# Inter-Service Rugby Championship

The Inter-Service Rugby Championship, commonly known as the Inter-Service Championship, is an annual tournament played between the rugby union teams of the British Armed Forces. The largest and most viewed fixture of the Championship is the Army Navy Match which is played at Twickenham Stadium.
The tournament has been played annually since 1920, with breaks only occurring during World War 2 and the COVID-19 pandemic. The championships broadcaster is BFBS and sponsors of the tournament include Babcock International which since 2025 has been the primary sponsor of the tournament, as well as other sponsors including BT and Rohde & Schwarz.
The current reigning champion is the British Army, after winning their 48th title.

## History

Since 1907, Army Rugby and Royal Navy Rugby had competed against each other annually in the Army Navy Match. In 1918 the newly formed Royal Air Force created their own rugby team. The decision was made in 1920 to create a tournament that included the RAF Rugby Union Team as Britain recovered from the First World War. At the time the championship was created the decision had already taken place which allowed teams to select both officers and other ranks. The first three tournaments saw the Royal Navy dominating, until the Royal Air Force won their first Inter-service Championship in 1923. The Army did not win their first match 1926 until the Army won their first match, but since then the Army have been the dominant force of the Inter-Service Championship winning 48 titles.
From 1924 all matches of the Inter-Service Championship were held at Twickenham Stadium in London, which continued to be the case until 1998 when the decision was made to only play the Army Navy Match at Twickenham. This was due to the Army Navy Match having the largest number of spectators and greatest interest due to the historical rivalry of the two sides, matches besides Army v Navy now take place at various Premiership Rugby stadiums as well as other grounds across the UK.
A "veteran" tournament was added to the Championship in 1996 for older service personnel to play in, originally over the age of 40, in recent years this tournament has been renamed to the "Masters" Inter Service Championship, to avoid confusion that the players are retired military veterans. in In 2003 the tournament was expanded to include a Women's Inter-Services championship with the Army winning the inaugural women's championship. To date the Women's Royal Navy Rugby Union has not won a championship and the RAF Women's team has won one championship. Following the introduction of a Women's Championship an under-23 XV Inter-service championship was created.
Currently there are four tournaments that make up the Inter Service Championship with the most viewed and attended still being the Men's Inter-Service Championship, with the Women's tournament being the second-most viewed, both tournaments have service personnel who represent professional teams at the highest levels.

## Army Navy Match

The largest and most viewed match of the tournament in the historic Army Navy Match which is held at Twickenham. in 2017 the Army Navy match had the largest crowd of any Inter-Service Rugby Championship match in history at 81,577 spectators.
The match is sponsored by Babcock International and the winner is awarded the Babcock Trophy.

## Men's Inter-Services Championship results (1920–)

In 1920 a Tri-Service competition was created to include the newly formed Royal Air Force (RAF). However, the great rivalry between the Army and Navy has continued and their match, now held at the home of the English Rugby Football Union (Twickenham Stadium), remains the highlight of the annual inter-services rugby competition.
Men's Inter-Services Championship :
| Teams: | Army Rugby Union Royal Navy Rugby Union Royal Air Force Rugby Union | Army Rugby Union Royal Navy Rugby Union Royal Air Force Rugby Union |
| Originated: | 1920 | 1920 |
| Championship Series: | Army leads with 48 outright championships | Army leads with 48 outright championships |
| Recent Winner: | Army | Army |
| Army (48) 1926 1928 1929 1930 1932 1933 1934 1936 1937 1946 1950 1952 1953 1957 1960 1963 1964 1965 1967 1968 1969 1972 1976 1980 1983 1988 1989 1990 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2017 2019 2022 2024 | Royal Navy (21) 1920 1921 1922 1927 1931 1938 1939 1951 1961 1966 1970 1973 1974 1977 1981 1987 1995 2001 2010 2016 2023 | Royal Air Force (16) 1923 1947 1955 1958 1959 1962 1971 1979 1982 1985 1986 1991 1993 1994 2015 2018 |
| Three Way Ties (10) 1924 1935 1948 1954 1956 1975 1978 1984 1992 1996 |||
| Two Way Ties (2) 1925 1949 Both Between Army and Royal Air Force |||

### Men's yearly breakdown of results

Army victories are shown in ██ red, Royal Navy victories in ██ navy, Royal Air Force victories in ██ light blue. Tied games and tied seasons are shown in ██ white.
| Year | Champion | Army – Navy score | Army – RAF score | Navy – RAF score |
| 1920 | Royal Navy | 32-11 | 21-9 | 12-3 |
| 1921 | Royal Navy | 11-10 | 26-3 | 33-3 |
| 1922 | Royal Navy | 7-3 | 23-8 | 9-6 |
| 1923 | Royal Air Force | 16-11 | 13-5 | 3-0 |
| 1924 | Tie | 19-5 | 8-3 | 16-9 |
| 1925 | Army & Royal Air Force | 11-8 | 6-6 | 3-0 |
| 1926 | Army | 24-10 | 11-0 | 8-3 |
| 1927 | Royal Navy | 6-3 | 22-0 | 8-3 |
| 1928 | Army | 11-5 | 18-6 | 5-0 |
| 1929 | Army | 17-11 | 27-0 | 8-3 |
| 1930 | Army | 16-10 | 14-8 | 8-3 |
| 1931 | Royal Navy | 6-0 | 16-5 | 16-0 |
| 1932 | Army | 11-0 | 21-4 | 22-5 |
| 1933 | Army | 19-0 | 12-3 | 14-3 |
| 1934 | Army | 16-8 | 14-3 | 36-0 |
| 1935 | Tie | 11-8 | 6-3 | 13-8 |
| 1936 | Army | 12-3 | 16-3 | 3-0 |
| 1937 | Army | 14-3 | 29-9 | 3-3 |
| 1938 | Royal Navy | 10-9 | 15-7 | 10-6 |
| 1939 | Royal Navy | 6-6 | 18-3 | 8-3 |
| 1940-45 | No matches played due to Second World War | No matches played due to Second World War | No matches played due to Second World War | No matches played due to Second World War |
| 1946 | Army | 11-6 | 11-6 | 9-6 |
| 1947 | Royal Air Force | 19-11 | 8-0 | 5-5 |
| 1948 | Tie | 9-8 | 15-8 | 16-11 |
| 1949 | Army & Royal Air Force | 23-3 | 3-3 | 11-0 |
| 1950 | Army | 16-6 | 11-3 | 6-6 |
| 1951 | Royal Navy | 11-0 | 14-0 | 6-5 |
| 1952 | Army | 11-3 | 9-6 | 6-0 |
| 1953 | Army | 3-0 | 11-3 | 3-3 |
| 1954 | Tie | 8-6 | 16-3 | 12-6 |
| 1955 | Royal Air Force | 8-3 | 6-6 | 6-3 |
| 1956 | Tie | 6-3 | 26-9 | 11-9 |
| 1957 | Army | 6-3 | 14-9 | 8-6 |
| 1958 | Royal Air Force | 14-0 | 3-3 | 14-3 |
| 1959 | Royal Air Force | 6-0 | 11-3 | 12-9 |
| 1960 | Army | 12-3 | 6-3 | 8-0 |
| 1961 | Royal Navy | 6-3 | 19-11 | 9-3 |
| 1962 | Royal Air Force | 9-6 | 19-14 | 12-6 |
| 1963 | Army | 11-3 | 8-6 | 3-0 |
| 1964 | Army | 8-0 | 19-6 | 5-3 |
| 1965 | Army | 5-3 | 11-11 | 15-6 |
| 1966 | Royal Navy | 10-9 | 12-3 | 11-3 |
| 1967 | Army | 6-3 | 17-6 | 5-3 |
| 1968 | Army | 9-6 | 3-3 | 17-15 |
| 1969 | Army | 3-3 | 26-21 | 9-5 |
| 1970 | Royal Navy | 15-9 | 15-12 | 13-6 |
| 1971 | Royal Air Force | 11-9 | 6-6 | 17-6 |
| 1972 | Army | 13-3 | 14-6 | 18-4 |
| 1973 | Royal Navy | 10-7 | 19-9 | 15-0 |
| 1974 | Royal Navy | 25-3 | 9-4 | 23-13 |
| 1975 | Tie | 19-0 | 41-13 | 20-7 |
| 1976 | Army | 15-6 | 6-3 | 21-13 |
| 1977 | Royal Navy | 16-0 | 19-13 | 15-9 |
| 1978 | Tie | 17-16 | 16-6 | 15-8 |
| 1979 | Royal Air Force | 10-3 | 10-3 | 23-6 |
| 1980 | Army | 0-0 | 26-7 | 16-7 |
| 1981 | Royal Navy | 7-3 | 6-4 | 15-12 |
| 1982 | Royal Air Force | 11-7 | 10-6 | 16-14 |
| 1983 | Army | 10-9 | 16-7 | 8-4 |
| 1984 | Tie | 13-6 | 15-9 | 10-9 |
| 1985 | Royal Air Force | 11-6 | 15-12 | 29-23 |
| 1986 | Royal Air Force | 13-3 | 16-13 | 20-9 |
| 1987 | Royal Navy | 21-10 | 12-12 | 13-6 |
| 1988 | Army | 35-3 | 26-3 | 10-7 |
| 1989 | Army | 21-9 | 42-10 | 30-23 |
| 1990 | Army | 16-7 | 32-14 | 22-14 |
| 1991 | Royal Air Force | 10-0 | 32-12 | 22-13 |
| 1992 | Tie | 16-9 | 18-6 | 22-13 |
| 1993 | Royal Air Force | 37-15 | 20-17 | 23-7 |
| 1994 | Royal Air Force | 18-6 | 28-22 | 22-12 |
| 1995 | Royal Navy | 34-17 | 28-26 | 43-19 |
| 1996 | Tie | 9-6 | 31-23 | 14-12 |
| 1997 | Army | 18-16 | 35-35 | 24-24 |
| 1998 | Army | 36-22 | 23-7 | 11-8 |
| 1999 | Army | 24-13 | 43-8 | 28-7 |
| 2000 | Army | 32-14 | 13-11 | 23-5 |
| 2001 | Royal Navy | 31-20 | 13-8 | 23-3 |
| 2002 | Army | 18-13 | 74-3 | 24-19 |
| 2003 | Army | 53-16 | 52-13 | 34-27 |
| 2004 | Army | 32-16 | 46-6 | 49-5 |
| 2005 | Army | 41-15 | 55-12 | 24-16 |
| 2006 | Army | 9-3 | 82-10 | 34-6 |
| 2007 | Army | 39-25 | 54-10 | 57-3 |
| 2008 | Army | 22-11 | 42-6 | 67-12 |
| 2009 | Army | 50-7 | 67-11 | 34-20 |
| 2010 | Royal Navy | 24-22 | No Match | 73-3 |
| 2011 | Army | 44-10 | 52-0 | 52-3 |
| 2012 | Army | 48-9 | 59-0 | 13-6 |
| 2013 | Army | 43-26 | 33-18 | 55-26 |
| 2014 | Army | 30-17 | 35-26 | 10-0 |
| 2015 | Royal Air Force | 36-18 | 33-29 | 32-32 |
| 2016 | Royal Navy | 29-29 | 13-12 | 9-8 |
| 2017 | Army | 29-20 | 35-14 | 16-14 |
| 2018 | Royal Air Force | 22-14 | 20-19 | 31-21 |
| 2019 | Army | 27-11 | 49-3 | 25-10 |
| 2020-21 | No matches played due to COVID-19 | No matches played due to COVID-19 | No matches played due to COVID-19 | No matches played due to COVID-19 |
| 2022 | Army | 35-27 | 35-20 | 18-10 |
| 2023 | Royal Navy | 39-22 | 48-17 | 13-13 |

## Women's Inter-Services Championship results (2003–)

Since 2003 the women from the three Armed Services have been fielding their own rugby teams and have been competing in an annual inter-service competition. Prior to this the Royal Air Force Women had played the Royal Navy in 2002, winning 18-5. In 2019 the Royal Air Force won their first Inter Service title ending the Army's 32 match unbeaten run.
Women's Inter-Services Championship :
| Teams: | Army Rugby Union Royal Navy Rugby Union Royal Air Force Rugby Union | Army Rugby Union Royal Navy Rugby Union Royal Air Force Rugby Union |
| Originated: | 2003 | 2003 |
| Championship Series: | Army leads with 18 outright championships | Army leads with 18 outright championships |
| Recent Winner: | Army | Army |
| Army (18) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2022 2023 | Royal Navy (0) | Royal Air Force (1) 2019 |
| Three Way Ties (0) |||
| Two Way Ties (0) |||

### Women's yearly breakdown of results

Army victories are shown in ██ red, Royal Navy victories in ██ navy, Royal Air Force victories in ██ light blue. Tied games and tied seasons are shown in ██ white.
| Year | Champion | Army – Navy score | Army – RAF score | Navy – RAF score |
| 2003 | Army | 35-5 | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2004 | Army | 39-3 | 17-3 | 7-5 |
| 2005 | Army | 61-5 | 34-0 | 10-5 |
| 2006 | Army | 47-7 | 38-0 | 13-5 |
| 2007 | Army | 36-3 | 36-0 | 17-10 |
| 2008 | Army | 75-0 | 56-0 | 23-10 |
| 2009 | Army | 60-0 | 72-0 | 36-0 |
| 2010 | Army | 25-11 | 35-12 | 14-11 |
| 2011 | Army | 52 - 0 | 44-10 | 26-0 |
| 2012 | Army | 41-5 | 24-7 | 7-5 |
| 2013 | Army | 54-12 | 62-0 | 10-3 |
| 2014 | Army | 64-0 | 93-3 | 17-6 |
| 2015 | Army | 65-0 | 51-10 | 55-15 |
| 2016 | Army | 74-0 | 29-7 | 47-0 |
| 2017 | Army | 95-0 | 35-26 | 72-0 |
| 2018 | Army | 72-3 | 10-0 | 53-3 |
| 2019 | RAF | 48-3 | 23-14 | 67-3 |
| 2020-21 | No matches played due to COVID-19 | No matches played due to COVID-19 | No matches played due to COVID-19 | No matches played due to COVID-19 |
| 2022 | Army | 68-0 | 24-10 | 32-15 |
| 2023 | Army | 67-5 | 36-8 | 17-10 |