, Navy 35, Draws 4 (1939, 1969 1980 and 2016)[1] |
Largest victory | Army, 50–7 (2009)[1] |
Smallest victory | Navy 11–10 (1921), Navy 9–8 (1948), Navy 17–16 (1978), Army 10–9 (1983), Army 43-42 (2024)[1] |
The above statistics do not include the matches before the first official match in 1907. 1907 was the first official Army Navy match played after the formation of the Army Rugby Union in 1906. The Royal Navy Rugby Union did not form until the 1907/08 season.[2] | |
Other information | |
Current sponsor | Babcock International |
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 The Oval, London on 13 February 1878, it was not until 1907 that the Army Navy Match became an annual fixture. For the first fixture the match Secretary was Surg Lt George Levick RN. From 1909 it was jointly administered by the newly formed Royal Navy Rugby Union (RNRU – 1907) [3] and the Army Rugby Union (ARU – 1906). Since then it has been played every season, with the exception of during the world wars (1914–19 and 1940–45) and COVID-19 pandemic when the matches were suspended.
Traditionally, the Army Navy match has been played in the second half of the domestic season. In the 1907-08 season it was played in December, and due to this anomaly the calendar year 1908 did not see an Army Navy match, while 1907 saw two.[2]
The 2016 Army Navy was the 99th in the series and the match saw a new record crowd of 81,323. The Navy took the lead 7–0 (Dave Fairbrother) on 20 minutes before the Army scored three tries (Semesa Rokoduguni 2, Owain Davies) before half time to lead 19–7 at the beak. A further try for the Army (James Farrell) early in the second period saw them extend their lead to 26-7 with half an hour of the match remaining. The Royal Navy staged the most remarkable of comebacks with tries from Gareth Rees and Rhys Dymmock-Williams either side of a penalty try to level the scores at 26-26 with 9 minutes remaining. An Owain Davies penalty with 2 minutes to go seemed to seal the win for the Army before Royal Navy fullback landed a 45m penalty of his own to again tie the game 29–29 with less than a minute to go. The draw meant that the Army Navy Trophy was shared but he Royal Navy were Inter Service Champions having beaten the RAF 9–8 at USSG Portsmouth. The RAF had beaten the Army 13–12 at RAF Halton in the opening round of the Inter Services. Royal Navy Number 8 completed a remarkable game which included a try, a yellow card and being named Man of the Match.[2]
The 2017 Army Navy match was unable to live up to the onfield excitement from the year before. However the 100th match saw another record crowd (81577), the attendance of Prince Harry as Patron of the Match Charity, Invictus Games Foundation, and an Army win 29-20.[2]
The 101st Army Navy Match was played at Twickenham on 5 May 2018 with the Army winning 22-14. The match was notable in that the Navy had one man sent off in the first ten minutes of the game and the Army took advantage of their wing overlap to good effect. Army Corporal Matthew Dawson was awarded the Babcock Man of the Match.[4]
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 in 1955 their shorts were white.[2]
Year | Venue | Winner | Points | Loser | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1878 | Queen's Club | Royal Navy | 1G1T | Army | 1G |
1880 | Portsmouth | Royal Navy | 1G3T | Army | 0[8] |
1905 | Queen's Club | Army | 10 | Royal Navy | 0 |
1906 | Devonport | Royal Navy | 17 | Army | 3 |
It is quite probable that other matches were played in this time for which records are not known.
Year | Venue | Winner | Points | Loser | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1907 | Queen's Club | Royal Navy | 15 | Army | 14 |
1907 | Queen's Club | Royal Navy | 15 | Army | 0 |
1909 | Queen's Club | Royal Navy | 25 | Army | 0 |
1910 | Queen's Club | Royal Navy | 19 | Army | 10 |
1911 | Queen's Club | Army | 22 | Royal Navy | 13 |
1912 | Queen's Club | Royal Navy | 16 | Army | 8 |
1913 | Queen's Club | Royal Navy | 18 | Army | 8 |
1914 | Queen's Club | Army | 26 | Royal Navy | 14 |
1915-1919 | No matches played due to First World War[9] |
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.[11][12]
Men's Inter-Services Championship | ||
Teams: | Army Rugby Union Royal Navy Rugby Union Royal Air Force Rugby Union | |
Originated: | 1920 | |
Championship Series: | Army leads with 47 outright championships[13] | |
Recent Winner: | Navy | |
Army (47) 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 2017 2019 2022 |
Royal Navy (21) 1920 1921 1922 1927 1931 1938 1939 1951 1961 1966 1970 1973 1974 1977 1981 1987 1995 2001 2010 2016 2023 |
Royal Air Force (16) 1923 1947 1955 1958 1959 1962 1971 1979 1982 1985 1986 1991 1993 1994 2015 2018 |
Three Way Ties (10) 1924 1935 1948 1954 1956 1975 1978 1984 1992 1996 | ||
Two Way Ties (2) 1925 1949 Both Between Army and Royal Air Force |
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[14] | |||
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[13] | Army | 43-26 | 33-18 | 55-26 |
2014[13] | Army | 30-17 | 35-26 | 10-0 |
2015[13][15] | Royal Air Force | 36-18 | 33-29 | 32-32 |
2016[13] | Royal Navy | 29-29 | 13-12 | 9-8 |
2017[13] | Army | 29-20 | 35-14 | 16-14 |
2018[13] | Royal Air Force | 22-14 | 20-19 | 31-21 |
2019[13] | Army | 27-11 | 49-3 | 25-10 |
2020-21 | No matches played due to COVID-19[16] | |||
2022[13] | Army | 35-27 | 35-20 | 18-10 |
2023[13] | Royal Navy | 39-22 | 48-17 | 13-13 |
2010 & 2020-2021 are the only occasions 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. In 2020-2021 all three Inter Service matches were cancelled due to restrictions placed on sport by Covid-19[17]
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.[18][19][20] Prior to this the Royal Air Force Women had played the Royal Navy in 2002, winning 18-5.[21] In 2019 the Royal Air Force won their first Inter Service title ending the Army's 32 match unbeaten run.[20] In 2022 the match was moved to Twickenham Stadium, home of England Rugby, and played ass a double header alongside the men. It was the first time that both Senior XV's of each Union had played the Army v Navy Match in the same venue.[22]
Women's Inter-Services Championship | ||
Teams: | Army Rugby Union Royal Navy Rugby Union Royal Air Force Rugby Union | |
Originated: | 2003 | |
Championship Series: | Army leads with 18 outright championships | |
Recent Winner: | Army | |
Army (18) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2022 2023 |
Royal Navy (0) | Royal Air Force (1) 2019 |
Three Way Ties (0) | ||
Two Way Ties (0) |
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 | 7-5 |
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[23] | Army | 54-12 | 62-0 | 10-3 |
2014[23] | Army | 64-0 | 93-3 | 17-6 |
2015[23] | Army | 65-0 | 51-10 | 55-15 |
2016[23] | Army | 74-0 | 29-7 | 47-0 |
2017[23] | Army | 95-0 | 35-26 | 72-0 |
2018[23] | Army | 72-3 | 10-0 | 53-3 |
2019[23] | RAF | 48-3 | 23-14 | 67-3 |
2020-21 | No matches played due to COVID-19[16] | |||
2022[23] | Army | 68-0 | 24-10 | 32-15 |
2023[23] | Army | 67-5 | 36-8 | 17-10 |