"Remembrance Day" - The Rugby Stars of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force

Rugby is deep-rooted in the core of the Armed Forces, and throughout the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, there are numerous servicemen and women that have played to the top levels of the sport. A great deal of active soldiers, sailors and RAF pilots have achieved international test caps, or have ran out in the top divisions across the world. Active members of the Armed Forces have taken to the pitch in the Premiership, United Rugby Championship, and across the Southern Hemisphere.

Rugby's Armed Forces heartbeat is in the Inter-Services competition, that sees the Army, Navy and RAF compete against one another in a yearly tournament. The Army and Navy's rivalry dates back the furthest, with the first match played in 1878. Twickenham Stadium has been the host of this match since 1907, in what is the best-attended amateur match of the rugby calendar.

The Air Force joined the rugby fray in 1918, following the end of the First World War. This established the tournament for the trio of services, with the Navy winning the first officially recognised competition in 1920. The competition has since been an annual event, yet was understandably cancelled for the Second World Wars and Covid-19 Pandemic.

In this article, we take a look through the current squads of the Army, Navy and RAF, and highlight their rugby stars that have achieved top level caps for club and country. Beginning with the British Army, who have boasted arguably the most famous rugby-playing servicemen throughout history.

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BRITISH ARMY

In 2014, former Bath winger and Lance Corporal Semesa Rokoduguini, became the first soldier to represent England at test match level since Tim Rodber in 1999. The hard-hitting Northampton Saints back-row is an icon of inter-services rugby, and even achieved two British and Irish Lions caps, on the 1997 Tour to South Africa. Rokoduguini ended a decade long stint with Bath in 2022, and signed for French second division side US Montauban.

Throughout history, the Army have dominated the Inter-Services competition and have a total of 47 Men's Babcock Trophies to their name, out of the 84 iterations of the tournament. The Women's side has been equally dominant, winning 18 of the 19 instalments of the Women's Inter-Services Competition.

Lance Corporal Semesa Rokoduguini (Wing) - US Montauban, Bath and England

Rifleman Vereimi Qorowale (Wing) - Newcastle Falcons

Sapper Cameron McDonald (Wing) - London Irish, London Scottish, Germany (15s and 7s)

Captain William Reeve (Fullback) - Kenya Sevens

Lance Corporal Ravai Fatiaki (Centre) - Worcester Warriors and Fiji

Gunner Mitieli Vulikijapani (Centre) - Hull FC (Rugby League), Harlequins Sevens* and Saracens Sevens*

Bombardier Owen Davies (Fly Half) - London Scottish, Wales Sevens and Wales Rugby League

Lance Corporal Llyod Wheeldon (Scrum Half) - Harlequins and Doncaster Knights

Sergeant Nathanael Titchard-Jones (Prop) - Rams, Chinnor, Birmingham Moseley, Coventry

Bombardier Peter Austin (Hooker) - Hawke's Bay and London Irish Academy

Staff Sergeant Ken Dowding (Prop) - Ospreys, Bath, London Irish and Richmond

Lance Corporal Ifereimi Boladau (Back Row) - Leicester Tigers, London Scottish, Nottingham, Ospreys

Captain Jamie Miller (Flanker) - Bath Rugby, Coventry and Bristol Rugby

Gunner Senitiki Nayalo (Number Eight) - London Irish, Edinburgh and Coventry

Private Viliame Kotobalavu (Back Row) - London Irish and Newport RFC

Staff Sergeant Jade Mullen (Centre) - Harlequins and Wales Sevens

Staff Sergeant Natalie Lewis (Prop) - Bath

Sergeant Heidi Silcox (Second Row) - Bath and London Irish

Private Courtney Pursglove (Wing) - England Sevens

Bombardier Bethan Dainton (Flanker) - Barbarians, Harlequins and Leeds Rhinos (Rugby League)

Guardsman Manuqalo Komaitai (Flanker) - London Irish

The Royal Navy Men's side have 23 Inter-Services titles to their name, with arguably their best triumph coming in the latest instalment of the competition. The Navy ended a seven-year wait for the Babcock Trophy earlier this year, in a 39-22 win at Twickenham Stadium. This victory was made all the more sweeter, as the Navy's 2016 Inter-Services' title came with the asterisk of a drawn match against the Army, with this win being the Navy's first over their old rivals for a staggering 13 years.

The most recognisable rugby name in today's Royal Navy, is Northampton Saints Hooker Sam Matavesi. The front rower was recently seen at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, as he packed down the scrum for Fiji, against Wales, Australia, Georgia, Portugal, and in the Pacific Islanders' quarter-final exit to England.

The Navy Men bolster a strong contingent of players at National One and Two division clubs, with the likes of Plymouth Albion, Havant RFC and Chester represented throughout the squad. Here is a run-down of the Royal Navy's international, Premiership and Championship rugby stars, in their men's and women's sides.

Local Acting Leading Hand Sam Matavesi (Hooker/Back Row) - Northampton Saints and Fiji

Aircraft Engineer Technician Jerome Rudder (Wing) - Philippines Sevens

Lieutenant Royal Marines Jarrard Hayler (Back Row) - Cornish Pirates, Hartpury University

Air Engineering Technician Jordan Gott (Fly Half) - Belgium (15s and 7s)

Marine Tony Papp (Back Row) - Hungary (15s and 7s)

Sub Lieutenant Rhian Perry (Scrum Half) - Ospreys

Aircraft Handler Yvonne Mealy (Lock) - London Irish

Air Engineer Officer Olivia Critchley-Peddle (Back Row) - Harlequins, Bristol Bears and Bath

Marine Engineer Heather Addison-Prout (Back-Row) - Saracens

Despite not featuring in the Inter-Services' marquee match at Twickenham, the RAF do take to the top rugby venues for their fixtures. The Royal Air Force frequently visit Gloucester's Kingsholm Stadium, with the men and women taking on the Army. Their battles with the Navy often take place in the Championship or National League venues, with last season's match taking place at Plymouth Albion's Brickfield's Stadium.

The RAF have won the Men's Inter-Services competition on 16 occasions, with their latest triumph coming in 2018. The RAF Women recorded their one and only title to date a year later, leaving the Royal Navy Women as the only side to not win the Women's tournament. The RAF Women boast an iconic Red Roses star in the ranks, in 72-capped England hooker Amy Cokayne. Wales flyer Carys Williams-Morris also takes to the RAF wings, when she is not running out for Loughborough Lightning in Premiership Women's Rugby.

Corporal Ryan Crowley (Centre) - London Scottish

Corporal Zack Taylor (Back Row) - Henley Hawkes

Corporal Zachery Clarke (Prop) - Henley Hawkes

Air Specialist Class 1 (Technician) Matt Harris (Scrum Half) - Rosslyn Park

Flight Lieutenant Amy Cokayne (Hooker) - Leicester Tigers and England

Flying Officer Carys Williams-Morris (Wing) - Loughborough Lightning and Wales

Flight Lieutenant Nicole Burger (Fullback) - South Africa (wider squad)

Air Specialist (Class 1) Kim Grundy (Wing) - Bristol Bears

Flight Lieutenant Lucy Nye (Scrum Half) - England, Leicester Tigers and Wasps

Flight Lieutenant Sarah Graham (Fly Half) - Bristol Bears

Corporal Daniker Willmore (Hooker) - Wasps

Air Specialist (Class 2) Rebecca De Filippo (Centre) - Wales and Saracens

Sergeant Natalie Knott (Prop) - Wasps

Corporal Kat Robinson (Number Eight) - Saracens and Henley Hawkes

Sergeant Beckie Faulds (Second Row) - Saracens

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