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Inter-Service Rugby Championship

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Inter-Service Rugby Championship
SportRugby Union
Instituted1920
Competing unions ARU (British Army)
RNRU (Royal Navy)
RAFRU (Royal Air Force)
Current championArmy (2024)
Most titlesArmy (48 titles)
WebsiteWebsite
Broadcast partnersBFBS
RugbyPass TV

The Inter-Service Rugby Championship, commonly known as the Inter-Service Championship, is an annual tournament played between the rugby union teams of the British Armed Forces. The largest and most viewed fixture of the Championship is the Army Navy Match which is played at Twickenham Stadium.

The tournament has been played annually since 1920, with breaks only occurring during The Second World War and the COVID-19 pandemic. The championships primary broadcaster is BFBS, and since 2024 the senior men's and women's matches have also been streamed globally on RugbyPass TV.[1] Sponsors of the tournament include Babcock International, which since 2025 has been the primary sponsor of the tournament,[2] as well as other sponsors including BT and Rohde & Schwarz.[3]

The current reigning champion is the British Army, after winning their 48th title.[4]

History

[edit]

Since 1907, Army Rugby and Royal Navy Rugby had competed against each other annually in the Army Navy Match. In 1918 the newly formed Royal Air Force created their own rugby team. The decision was made in 1920 to create a tournament that included the RAF Rugby Union Team as Britain recovered from the First World War.[5] At the time the championship was created the decision had already taken place which allowed teams to select both officers and other ranks. The first three tournaments saw the Royal Navy dominating, until the Royal Air Force won their first Inter-service Championship in 1923. The Army did not win their first match 1926 until the Army won their first match, but since then the Army have been the dominant force of the Inter-Service Championship winning 48 titles.[6]

From 1924 all matches of the Inter-Service Championship were held at Twickenham Stadium in London, which continued to be the case until 1998 when the decision was made to only play the Army Navy Match at Twickenham.[7] This was due to the Army Navy Match having the largest number of spectators and greatest interest due to the historical rivalry of the two sides, matches besides Army v Navy now take place at various Premiership Rugby stadiums as well as other grounds across the UK.[8][9][10]

A "veteran" tournament was added to the Championship in 1996 for older service personnel to play in, originally over the age of 40, in recent years this tournament has been renamed to the "Masters" Inter Service Championship, to avoid confusion that the players are retired military veterans.[11] in In 2003 the tournament was expanded to include a Women's Inter-Services championship with the Army winning the inaugural women's championship. To date the Women's Royal Navy Rugby Union has not won a championship and the RAF Women's team has won one championship. Following the introduction of a Women's Championship an under-23 XV Inter-service championship was created.[8][12][13][14]

Currently there are four tournaments that make up the Inter Service Championship with the most viewed and attended still being the Men's Inter-Service Championship, with the Women's tournament being the second-most viewed, both tournaments have service personnel who represent professional teams at the highest levels.[15][16][17][18]

Army Navy Match

[edit]
The Army Navy match at Twickenham Stadium, 2017
Main article: Army Navy Match

The largest and most viewed match of the tournament in the historic Army Navy Match which is held at Twickenham. in 2017 the Army Navy match had the largest crowd of any Inter-Service Rugby Championship match in history at 81,577 spectators.

The match is sponsored by Babcock International and the winner is awarded the Babcock Trophy.

Men's Inter-Services Championship results (1920–)

[edit]

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.[19][20][21]

RAF Men's XV vs RN Men's XV during the 2017 Inter-Service Championship
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 48 outright championships[22]
Recent Winner: Army
Army (48)

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 2024

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

Men's yearly breakdown of results

[edit]

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[23]
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[24] Army 43-26 33-18 55-26
2014[24] Army 30-17 35-26 10-0
2015[24][25] Royal Air Force 36-18 33-29 32-32
2016[24] Royal Navy 29-29 13-12 9-8
2017[24] Army 29-20 35-14 16-14
2018[24] Royal Air Force 22-14 20-19 31-21
2019[24] Army 27-11 49-3 25-10
2020-21 No matches played due to COVID-19[26]
2022[24] Army 35-27 35-20 18-10
2023[24] Royal Navy 39-22 48-17 13-13

Women's Inter-Services Championship results (2003–)

[edit]
Army Women's vs RAF Women's during the 2017 Inter-Service Championship

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.[27][28][29] Prior to this the Royal Air Force Women had played the Royal Navy in 2002, winning 18-5.[30] In 2019 the Royal Air Force won their first Inter Service title ending the Army's 32 match unbeaten run.[29] [31]

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)

Women's yearly breakdown of results

[edit]

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[32] Army 54-12 62-0 10-3
2014[32] Army 64-0 93-3 17-6
2015[32] Army 65-0 51-10 55-15
2016[32] Army 74-0 29-7 47-0
2017[32] Army 95-0 35-26 72-0
2018[32] Army 72-3 10-0 53-3
2019[32] RAF 48-3 23-14 67-3
2020-21 No matches played due to COVID-19[33]
2022[32] Army 68-0 24-10 32-15
2023[32] Army 67-5 36-8 17-10

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Forces News coverage of Inter Service rugby to be aired on RugbyPass TV for first time". www.forcesnews.com. 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2025-04-19.
  2. ^ toyaangullia (2025-02-12). "Babcock expands support of Inter Service Championship". Babcock International Group. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  3. ^ Rugby, Inter Services. "Rohde & Schwarz UK sponsoring Inter Service Championship 2024 Round 1". Inter Services Rugby. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  4. ^ Tilley, Craig (2024-05-11). "Army men win enthralling battle against RAF to take back Inter Service title". www.forcesnews.com. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  5. ^ "About the Championship - Inter Service Championship - Home". 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  6. ^ "Inter Service Championship". ARU. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  7. ^ "Army v Navy 2025". Allianz Stadium Twickenham. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  8. ^ a b "About the Championship - Inter Service Championship - Home". 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  9. ^ Morgan, Oliver (29 May 2024). "Bath Rugby coach heads to Armed Forces Tri Service tournament". Rayo, Greatest Hits Radio, News.
  10. ^ "RAF Rugby Union in week-long training camp". The Gibraltar Chronicle. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  11. ^ "It is all kicking off for Royal Navy Rugby Union as their Inter Services battle commences". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  12. ^ Rugby, Inter Services. "Inter Service Rugby Championship History". Inter Services Rugby. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  13. ^ Hunter, Simon (2024-04-18). "Inter Service Championships: Numbers and history behind military rugby's stellar showcase". www.forcesnews.com. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  14. ^ Hunter, Kyle Dixon Simon (2024-11-28). "Royal Navy beat British Army in Aldershot to win under-23s rugby union Inter Services". www.forcesnews.com. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  15. ^ "About the Championship - Inter Service Championship - Home". 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
  16. ^ "Wales wing Carys Williams-Morris 'so grateful' for RAF support". BBC Sport. 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  17. ^ "Vereimi Qorowale starts for Army Rugby Union - Newcastle Falcons". NC Falcons. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  18. ^ Sansom, Tom (2023-04-17). ""Stand to Attention" 5 Rugby Stars in the Armed Forces". Ruck. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  19. ^ "Reference at www.raf.mod.uk".
  20. ^ "Army Rugby Union (ARU) - Inter-Services Championship (1920 onwards)". Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  21. ^ Dixon, Kyle (2024-04-11). "Royal Navy beat Devonport Services in final match before Inter Service clash with RAF". www.forcesnews.com. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  22. ^ "Reference at navyrugby.co.uk". Archived from the original on May 5, 2013.
  23. ^ "Inter-services Championships « Army Rugby Union". Archived from the original on 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Reference at navyrugby.co.uk". Archived from the original on May 5, 2013.
  25. ^ "Full Match Report: Army Sink Navy to Hand RAF Title | Forces TV". Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-11.
  26. ^ Inter Services Press Release 12:00 Friday 15 January 2021
  27. ^ "Reference at www.raf.mod.uk".
  28. ^ "Army Rugby Union (ARU) - History & Statistics - Women's Rugby". Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  29. ^ a b "Alligin Home". Alligin Photography.
  30. ^ "Women XV v RAF – The History of Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography". 22 March 2013.
  31. ^ "Home". armynavymatch.org.uk.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Women XV Inter Service Results". The History of Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography. 22 March 2013.
  33. ^ Inter Services Press Release 12:00 Friday 15 January 2021
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