Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens to make Inter Service Rugby debut for Navy v RAF

Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens, Northampton will make its first appearance as a venue in rugby union's Inter Service Championships this spring.

The home of the 2024 English Premiership champions – Northampton Saints – has been selected as the host of the men's and women's Royal Navy v Royal Air Force clashes on Saturday 19 April, to kick off the tournament.

That victorious Saints side included Navy stalwart Sam Matavesi.

The ground replaces Plymouth - which showcased the competition opener in 2024.

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The stadium can hold 15,500 Royal Navy and RAF fans cheering on their teams in the much-anticipated Easter showdown.

The East Midlands club is also proud of its military heritage, and its ground houses a pitchside war memorial.

The Army v Navy match takes place at the home of English Rugby, Allianz (formerly Twickenham) Stadium on Saturday 3 May, following on from a pulsating comeback win for the British Army, thanks to a try in the last moments of the match to see them on their way to their Inter Service crown in 2024.

Gloucester Rugby's Kingsholm Stadium will once again welcome the Army and RAF to go head-to-head on the competition's final day – Saturday 17 May.

All men's and women's matches will be shown live on the BFBS Forces News YouTube channel.

Tickets can be purchased through the following link: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/northamptonsaints/EDP/Event/Index/357

Serving personnel can make the most of a special discount by using the code MILITARY25 at the checkout.