Both the Royal Navy Rugby Union Men's and Women's Senior XVs travel to Toulon to take on their French counterparts this week. The Women's team are travelling with a new team at the helm. Assistant Director of Rugby, Lieutenant Commander Paula Bennett-Smith, herself a veteran and former team captain of the RNRU Women's XV, and new Head Coach, Chief Petty Officer Martyn Ruskin, have selected the committed and experienced full back, Sam Alderson, as the new team captain. Sam has been playing rugby since she joined the Navy in 2008 after attending a grass roots session while under training at HMS Collingwood and she hasn't looked back since. She has been involved with...
The Royal Navy Senior XV travel to France this week looking to level the series against their French counterparts. Last year the French Navy team travelled to Plymouth and nudged ahead with 7 wins to 6 in the thirteenth meeting between the two sides with a narrow 15 - 19 victory. Team captain Ben Priddey will lead his team out onto the pitch at the Stade Mayol in Toulon in their white shirts, keen to avenge the defeat of last year. Although the Royal Navy team scored two tries to the French team's one a series of penalties enabled the French team to notch up the 12 extra points. But there is no point in looking back. Although there are many familiar face...
HMNB Clyde arrived at the final of the Navy Cup without much game time, having received a walk over in both their first round and quarter final matches against HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Heron respectively. HMNB Portsmouth put up more of a fight in the semi-final. 40 Commando by contrast had seen off BRNC, HMNB Devonport and HMS Seahawk on their way to the final at HMS Temeraire. The odds were stacked against the team from North of the border and an exciting game lay ahead. This was set to be a highly competitive Cup Final. HMNB Clyde had convincingly defeated HMNB Portsmouth in the first of the two semi-finals, following which the team from 40 Commando d...
