A view of Navy Rugby’s rich history would not be complete with out a look at the influence of Combined Services Rugby. As early as 1908 the Army and Navy combined to play the Australian’s at Portsmouth. Australia used the match as part of their preparations for the 1908 Olympics where rugby was one of the sports. Australia won that first match 8-6 and went on to win the gold medal at the olympics.
In 1924 a true Combined Services team hosted the touring All Blacks in front of a 25,000 crowd at Twickenham. Since that first meeting the teams have met on 7th occasions. Though the CS team have never been victorious they pushed the Kiwis very close in 1935 when they lost 6-5 at Aldershot’s Military Stadium.
The Combined Service rivalry with their French counterparts was as fierce in the committee rooms as it was on the pitch. The match series started in 1960 when the CS took over the traditional fixture between the French Army and the British Army. In the first fifteen encounters the Combined Services could only muster two wins, in 1966 and 1974. Both these wins were by CS teams captained by Navy men, Mike Davis in 1966 and Binge Gatehouse in 1974.
Capped Games
There has, in recent years, been much debate about what constitutes a CS capped game. The Combined Services minutes are silent on the matter and the only reference to a capped game we have been able to locate is in private correspondence. Combined Services undertook a number of warm up games prior to match against the touring Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans. They also often played a match before their annual encounter with the French. It is clear that for most of their history successive Combined Service selection committee have had a policy of always picking the best team for the match they were preparing for. So players would not be considered for a CS warm up match if they were not available for the subsequent ‘test’ against the touring team or the FAF. The issue is further confused with, for example, the tour to the States where the team played in a competition at Boston – were these caps games. Recently the Combined Services played Crawshay’s Welsh as the Remembrance Day match. The two teams had previously met at Crickhowell as the CS prepared to play the French Armed Forces. Was one a capped game and the other not?
The only evidence currently found that does give some form of status to the match is the wearing of Combined Services stockings and ties. The CS sock of navy blue with a sky blue and red turnover was evidently the official symbol that you were a Combined Services player. This is high lighted in the Combined Services minutes of 4 Mar 1949 when the CS Committee wiere discussing their plans to play a new match against the ‘Champion County’; i.e.e the winners of the RFU’s County Championship. As the minutes recount:
“It was agreed that stockings be awarded to players who take part in the Combined Services v Champion County match.”
Subsequent minutes make reference to playing strip which is described as white jersey and white socks but with “Combined Services stockings”. It would suggest that the introduction of the ‘fashion’ of players wearing their own parent union socks in 2003 went against a long held tradition that was also based in terms of recognition.
In the 1960s the Combined Service minutes also made reference to the CS tie, a new supply they had recently purchased from TM Lewins. The tie was eligible to be worn by those who had played in games against incoming touring teams, the warm up matches or matches when CS were abroad. This in essence meant that all CS matches were covered with the exception of trial matches they occasionally held – Blues v Reds. So again little official credence was given to matches of differing status in terms of external recognition. To this end Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography will make use of Combined Service appearances in its statistical recording of players having represented the Combined Services.
The Combined Services Shirt
For the purest the CS shirt was plain white. In recent seasons there have been quarters and banded designs based around the three parent Service Union colours of Navy Blue, Red and Sky Blue. These have been worn by the Senior XV, the U23/U21 side and also the Women’s XV. Most recently the U23 CS XV wore a purple strip at Twickenham for their 2013 match against Oxbridge U23 XV. The first occasion we have been able to find when the Combined Services team did not play in white was 1970. The CS hosted the touring Fijians that day and clearly both teams played in white. As the hosts it was down to the CS to change but with money tight it was left to the Royal Navy Rugby Union to loan the Combined Services a ‘new’ playing strip and the CS that day wore Navy Blue.
| Date & Venue | Opposition | Result | Navy Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 14 [Bath] (6327) | Barbarians | 15-31 | Terry, Cormack, Fairbrother, Stephen (Capt), Humphrey Reps: Evans, Beasley, Sibson, Raumakita - {Burton (AR)} |
| 12 Nov 2013 [Brickfields] | Barbarians | 34-28 | Beasley, Cormack, Evans, Foster, Humphrey, Laird, Pascoe ©, Sleeman, Tichias - {Burton (AR)} |
| 7 Nov 2012 (Pontypridd) | Crawshay's Welsh XV | 29-31 | Cormack, Pascoe, Sleeman, Huntley, Beasley, Welling - {Bailey (TJ)} |
| 8 Nov 2011 [Gloucester] | Gloucester President XV | 33-40 | Drauniniu, Sleeman, Pascoe (C), Evans, Priddey, McLaren, Blackburn |
| 17 Nov 2010 [Gloucester] | Samoa | 25-66 | Marlin, Pascoe (C), Cormack, Barden, Priddey, Chambers, John, |
| 9 Nov 2010 [Aldershot] | Barbarians | 21-46 | Llewellyn, Pascoe (C), Evans, Cormack, Barden, Chambers, John, Marlin |
| 11 Nov 2009 [Aldershot] | Barbarians | 22-19 | Barden, Evans, Lloyd |
| 4 Nov 2008 [Brickfields] | Barbarians | 14-33 | Drauniniu,Rhodes, Pascoe (C), Cormack, Vance |
| 14 Nov 2007 [Brickfields] | Barbarians | 27-24 | Drauniniu, Pascoe (C), Cormack, Parker, Rhodes, Lloyd - {Bailey (TJ)} |
| 17 Oct 2007 [Burnaby Rd] | British Fire Service | 73-3 | Cormack, Dennis, Parker, Pascoe, Rhodes, Vance, Buinamasi, Barden, Lloyd, Priddey, O'Keefe - {Baileff(TJ)} |
| 14 Nov 2006 [Newbury] | Barbarians | 25-33 | Lloyd, Barden, Parkes, Pilkington, Pascoe - {Burton(TJ), Harland (Res Ref)} |
| 15 Nov 2005 [Newbury] | Barbarians | 6-45 | Beeson, Dicks, Pascoe {Baileff (TJ)} |
| 9 Nov 2004 [Aldershot] | Barbarians | 38-36 | Pascoe, Parker - {Ashton Jones (Ref)} |
| 11 Nov 2003 [Aldershot] | Barbarians | 8-26 | Phillips, Pascoe, Parker, Bartlett - {Baileff(TJ)} |
| 12 Nov 2002 [Devonport] | Barbarians | 27-26 | Brown, Phillips, Crompton, Pascoe, Milkins, Cross, Parker, Bartlett - {Harland(TJ)} |
| 13 Nov 2001 [Portsmouth] | Romania | 15-26 | Bartlett, Wooltorton, Parkes, Armstrong, Perry, Sibson, Channing, Burns, Williams, Phillips |
| 6 Nov 2001 [Portsmouth] | Barbarians | 14-50 | Parkes, Wooltorton, Bartlett, Cross, Armstrong, Phillips, Channing, Williams, Sibson {Ashton Jones(TJ) Harland(TJ)} |
| 21 Nov 2000 [Portsmouth] | Argentina | 7-44 | Wooltorton, Cross, Perry, Brown, Phillips, Parkes, |
| 7 Nov 2000 | Barbarians | P-P | |
| 9 Nov 1999 [Gloucester] | Barbarians | 26-45 | Cross, Cormack, Laity, Bartlett, |
| 10 Nov 1998 [Portsmouth] | Barbarians | 20-51 | Sibson, Parkes, Bartlett, Cross, Armstrong - {Ashton Jones (TJ)} |
| 4 Nov 1998 [Amsterdam] | Netherlands | 30-23 | Sibson, Bartlett, Cross, Armstrong |
| 11 Nov 1997 [Portsmouth] | Barbarians | 33-40 | |
| 4 Dec 1996 [Devonport] | Argentina | 6-52 | Sibson, Brown, Bartlett, Armstrong Reps: Livingstone, Wooltorton |
| 3 Dec 1994 [Devonport] | Canada | 15-12 | Sibson, Harrison, Dixon, Armstrong Reps: Livingstone |
| 30 Nov 1993 [Devonport] | New Zealand (Crowd 5700) | 3-13 | Sibson, Armstrong |
| 22 Nov 1988 [Aldershot] | Australia | 7-48 | Alcock, Penfold, Reece Reps: Melbourne, Sheldon, Hewitt |
| 9 Nov 1988 [Aldershot] | Public School Wanderers | Alcock, Penfold, Reece, Sheldon Reps: Melbourne, Hewitt | |
| 2 Nov 1988 [Recreation Ground] | Bath | Penfold, Reece, Hewitt Reps [Melbourne] | |
| June 1988 | CS & British Police New Zealand Tour | ||
| 23 Apr 1988 [The Gnoll] | CS & BP v Neath | ||
| 13 Apr 1988 [Imber Court] | British Police | ||
| 6 Apr 1988 | Public School Wanderers | ||
| 15 Jan 1988 [Paris] | French Armed Forces | ||
| 9 Dec 1987 [Aldershot] | South Korea | Alcock, Martin, Reece, Hewitt, Hughes Reps: Penfold, Chislett, Woodcock | |
| 28 Oct 1987 [Penzance] | Cornwall | 4-14 | |
| 22 Apr 1987 [Aldershot] | French Armed Forces | Penfold, Martin, Howarth, Woodcock, Hewitt, Reece Reps: Livingstone, Chislett | |
| 15 Apr 1987 [Aldershot] | British Police | Penfold, Martin, Howarth, Woodcock, Hewitt, Reece Reps: Livingstone | |
| 27 Oct 1984 | Australia | 9-44 | |
| 8 Apr 1984 [Saracens FC] | Public School Wanders | Penfold, Martin, Howarth, Woodcock, Hewitt, Reece Reps: [Livingstone, Elliott | |
| 1 Oct 1983 [Portsmouth] | Canada | 14-17 | Henderson, Oakley, Hirst, Joy, Wood, Sheldon [1xT] Reps: Price, Penfold, Nash |
| 28 Sep 1983 [Aldershot] | Public School Wanderers | 9-21 | Henderson, Oakley, Hirst, Wood, Sheldon Reps: Price, Penfold, Nash |
| 25 Sep 1983 [Bath] | British Police | Oakley, Penfold, Hirst, Joy, Wood | |
| 25 Nov 1982 [Portsmouth] | French Armed Forces | ||
| 29 Dec 1981[Aldershot] | Australia | 9-33 | Price [3xP], Fabian, Alcock, Penfold, Joy, Ackerman Reps used: Watson, Burden |
| Dec 1981 [Imber Court] | British Police | 12-9 | Alcock [1xT], Price [2xP, 1xC], Burden, Joy, Woods, Ackerman Reps Used: Fabian, Watson |
| May 1980 [Washington] | Potomac | ||
| May 1980 [Boston] | New England | ||
| May 1980 [Boston] | Texas | ||
| May 1980 [Boston] | California | ||
| May 1980 {New York} | Eastern Eagles | ||
| 30 Apr 1980 | British Police | ||
| 29 Apr 1980 | Public School Wanderers | ||
| 21 Nov 1978 [Aldershot] | New Zealand | 6-34 | Lea, English, Fabian [1xP], Ackerman, Hughes Reps not used: Leigh, Connolly {TJ R M Parker} |
| 9 Nov 1978 [Aldershot] | French Armed Forces | 9-4 | Lea, English, Fabian [1xP, 1xC], Ackerman, Connolly, Hughes |
| 7 Nov 1978 [Aldershot] | Public School Wanderers | ||
| 23 Oct 1978 [Aldershot] | United Hospitals | 18-27 | Lea, Fabian, Leigh, Richards, Hughes Reps not used: Connolly |
| 27 Sep 1978 [Devonport] | Devon | 13-18 | Lea [1xP], English [2xT], Leigh [1xC], Ackerman, Clark, Dunn (Capt) {TJ T Day} |
| 24 Apr 1977 [Troyes, Paris] | French Armed Forces | Fabian, AG Jones, {Dunn (Capt) - selected but forced out through injury} | |
| 6 Apr 1977 [Crickhowell] | Crawshay's Welsh XV | Fabian, AG Jones, Dunn (Capt) | |
| 2 Oct 1976 [Devonport] | Japan | 23-21 | Pulford, Ackerman, Lane |
| 24 Sep 1976 [Iffley Road, Oxford]] | British Police | ||
| 22 Sep 1976 [Brize Norton] | Oxfordshire | ||
| 30 Dec 1975 [Aldershot] | Australia | (squad from selection signal) Piercey, AG Jones, Ackrman, Dunn, Davies, Pulford, Clark R, Higginson, Kelly, | |
| 27 Dec 1975 [Aldershot] | Public School Wanderers | ||
| 22 Nov 1975 [Cardiff Arms Park] | French Armed Forces | (from selection signal) Piercy, AG Jones, JC Davies, Ackerman, Hatman, Dunn, Lane, C Davies, Pulford, Clark, Higginson, Connolly, Kelly, Archer, Rooke | |
| 19 Nov 1975 [Brize Norton] | British Police | (from selection signal) Piercy, AG Jones, JC Davies, Ackerman, Hatman, Dunn, Lane, C Davies, Pulford, Clark, Higginson, Connolly, Kelly, Archer, Rooke | |
| 5 Apr 1975 [Nice] | French Armed Froces | (from selection signal) Piercy, AG Jones, JC Davies, Ackerman, J Davis, Loveday | |
| 2 Apr 1975 [Roehampton] | Public School Wanderers | (from selection signal) Piercy, AG Jones, JC Davies, Ackerman, J Davis, Loveday | |
| 30 Mar 1974 [Twickenham] | French Armed Forces | W | Archer, Gatehouse (Capt), Ackerman, Miller, Connolly, Dunn. Rep not used: Davies |
| 29 Apr 1973 [Pau] | French Armed Forces | Gatehouse (Capt), Fabian, G Jones, J Davies, Ackerman, Pulford, Langton, Miller | |
| 26 Dec 1972 [Twickenham] | New Zealand (Crowd 15000) | 10-31 | Ackerman, Clarke, Fabian |
| 17 Apr 1971 [Bourges] | French Armed Forces | 6-12 | Hambrook, GL Jones, Easson, Gatehouse, Webb |
| 18 Nov 1970 | Fiji | 6-11 | Toms, Gatehouse, Merrick Reps not used: Hambrook, Finan, Higginson,Ryan |
| 9 Nov 1970 [Bristol] | Bristol | 14-15 | GL Jones, Gatehouse, Merrick Reps not used: Finan, Higginson, Ryan |
| 30 May 1970 [Boston] | Beacon Hill Club | 31-0 | Lavelle [1xT, 1 xP], Davies [2xT], Merrick [1xT], Scott |
| 28 May 1970 [West Point] | West Point | 14-3 | Phillips [1xT] GL Jones, Langton, Merrick |
| 25 May 1970 [Boston] | Racing Club de France | 12-3 | CS win Boston tournament. GL Jones, Davies, Scott, Merrick, Lavelle |
| 24 May 1970 [Boston] | Pennsylvania University | 29-0 | Langton [1xT], Phillips [1xT], G L Jones [1xT], Lavelle [4xC], |
| 23 May 1970 [Boston] | New York State | 12-3 | GL Jones, Davies, Scott, Merrick, Lavelle |
| 19 May 1970 [Rhode Island] | Newport RI | 35-0 | Lavelle [1xT, 1xC], Davies, Langton |
| 16 May 1970 [Bronxville] | Westchester | 32-3 | Phillips, GL Jones, Scott, Lavelle, Merrick |
| 11 April 1970 [Twickenham] | French Armed Forces | 3-9 | GL Jones, Phillips, G Jones, Lavelle, Ryan, Scott (Capt) |
| 9 Apr 1970 [Coventry] | Coventry | 3-12 | GL Jones, G Jones, Scott (Capt), Lavelle, Merrick |
| 16 Dec 1969 [Aldershot] | South Africa | 6-14 | GL Jones, Clarke Reps: Davies, Merrick TJ: Sharrock |
| 3 Dec 1969 [Newport] | Newport | GL Jones, Clarke, Lavelle | |
| 26 Nov 1969 [Murrayfield] | Scottish Districts | 12-26 | GL Jones, Clarke, Merrick Reps: Hallett |
| 19 Nov 1969 [Leicester] | Leicester | G Jones, Clark Reps: Hallett, GL Jones | |
| 19 Apr 1969 [Angers] | French Armed Forces | 3-6 | GL Jones, G Jones, Gatehouse, |
| 16 Apr 1969 [Fylde] | Fylde | 8-9 | Gatehouse, Lloyd-Edwards |
| 6 Apr 1968 [Twickenham ?] | French Armed Forces | L | |
| 30 Mar 1968 [London Welsh] | London Welsh | ||
| 22 Apr 1967 [Paris] | French Armed Forces | 6-40 | |
| 26 Dec 1966 [Twickenham] | Australia | 6-15 | Gibson, Davis, Gatehouse |
| 13 Dec 1966 [Newport] | Newport | 3-11 | |
| 7 Dec 1966 [Murrayfield] | Scottish Districts | 8-21 | |
| 15 Nov 1966 [Coventry] | Coventry | 3-16 | |
| 16 Apr 1966 [Twickenham] | French Armed Forces | 8-3 | Golding, Gibson, Hallett, Lavelle, Davis (Capt), Goodwin, Gatehouse {TJ Steven} |
| 6 Apr 1966 [Leicester] | Leicestershire | 20-19 | |
| 31 May 1965 [Boston] | Boston | 39-6 | Casey [2xT], Sever, Jones |
| 29 May 1965 [Toronto] | Ontario | 36-0 | Tyrell, Jones, Sever |
| 24 May 1965 [Montreal] | Quebec | 13-3 | Ainslie, Goodwin, Dunn |
| 20 May 1965 [Ottawa] | Ottawa All Stars | 59-3 | Casey [2xT], Tyrell, Sever [1xT], Dunn, Goodwin [1xT], Davis [2xC], Jones |
| 15 May 1965 [Halifax] | Nova Scotia | 46-10 | Ainslie [1xT] Sever [1xT] Tyrell [1xT] Dunn, Casey |
| 1 May 1965 [Paris] | French Armed Forces | 14-6 | Goodwin [1xT], Scott, Davis, Lloyd-Edwards, Lavelle |
| ? ? 1965 [Singapore] | RAN/RNZN Combined | 3-9 | |
| 28 Dec 1964 [Twickenham] | French Armed Forces | 9-17 | |
| 26 Dec 1963 [Twickenham] | New Zealand (Crowd 18000) | 9-23 | |
| 1963 [Paris] | French Armed Forces | 3-5 | |
| 19 May 1962 [Salisbury] | Rhodesia | 16-28 | Gibson, Sinclair, Goodwin, Stafford |
| 16 May 1962 [Gwelo] | Southern Rhodesia | 22-14 | Sinclair [1xT], Gibson, Cormack, Stafford, |
| 12 May 1962 [Bulawayo] | Federal Combined Services | 17-10 | Sinclair, Hamilton |
| 9 May 1962 [Kitwe] | Northern Rhodesia | 19-15 | Cormack, Gibson, Sinclair, Goodwin |
| 5 May 1962 [Nairobi] | East African | 36-17 | Cormack [2xC], Goodwin [1xT], Gibson, Goodwin, Hamilton |
| 1962 [Twickenham] | French Armed Forces | 3-11 | |
| 16 Apr 1961 [Paris] | French Armed Forces | 3-17 | Pearey, Highton, Godfrey |
| 26 Dec 1960 [Twickenham] | South Africa | 5-14 | Pearey, Rodd, Highton, Palmer |
| 14 Dec 1960 [Murrayfield] | Scottish XV | 3-11 | Pearey, Rodd, Highton, Palmer |
| 7 Dec 1960 [Newport] | Newport | 6-3 | Tyrrell, Rodd |
| 26 Nov 1960 [Belfast] | Irish XV | 5-11 | Tyrrell, Highton, Palmer |
| 1960 [Twickenham] | French Armed Forces | 8-16 | |
| 26 Dec 1957 [Twickenham] | Australia | 11-16 | |
| 3 Jan 1954 [Avignon] | France Select XV | 6-27 | Rowland (RAF) - 1xT,1xP |
| 31 Dec 1953 [Toulon] | France 'B' | 11-19 | Rowland (RAF) - 1xT,1xC,2xP |
| 26 Dec 1953 [Twickenham] | New Zealand (Crowd 30000) | 8-40 | |
| 26 Dec 1951 [Twickenham] | South Africa | 8-24 | |
| 12 April 1950 [Sale] | Cheshire | ?-? | 15 Flt Lt A A Smailes RAF 14 Pte D M Scott Army 13 Flt Lt R J H Uprichard RAF 12 2 Lt P B Reeve Army 11 2nd Lt G C Phipps Army 10 2nd Lt E M P Hardy Army 9 2nd Lt D W Shuttleworth Army 8 Flt Lt R V Stirling RAF 7 Lt J H Keeling Army 6 Capt J L Baume Army 5 Lt D Wilkins RN 4 Maj B A Neale Army 3 2nd Lt R F Dorey Army 2 Sqn Ldr R G H Weighill RAF 1 OCdt S D Little RAF |
| 1 Jan 1950 [Lourdes] | French Regional XV | (Travelling party) Glastonbury, Kirby, Lawson, Bristowe, Wilkins, Kelly, Ransome | |
| 29 Dec 1949 [Dax] | French Regional XV | (Travelling party) Glastonbury, Kirby, Lawson, Bristowe, Wilkins, Kelly, Ransome | |
| 13 Apr 1949 [Blundellsands] | Lancashire | D11-11 | Barras, Ransome, d'A Hosking, Kelly 15 Flt Lt A A Smailes RAF 14 Instructor Sub Lt M Thomas RN 13 Bdr A Cameron Army 12 Flt Lt I J M Lumsden RAF 11 Lt D W C Smith Army 10 2nd Lt N M Hall Army 9 2nd Lt D W Shuttleworth Army 8 Maj P R B Mitchell Army 7 PO C R Ransome RN 6 Fg Off C M Browse RAF 5 Flt Lt R V Stirling RAF 4 Maj B A Neale Army 3 Flt Lt E L Horsfall RAF 2 Sqn Ldr R G H Weighill RAF 1 Lt D P W Kelly RN |
| 2 Jan 1949 [Lyons] | French Regional XV | ||
| 30 Dec 1948 [Grenoble] | French Regional XV | ||
| 31 Dec 1947 [Perpignan] | French Regional XV | Aldous, Peckham, Harrison, Carter | |
| 28 Dec 1947 [Marseilles] | French Regional XV | Aldous, Peckham, Harrison, Carter | |
| 30 Sep 1947 | Australia | L8-19 | |
| 1 Jan 1947 [Bordeaux[ | French Services XV | ||
| 12 Jan 1946 [Gloucester] | New Zealand Army | L0-31 | 15 LAC R H Lloyd Davies RAF 14 Flt Sgt P H Davies RAF 13 Plt Off B L Williams RAF - Bleddyn Williams was actually a Fg Off 12 PO L Williams RN 11 Pte J Anderson Army 10 Lt L Constance RNVR 9 Maj K H S Wilson Army 8 FLt hughes RAF (AB G M Bevan RN) 7 Wg Cdr C G Gilthorpe RAF 6 Sgt W G Jones Army 5 Cpl D Phillips Army 4 Surgeon Lt (D) J R C Matthews RNVR 3 Instructor LT D B Vaughan RN 2 Sqn Ldr L J Manfield RAF 1 Cpl J Thornton RAF |
| 1 Jan 1946 [Paris] | French Services XV | ||
| 21 Oct 1945 [Bordeaux] | French Services XV | ||
| 20 Oct 1945 [Toulouse] | French Services XV | ||
| 19 Oct 1935 [Aldershot] | New Zealand (Crowd 12000) | 5-6 | Reg Knapman, Reginald Hurden, Don Tarr, Neville Evans, John Watkins |
| 7 Nov 1931 | South Africa | 0-23 | |
| 5 Nov 1927 [Twickenham] | New South Wales | 11-13 | |
| 13 Dec 1924 [Twickenham] | New Zealand (Crowd 25000) | 3-25 | Thompson, Stevenson, Luddington, Gardner, Clark Loriston, Forrest |
| 1912/1913 | South Africa | United Services Team | |
| 28 Oct 1908 [Portsmouth] | Australia (Crowd 7000) | 6-8 | Combined Navy & Army Team: Lyon, Coopper, Lapaige, Moir, Grieg, Carlisle, J s Wilson, F O'B Wilson, (Tagg), Abercrombie, Warrington-Morris |