Army Rugby Union
Encyclopedia
The Army Rugby Union (ARU) is the governing body
for rugby union
in the British Army
and a constituent body of the Rugby Football Union
(RFU). The ARU was formed on 31 December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant J.E.C. ‘Birdie’ Partridge
’s (Welch Regiment
) idea to have a body to administer the playing of rugby union
in the British Army
.
(1854–56) that a record was made of a game being played. Thereafter regiments of the British Army played wherever they were stationed in the British Empire
spreading its popularity around the globe. It was a result of the game being played in British India in the 1870s that led to the 3rd (East Kent) Regiment and the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment having a hand in the creation of the Calcutta Cup
, the oldest international trophy. Many English rugby union clubs such as Leicester
were also formed by soldiers.
The Army were represented in the very first international by two England
players, Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton
RE and Lieutenant Charles William Sherrard RE.
Shortly after the ARU was formed the RFU donated the Army Cup, which was to be competed for at inter-unit level. Over the years there have been some ferocious contests for cup and from those contests the reputation of the Army’s great rugby units have been made. Those units include; the Duke of Wellington's Regiment
, the Welch Regiment, the Royal Signals and 7 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
.
The highlight of the ARU season is the annual Army Navy Match
held at Twickenham
. The first of these matches took place in 1878 at the Kennington Oval, but it was not until 1907 that the match became an annual fixture as part of the Inter-Service Competition. In 1919, an Inter-Service Championship was arranged by the Army Rugby Union, which included Service teams from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as an Royal Air Force
team and a British Army team playing under the name 'Mother Country'. The Mother Country and New Zealand Army
reached the final at Twickenham, with New Zealand winning the encounter to lift the King's Cup. In 1920 the Army Navy competition was expanded to included the Royal Air Force, the same year that CSM C.W. Jones (Welch Regiment) was to become the first ‘other rank’ to be picked to represent the army.
Between the wars (1920–39) the ARU arranged matches against the French Army
, the last of which was played shortly before the Nazi German invasion of France in 1940. The period also saw Army players being selected for British Lions
teams. In 1931 the Army Rugby Union Referees Society (ARURS) was formed and continues to provide professional refereeing for all games.
Although the activities of the ARU were curtailed during the Second World War (1939–45), as they had been during the First World War (1914–18), a series of Service International matches were played around the country by teams drawn from rugby playing servicemen; these games drew large crowds and help to maintain the nation’s morale through the dark days of the war.
After the war first class rugby union players brought in through National Service
dominated army rugby. During the period 1948-62 more men played for the Army XV than in any other previous or subsequent era. It meant that thirty Army players were selected to represent their countries and from among those selected; Matthews, Hall, Cameron, Scotland, Mike Campbell-Lamerton
and Fisher were given the added privilege of captaining their respective national teams. Also on a national front the ARU can boast of the fact that it has had appointed from its ranks Presidents for the English and Scottish RFUs. They were: Major General BA Hill CB, DSO (English RFU 1937-39), Colonel BC Hartley CB, OBE (English RFU 1947-48), Major General RGS Hobbs CB, DSO, OBE (English RFU 1961-62), Brigadier FH Coutts CBE, DL (Scottish RFU 1977-78), Brigadier DW Shuttleworth OBE, ADC (English RFU 1985-86)
A British Army Germany rugby union team
team regularly plays games against emerging nations like Belgium
, Denmark
, Netherlands
, Germany
and Luxembourg
. In the last few years the operational tempo of Army units on British Army Germany have seen these fixtures reduced.
In September 2011 the Army Senior XV travelled to Australia to participate in the first ever International Defence Rugby World Cup. Teams from the UK (Royal Navy, Royal Air Force & Army), The French Defence Force, The Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces, Tonga, Samoa, China and Papua New Guinea all took part. The Army beat Samoa and the French Defence Force to progress to the semi finals and were flown to Auckland New Zealand to play Tonga in the semi final at North Shore RFC. A titanic battle eventually had the Army scoring in the 79 minute to win 15-10. The final was played at Auckland Uni RFC against The Australian Defence Force. A blistering displaying of attacking rugby had the Australians in stunned shock, the Army running away winners 62-17 to become the first International Defence Rugby Union World Champions.
It is hoped that the United Kingdom will host the second International Defence Ruby Competition in 2015 when England host the Rugby World Cup.
In 2010 the Women's Inter Corps competition started with Corps playing against each other. This has been a great incentive in the strengthening of the women's game in the Army. Over 200 women regularly play rugby in the Inter Corps competition.
, but there was no representative side. In 2000 that changed after Army XV players were used to help the England national team prepare for the IRB Sevens. The occasion gave rise to the creation of an Army Sevens team, which has become a significant force in the game, winning some of the sport’s major competitions - including the Middlesex Sevens in 2001 and 2004. There are several Fiji
ans in the side.
(39-25), for a record 6th successive time before they embarked on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, where they defeated teams fielded by the Australian Army
(36-0) and the New Zealand Army
(11-6).
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
for rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and a constituent body of the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
(RFU). The ARU was formed on 31 December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant J.E.C. ‘Birdie’ Partridge
Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge
Joseph Edward Crawshay Partridge known as "The Bird" or "Birdie", was a Welsh born international rugby union player who was capped for South Africa and was a member of the Barbarians in that side's first international, played against Wales in 1915...
’s (Welch Regiment
Welch Regiment
The Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.-History:It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the 69th Regiment of Foot...
) idea to have a body to administer the playing of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
History
Since the game’s earliest years, members of the army have been keen players, but it was not until the Crimean WarCrimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
(1854–56) that a record was made of a game being played. Thereafter regiments of the British Army played wherever they were stationed in the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
spreading its popularity around the globe. It was a result of the game being played in British India in the 1870s that led to the 3rd (East Kent) Regiment and the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment having a hand in the creation of the Calcutta Cup
Calcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland. It is currently England's since the 2009 Six Nations Championship....
, the oldest international trophy. Many English rugby union clubs such as Leicester
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
were also formed by soldiers.
The Army were represented in the very first international by two England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
players, Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton
Charles Arthur Crompton
Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton RE, was a rugby union international who played for England in the first rugby international against Scotland in 1871...
RE and Lieutenant Charles William Sherrard RE.
Shortly after the ARU was formed the RFU donated the Army Cup, which was to be competed for at inter-unit level. Over the years there have been some ferocious contests for cup and from those contests the reputation of the Army’s great rugby units have been made. Those units include; the Duke of Wellington's Regiment
Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
, the Welch Regiment, the Royal Signals and 7 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
.
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...
held at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
. The first of these matches took place in 1878 at the Kennington Oval, but it was not until 1907 that the match became an annual fixture as part of the Inter-Service Competition. In 1919, an Inter-Service Championship was arranged by the Army Rugby Union, which included Service teams from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as an Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
team and a British Army team playing under the name 'Mother Country'. The Mother Country and New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919
The New Zealand Army rugby team of 1919 was a rugby union team which represented New Zealand after the end of the First World War. Although spoken of as a single team, there were several New Zealand Services teams playing in Britain at the conclusion of the War...
reached the final at Twickenham, with New Zealand winning the encounter to lift the King's Cup. In 1920 the Army Navy competition was expanded to included the Royal Air Force, the same year that CSM C.W. Jones (Welch Regiment) was to become the first ‘other rank’ to be picked to represent the army.
Between the wars (1920–39) the ARU arranged matches against the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
, the last of which was played shortly before the Nazi German invasion of France in 1940. The period also saw Army players being selected for British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
teams. In 1931 the Army Rugby Union Referees Society (ARURS) was formed and continues to provide professional refereeing for all games.
Although the activities of the ARU were curtailed during the Second World War (1939–45), as they had been during the First World War (1914–18), a series of Service International matches were played around the country by teams drawn from rugby playing servicemen; these games drew large crowds and help to maintain the nation’s morale through the dark days of the war.
After the war first class rugby union players brought in through National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
dominated army rugby. During the period 1948-62 more men played for the Army XV than in any other previous or subsequent era. It meant that thirty Army players were selected to represent their countries and from among those selected; Matthews, Hall, Cameron, Scotland, Mike Campbell-Lamerton
Mike Campbell-Lamerton
Colonel Michael John "Mike" Campbell-Lamerton was a British army officer and rugby union figure. Despite being a career soldier on active service, he would captain the Scotland rugby team a number of times....
and Fisher were given the added privilege of captaining their respective national teams. Also on a national front the ARU can boast of the fact that it has had appointed from its ranks Presidents for the English and Scottish RFUs. They were: Major General BA Hill CB, DSO (English RFU 1937-39), Colonel BC Hartley CB, OBE (English RFU 1947-48), Major General RGS Hobbs CB, DSO, OBE (English RFU 1961-62), Brigadier FH Coutts CBE, DL (Scottish RFU 1977-78), Brigadier DW Shuttleworth OBE, ADC (English RFU 1985-86)
A British Army Germany rugby union team
British Army Germany rugby union team
The British Army Germany rugby union team is the rugby union team of the British Army in Germany - BA . It is part of the Army Rugby Union.The team regularly plays games against emerging nations like Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg....
team regularly plays games against emerging nations like Belgium
Belgium national rugby union team
The Belgium national rugby union team represents the third tier rugby playing nation of Belgium. They first played in 1930 and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Belgium is administered by the Belgian Rugby Federation...
, Denmark
Denmark national rugby union team
The Denmark National Rugby Union Team represents Denmark in the sport of rugby union. They are governed by Dansk Rugby Union and have been playing international rugby since 1949.DRU now has nearly 2,500 members in more than 30 clubs.-History:...
, Netherlands
Netherlands national rugby union team
The Netherlands national rugby union team are a national sporting side of the Netherlands, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1930.-History:...
, Germany
Germany national rugby union team
Germany is a third-tier Rugby Union playing nation. Germany currently plays at the second level of European rugby but has never managed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg national rugby union team
The Luxembourg national rugby union team represents Luxembourg at rugby union. Luxembourg is a minor team, and is ranked as a third tier nation. The team participates in the annual FIRA-AER European Cup division 3B....
. In the last few years the operational tempo of Army units on British Army Germany have seen these fixtures reduced.
In September 2011 the Army Senior XV travelled to Australia to participate in the first ever International Defence Rugby World Cup. Teams from the UK (Royal Navy, Royal Air Force & Army), The French Defence Force, The Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces, Tonga, Samoa, China and Papua New Guinea all took part. The Army beat Samoa and the French Defence Force to progress to the semi finals and were flown to Auckland New Zealand to play Tonga in the semi final at North Shore RFC. A titanic battle eventually had the Army scoring in the 79 minute to win 15-10. The final was played at Auckland Uni RFC against The Australian Defence Force. A blistering displaying of attacking rugby had the Australians in stunned shock, the Army running away winners 62-17 to become the first International Defence Rugby Union World Champions.
It is hoped that the United Kingdom will host the second International Defence Ruby Competition in 2015 when England host the Rugby World Cup.
Women's rugby
In 1996, the ARU officially recognised women’s rugby union, which had been played in the army since the late 1980s. A women’s Inter-Service competition was introduced in 2003 and since its inauguration the army teams have been its undisputed champions. In Nov 2010 LCpl Jane Leonard (Royal Engineers) won International honours with England Women playing and winning her first cap against New Zealand at Twickenham.In 2010 the Women's Inter Corps competition started with Corps playing against each other. This has been a great incentive in the strengthening of the women's game in the Army. Over 200 women regularly play rugby in the Inter Corps competition.
Sevens
For many years units have played rugby sevensRugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
, but there was no representative side. In 2000 that changed after Army XV players were used to help the England national team prepare for the IRB Sevens. The occasion gave rise to the creation of an Army Sevens team, which has become a significant force in the game, winning some of the sport’s major competitions - including the Middlesex Sevens in 2001 and 2004. There are several Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
ans in the side.
Centenary year 2006/7
In their Centenary year (2006–07) the Army XV won the Inter-Services Competition, beating the RAF (54-10) and Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(39-25), for a record 6th successive time before they embarked on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, where they defeated teams fielded by the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
(36-0) and the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
(11-6).
External links
- Army Rugby Union - Official site
- Army Navy Match - Official site
- 2010 Army v Navy Rugby Match - Youtube