The Royal Navy have won the 2023 Men’s Inter-Service Rugby Union competition as they recorded a historic victory over the Army at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 13th May.
Over 50,000 fans watched on as the Navy beat their old military rival for the first time since 2010, with the final score-line reading 39-22 to the Navy.
They Navy have their hands on the converted Babcock Trophy, for the first time since 2016. Captain Jarrard Hayler lifted the trophy high at the home of English rugby, as the sailors prevailed in this incredible battle between the Armed Forces.
Royal Navy Captain Jarrard Hayler scored the win-sealing try, and spoke after the memorable occasion.
“It is absolutely incredible. It is not just about scoring for me, it is obviously getting that win. All I can say is I could not have done it without every single player in that squad, including those lads who have been left behind, or are injured, or everyone who has been there and has dug deep and worked hard for us to get this win.
“Winning the Inter-Services in 2016 was a bittersweet one. Obviously, it is a win, but when you speak to people it is like, 'yeah, but you drew' (against the Army). With this one there are defined lines, we have definitely won the Inter-Services this year, and we have beaten the Army at Twickenham. So that is an accolade that we can take on and live well with.”
The Navy started the fixture off fastest, and had points on the board after just three minutes at Twickenham Stadium. Fly Half Jordan Gott fired the first shot of the afternoon’s action, as the Navy took an early lead.
The sailors were not afraid to run the ball out from their own half, and welcomed the Army’s challenge at the contact zone. Gott doubled the Navy’s lead after 12 minutes, with a second well struck penalty.
An illegal Navy interception in the first quatre brought play back for a penalty. The Army’s Owain Davies slotted the effort, narrowing the gap to three points at 3-6.
A third pinpoint effort from the boot of Jordan Gott sent the Navy into a 9-3 lead, but the Army soon found the first two tries of the match, as winger Cameron McDonald grabbed back-to-back scores, and the Army stretched in-front.
Davies converted for a 15-9 lead, but a resilient Gott kept the Navy in the match. The Fly Half levelled up the score to 15-15 with two more well taken penalties. The Navy then had the final say of the first 40 minutes, as Raumakita crossed over for the sailors first try, and took a late lead into the break.
The Navy took this momentum into the second half, and were over to extend their lead just four minutes after the re-start.
The resilient Army responded just four minutes later when Cameron McDonald completed his hat-trick for the Army, as the roof erupted at Twickenham Stadium. Davies sent a miss-pass wide, and found Captain Stu Cross out on the wing. The flanker popped the ball in-field to McDonald, who put on the afterburners to seal his hat-trick. Davies conversion narrowed the deficit to 22-29, as the atmosphere reached a fever-pitch.
The Navy continued to show their strength and the set-piece, and forced a penalty out of the Army at scrum-time. Jordan Gott followed this up with his sixth successful shot at goal, and took the Navy to a 10-point lead. The men in blue continued this pressure, and had one hand on the trophy.
On the hour mark, number eight Ratu Vakalutukali made an immense break into the back-field and looked set for the try-line. The determined Army defenders managed a late tap tackle on the back-rower, but the Taunton Titan kept the ball alive with an offload to his Captain Jarrard Hayler and the flanker dove across the whitewash and sent the Navy fans into a frenzy.
Jordan Gott’s conversion pulled the Navy further in front to 22-39, and secured the memorable victory alongside earning himself Player of the Match.
Royal Navy Head Coach Dave Pascoe is a veteran of the Army v Navy match, and holds the record for Senior Navy caps. He knows all too well what this win means for the Navy, and spoke after the match.
“Amazing to win. So fortunately, for me, I was involved. I was the captain playing in 2010. So, I had the opportunity to lift that trophy. And it has taken thirteen years to gain victory over them.
“Again, before that played in 2001, and unknown to me, we have not won for ten years before that, and that was my first game. I am hoping that it is not another ten or thirteen years until the next victory.
“Like I said, the boys deserve it. I made sure that they knew the history or understood the history of it, and it does not happen too often. Obviously, we want to try and make it happen again.
“They will celebrate tonight for sure.”
