With the matches at Kneller Hall over lapping the start of the Combined Services U23 match v Oxbridge and the sense of reunion that makes the atmosphere on Army Navy days so special the crowd for the 12:00 match is always less than the game deserves.  However for the youngsters of the three Services it remains a highlight of their season and for many a stepping stone  for senior honours.

This season Navy man, Mark Jones, has the honour of leading the side having been on the bench last season.  He has already served a long apprenticeship.  Part of the Navy’s Senior side squad for the 2009 Commonwealth Cup Mark played a part through the President’s XV.  Since then work commitments have curtailed some of his progress but he has regularly popped up in both Command and Representative colours.  Not part of this season’s U23 Inter Service side he played a committed part in the 2011/2012 season where his ‘full on’ play made him stand out.  Tomorrow he leads a side that is an exciting blend of the three Services talent and has already shown its attacking intent with over sixty points scored in their one warm-up run out last weekend.

Mark will be joined by a number of Navy Rugby colleagues.

The performance of this season’s U23 pack has been rewarded where Chris Davies, Sam White, Chris MacDonald and Brian Weeks Memorial Trophy winner, John Barnett, all start.  It is likely that Vili Talemaimeleya and John Henty will be named amongst the replacements.  It culminates a remarkable season for Chris Davies that started out with the Commonwealth Cup side in Sydney and finishes at Twickenham.

Behind the scrum Josh Blackburn brings his strong running skills to outside centre and Matt Horton caps an excellent year by being named fullback.  Again Navy Rugby will hope that Liam Mellor, Sam Davies and Morgan Andrews will be named on the bench.

All the Navy players need look no further than the team list of the Navy’s Senior XV to see why this game can hold so much.  In 2009 Dale Sleeman broke through in CS colours and is now a key member of the Senior side.  The following year Kye Beasley, Dennis Scotthorne and Ian Cooper both had stand out performances.  Whilst in 2011 the powerful running of Aaron Hunt was on show in contrast to the effortless, gliding style of current Navy fullback Jon Humphrey.  Finally last season it was the turn of Tom Davies to use the CS match to put behind him a troubled end to the season and give a timely reminder of his ability.  In total 10 future Navy capped Senior players have played in this fixture in the last four years along with many Army players.  In 2009 it was a young Semesa Rokodugni, now having an excellent season at Bath, playing alongside Dale Sleeman.

Combined Services Team

Team: Brad Cook (RAF), Mark Jones (Navy Rugby), Chris Davies (Navy Rugby), Sam White (Navy Rugby), Chris MacDonald (Navy Rugby), John Barnett (Navy Rugby), Rob Burnell (Army), Callum Davies (RAF), Morgan Evans (Army), Chris Kirkham (RAF), Balumakau (Army), Jack Gray (Army), Josh Blackburn (Navy Rugby), Aaron Robinson (RAF), Matt Horton (Navy Rugby)  Reps from: Talemaimeleya, Henty, Mellor, Andrews, Davies S (All Navy RUgby), Madigbuli (Army), Bale, Jolly, Millership (RAF)