The Royal Navy Rugby Union Knockout Cup was introduced as a trial event in the 1972/73 season under the chairmanship of Capt J Beadon RN. Many sources reference the first year as 1971/72 but this is incorrect and may be due to early records showing the final to be played in 1972 and then this being assumed to be in the 71/72 season as most competitions have their finals in the second part of the season. However the Navy Cup final was always played before Christmas and the first final was played in December 1972. In the 2017/18 season the final was moved to March and it retained this new position in the Royal Navy Rugby Union structured season the following year. Regrettably, when last viewed (2016), the cup itself is incorrectly engraved with the wrong sequence of winners which has also added to the confusion.
The trial was such a success that at the Annual General Meeting on 30th March 1974 it was adopted as an official competition. As such it is the oldest competition within Navy Rugby. The winner in the first year was HMS Ark Royal and they remain the only ship to have won the cup. HMS Heron, currently the most successful unit to have won the cup were the champions in the second year ending an eighteen month unbeaten record of the holders Ark Royal.
The first team to retain the trophy was 42 Cdo RM in the 1988-89 season. With a backrow of Roger Tinson, Corin Palmer and Mark Hewitt plus Bob Armstrong in the second row they were too strong for 45 Cdo RM and the 38-3 scoreline to retain the cup was apparently deserved. Bob Armstrong scored a hat trick of rties in the final. Since 42's achievement of retaining the cup this feat has also been achieved by RM Stonehouse, CTCRM, HMS Heron and HMS Seahawk. A fair reflection of Fleet Air Arm and Royal Marines dominance of Navy Rugby in recent history.
The 1989-90 final also stands out as being the only game to finish in a draw. With the teams level on 25 each at 'No Side' the winner was declared as 45 Cdo RM through scoring more tries. HMS Collingwood were the unlucky losers that day.
In the 2014/15 season Britannia Royal Naval College joined the list of double winners when then defeated HMS Seahawk 12-7. HMS Seahawk returned as winners of the cup in 2015/16 when they defeated 40 Cdo RM in the final to win the trophy for a fourth time, retaining it in the 2016/17to record their fifth win.
There have been 17 different winners of the Royal Navy Rugby Union knockout cup and the last 'new' team the trophy was BRNC Dartmouth.
In 2021 HMS Seahawk joined HMS Heron as the most successful team in the Navy Cup with their 8th win, ironically over HMS Heron. The match was also noteable in that John Lamsin collected his 8th winners medal for the Navy Cup; 1 with HMS Sultan and 7 playing for HMS Seahawk.
After being postponed a couple of times the 50th Navy Cup final was played in May 2023 and hosted by HM S Sultan. Home advantage wasn't enough as HMS Collinwood secured their 5th cup final victory.
Geraint Ashton Jones Dec 2023
Most Navy Cup Wins by Team
| Team | No. of Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| HMS Seahawk | 9 | 2023/24; 2021/22; 2019/20; 2018/19; 2016/17; 2015/16; 2012/13; 2011/12; 1984/85 |
| HMS Heron | 8 | 2010/11; 2007/08; 2006/07; 2004/05; 2002/03; 1995/96; 1983/84; 1973/74 |
| HMS Collingwood | 5 | 2022/23; 2000/01; 1985/86; 1980/81; 1974/75 |
| 42 Cdo RM | 4 | 2009/10; 2005/06; 1988/89; 1987/88 |
Navy Cup Winners
| Year | Navy Cup Winner | Runner Up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 [51] | HMS Seahawk [9] | HMS Heron | 40-29 |
| 2022/23 [50] | HMS Collingwood [5] | HMS Sultan | 31-17 |
| 2021/22 [49] | HMS Seahawk [8] | HMS Heron | 26-14 |
| 2020/21 | Not Played | Covid19 | |
| 2019/20 [48] | HMS Seahawk [7] | HMS Sultan | 49-0 |
| 2018/19 [47] | HMS Seahawk [6] | HMNB Clyde | 38-10 |
| 2017/18 [46] | HMNB Clyde [2] | 40 Cdo RM | 40-7 |
| 2016/17 [45] | HMS Seahawk [5] | BRNC Dartmouth | 18-12 |
| 2015/16 [44] | HMS Seahawk [4] | 40 Cdo RM | 19-12 |
| 2014/15 [43] | BRNC Dartmouth [2] | HMS Seahawk | 12-7 |
| 2013/14 [42] | Cdo Logs RM [2] | 45 Cdo RM | 24-8 |
| 2012/13 [41] | HMS Seahawk [3] | HMNB Portsmouth | 43-8 |
| 2011/12 [40] | HMS Seahawk [2] | HMS Sultan | 74-6 |
| 2010/11 [39] | HMS Heron [8] | HMS Excellent | 27-7 |
| 2009/10 [38] | 42 Cdo RM [4] | HMS Seahawk | 12-6 |
| 2008/09 [37] | HMS Sultan [2] | HMS Nelson | 10-8 |
| 2007/08 [36] | HMS Heron [7] | ||
| 2006/07 [35] | HMS Heron [6] | ||
| 2005/06 [34] | 42 Cdo RM [3] | HMS Collingwood | 23-15 |
| 2004/05 [33] | HMS Heron [5] | BRNC Dartmouth | 23-3 |
| 2003/04 [32] | HMS Raleigh [2] | HMS Collingwood | 21-9 |
| 2002/03 [31] | HMS Heron [4] | ||
| 2001/02 [30] | BRNC Dartmouth [1] | HMS Heron | 31-22 |
| 2000/01 [29] | HMS Collingwood [4] | CTC Lympstone | |
| 1999-2000 [28] | CDO Logs RM [1] | HMS Collingwood | 19-17 |
| 1998/99 [27] | HMNB Devonport [3] | HMS Dryad | 12-5 |
| 1997/98 [26] | CTCRM [3] | HMS Dryad | |
| 1996/97 [25] | CTCRM [2] | HMS Heron | |
| 1995/96 [24] | HMS Heron [3] | RM Stonehouse | 13-6 |
| 1994/95 [23] | RM Stonehouse [2] | HMS Nelson | 24-0 |
| 1993/94 [22] | RM Stonehouse [1] | HMS Heron | 16-12 |
| 1992/93 [21] | HMS Nelson [3] | HMS Neptune | 19-10 |
| 1991/92 [20] | HMS Nelson [2] | HMS Cochrane | 13-9 |
| 1990/91 [19] | HMNB Devonport [2] | HMS Sultan | 16-9 |
| 1989/90 [18] | 45 Cdo RM [1] (win on tries scored) | HMS Collingwood | 25-25 |
| 1988/89 [17] | 42 Cdo RM [2] | 45 Cdo RM | 38-3 |
| 1987/88 [16] | 42 Cdo RM [1] | ||
| 1986-87 [15] | HMS Sultan [1] | HMS Cochrane | 25-12 |
| 1985/86 [14] | HMS Collingwood [3] | HMS Seahawk | 7-6 |
| 1984/85 [13] | HMS Seahawk [1] | HMS Nelson | |
| 1983/84 [12] | HMS Heron [2] | ||
| 1982/83 [11] | HMS Cochrane [1] | HMS Defiance | 13-4 |
| 1981/82 [10] | HMS Nelson [1] | RNEC Manadon | 6-3 |
| 1980/81 [9] | HMS Collingwood [2] | ||
| 1979/80 [8] | Fisleigh [1] (Fisguard & Raleigh) | HMS Excellent | 3-0 |
| 1978/79 [7] | CTCRM [1] | HMS Daedalus | 15-0 |
| 1977/78 [6] | HMS Neptune [1] | HMS Sultan | |
| 1976/77 [5] | RNEC Manadon [1] | HMS Collingwood | 9-0 |
| 1975/76 [4] | HMS Drake [1] | ||
| 1974/75 [3] | HMS Collingwood [1] | CTCRM | 21-4 |
| 1973/74 [2] | HMS Heron [1] | HMS Ark Royal | 15-3 |
| 1972/73 [1] | HMS Ark Royal [1] | HMS Neptune | 12-10 |