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 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) when the matches were suspended.

For the similar annual event in American football, see Army–Navy Game.
The Army Navy Match
Part of the Inter-Services Competition
Twickenham Stadium
LocaleLondon
Teams
First meeting13 February 1878
(Annually since 6 March 1909)
Latest meeting4 May 2019
Army 27-11
Next meeting2 May 2020
StadiumsTwickenham Stadium
TrophyThe Babcock Trophy
Statistics
All-time seriesArmy 63, Navy 35,
Draws 4 (1939, 1969 1980 and 2016)[1]
Largest victoryArmy, 50–7 (2009)[1]
Smallest victoryNavy 11–10 (1921), Navy 9–8 (1948), Navy 17–16 (1978), Army 10–9 (1983)[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 sponsorBabcock International

Brief Background

Traditionally the Army Navy match has been played in the second half of the domestic season but in season 1907/1908 it was played in December and due to this anomaly the calendar year 1908 did not see an Army Navy match played yet they played each other twice in 1907.[2]

The 2016 Army Navy was the 99th in the series and the match saw another new record crowd of 81323 watch the Army Navy match which was one of the most compelling ever. 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]

The First Army Navy game 1878

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.[5]

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:

Overall results for official Army Navy Matches[1]
ArmyDrawsNavy
(62)(4)(35)
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
2017 2018		 1939 1969 1980 2016
 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
NameRegiment/CorpsName
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

The First "Official" Army Navy game 1907

The Army Rugby Union was formed in 1906 whilst the exact date of formation of the Royal Navy Rugby Union is shrouded in doubt but is likely to have been towards the end of 1907, after the 1st official Army v Navy Match. February 1907 was when the first match organised by the two Services in a formal manner was played, with Surg Lt George Levick RN acting as the Match Secretary. The match was held at the Queen's Club, West Kensington and was won by the Officers of the Royal Navy 15-14.[6] 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.[7]

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 in 1955 their shorts were white.[2]

Anniversary Army Navy Matches

The first eight matches were played at Queen's Club. Currently the 101 matches have resulted in 62 Army wins, 35 Navy wins and 4 draws which includes the thrilling 29-29 draw in 2016. The Royal Navy won the first match in 1907 but the Army have won the other anniversary matches. On 7 March 1936 the Army won the 25th match 12-3, in 1967 they won the 50th match 6-3, in 1992 they won the 75th match 16-9 and in 2017 they won the 100th match 29-20[7]

Match Results

Pre Inter-Services Championship and Pre ArmyRugby Union / Roya Navy Rugby Union - Army Navy Matches (1878–1906)
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.

Pre Inter-Services Championship and Post ArmyRugby Union / Roya Navy Rugby Union - Official Army Navy Matches (1907–1914)
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]
  • The first match that was an official Army Navy Match was in 1907 after the Army Rugby Union had formed in 1906 and with the Royal Navy moving towards formation. The match Secretary was Surg Lt George Levick and there was a charge for entry. The matches in 1878, 1880, 1905 and 1906 do not count towards the official record of matches between the two sides with February 1907 being the first and the 29 April 2017 the 100th match.[10]

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.[11][12]

Inter-Services Championship
Teams: Army Rugby Union
Royal Navy Rugby Union
Royal Air Force Rugby Union
Originated: 1920
Championship Series: Army leads with 46 outright championships[13]
Recent Winner: Army
Army (46)
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		 Royal Navy (20)
1920 1921 1922
1927 1931 1938
1939 1951 1961
1966 1970 1973
1974 1977 1981
1987 1995 2001
2010 2016		 Royal Air Force (15)
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

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[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 No matches played due to Covid-19

2010 & 2020 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 all three Inter Service matches were cancelled due to restrictions placed on sport by Covid-19[16]

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. [17][18][19] Prior to this the Royal Air Force Women had played the Royal Navy in 2002, winning 18-5.[20] In 2019 the Royal Air Force won their first Inter Service title ending the Army's 32 match unbeaten run.[21]

Ladies Inter-Services Championship
Teams: Army Rugby Union
Royal Navy Rugby Union
Royal Air Force Rugby Union
Originated: 2003
Championship Series: Army leads with 16 outright championships
Recent Winner: Royal Air Force
Army (16)
2003 2004 2005
2006 2007 2008
2009 2010 2011
2012 2013 2014
2015 2016 2017
2018		 Royal Navy (0) Royal Air Force (1)
2019
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 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[22] Army 54-12 62-0 10-3
2014[22] Army 64-0 93-3 17-6
2015[22] Army 65-0 51-10 55-15
2016[22] Army 74-0 29-7 47-0
2017[22] Army 95-0 35-26 72-0
2018[22] Army 72-3 10-0 53-3
2019[22] RAF 48-3 23-14 67-3
2020 No matches played due to Covid-19
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References
  1. "Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography". Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  2. "The History of Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography". The History of Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography.
  3. The Army and Navy Gazette 16 Nov 1907
  4. Match, Army Navy. "Babcock Trophy Army Vs Navy Rugby Match - Army Navy Match". Army Navy Match.
  5. http://navyrugby.co.uk/history-of-the-union/historical-events/1878-the-first-first-match/%5B%5D
  6. http://navyrugby.co.uk/history-of-the-union/historical-events/1907-the-second-first-match/%5B%5D
  7. http://navyrugby.co.uk/senior-xv/senior-xv-inter-service-results/senior-xv-v-army/%5B%5D
  8. The Sportsman, Monday 23 February Page 4
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2012-04-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-05-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafrugbyunion/interservices/sstats.cfm
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2008-11-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. http://navyrugby.co.uk/senior-xv/senior-xv-inter-service-results/%5B%5D
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2012-04-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. https://www.armynavymatch.org.uk/58/526/2020-match-update
  17. http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafrugbyunion/interservices/lstats.cfm
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2008-11-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. "Alligin Home". Alligin Photography.
  20. https://navyrugby.co.uk/women-xv-v-raf/
  21. "Alligin Home". Alligin Photography.
  22. "Women XV Inter Service Results". The History of Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography. 22 March 2013.
  • McLaren Col Lt J:The History of Army Rugby (Aldershot, The Army RFU, 1986)
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