RNRU Royal Navy Rugby Union

Admiral the Lord Boyce KG GCB OBE DL retired from the Royal Navy in 2003 and became the Royal Navy Rugby Union’s 40th Life Member.  His appointment was unusual in so much that he was only the 2nd Life Member who was neither capped by the Union nor had held a significant position on the RNRU Executive Committee.  However like Mark Sudden before him, Mike Boyce’s influence on the ongoing progress of rugby in the Royal Navy was significant, often behind the scenes and unheralded, but always insightful because as a leader, he understood the power of sport generally and the values of team sports like rugby especially. He regularly spoke about the spirit of rugby and it’s value and it's ability to create bonds across the ranks.

It is probably not surprising that his valuable output as an RNRU Vice President was largely unsighted given his heritage as a decorated submariner whose skill at hiding his presence was rightly acknowledged by his peers and foes.  However it was during his time with the surface fleet that Mike played what he acknowledged was one of his favourite games of rugby. The match was while he was in command of HMS Brilliant during a visit to the Falklands. He was not the first, nor indeed the last, who succumbed to the nostalgia of his former playing days, to play one last time.  In describing the match as one of the most memorable ever, thoughts drift to an open and exciting end-to-end game that evoked the true Corinthian spirit of rugby football.  However the reasons why the game was most memorable may be more grounded in the hum drum of reality, as in his own words Mike recalls that after the match his body “was seriously trashed”.

Prior to his final game for HMS Brilliant, Mike had been a stalwart of Navy Rugby, always looking to represent the ships in which he served and receiving honours at Command level and also representing the Royal Navy, although not in a capped game.  While serving in the Far East he represented both the Royal Navy and Combined Services in matches held in Singapore. He also represented both the Navy’s two Service clubs, Devonport Services and US Portsmouth RFC. Away from Service rugby his opportunities to play the sport were more limited; after a successful school career with Hurstpierpoint College XV, he was only able to make the occasional appearance for Bath 2nd XV during his early Service career.

Though rugby was certainly a passion for Admiral Boyce, his sporting success was probably greater in both Squash and Athletics.  A regular for Royal Navy squash over many years he eventually became their President, while over the hurdles Mike Boyce won both his Royal Navy and Combined Services colours for the 110m and 400m events. Indeed during his time in Singapore he became their 400m hurdle champion.

Admiral Boyce joined the Royal Navy in 1961. After he qualified as a Submariner in 1965, he served in HM Submarines ANCHORITE, VALIANT and CONQUEROR.  On successful completion of Submarine Commanding Officer's Qualifying Course in 1973, he went to command HM Submarines OBERON, OPOSSUM and SUPERB. After promotion to Captain in 1982, he commanded HMS BRILLIANT and then went on to be Captain (SM) Submarine Sea Training. Subsequent Senior staff roles followed.

Promoted to Flag rank, he served as Flag Officer Sea Training and Naval Base Commander Portland from 1991; Flag Officer Surface Flotilla/ Commander Anti-Submarine Warfare Striking Force from 1992; and Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command from 1995.

In 1997 he became Commander-in-Chief Fleet/ Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic and Commander Allied Naval Forces North Western Europe. In 1998 he took on the Royal Navy's top job as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff. His final job in uniform was as Chief of the Defence Staff, during which time he oversaw UK operations in the Gulf War.

Words kindly provided by Geraint Ashton-Jones