Inter Service Championships: Numbers and history behind military rugby's stellar showcase

The Inter Service (IS) Rugby Championships are the pinnacle of the annual military rugby calendar.

For many, they mark the highlight of the Armed Forces sporting calendar.

The tournament, which demands the very highest levels of performance from the UK military's finest male and female military stars, has a deep and rich history.

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Not only has the competition prepared many players for international careers, but it also showcases the skills and discipline of those who have already graced the stage for their respective nations.

With three proud services, all with a rich tapestry of talent, we have looked at the competition's numbers through the years – which have been the most successful sides? And how has the tournament developed through the decades? 

Recent winners

Following a sensational performance to win last year’s tournament at Twickenham, the Royal Navy will be aiming to defend their title in 2024 amid fierce challenges from firstly the RAF, then the British Army.

In the 2023 women's championships, the British Army reminded everyone of their dominance, romping to a huge win over the Royal Navy at Twickenham as they surged to tournament victory.

Men

2023 Royal Navy

2022 British Army

2021 No play due to Covid pandemic

2020 No play due to Covid pandemic

2019 British Army

2018 Royal Air Force

2017 British Army

2016 Royal Navy

2015 Royal Air Force

2014 British Army

2013 British Army

Women

2023 British Army

2022 British Army

2021 No play due to Covid pandemic

2020 No play due to Covid pandemic

2019 Royal Air Force

2018 British Army

2017 British Army

2016 British Army

2015 British Army

2014 British Army

2013 British Army

Platform for success

The military's finest rugby players are afforded the chance to perform at iconic venues like Kingsholm in Gloucester and Twickenham – the home of England Rugby and the largest dedicated rugby stadium in the world. Matchdays there, for the Army v Navy, regularly see crowds in excess of 50,000 people.

Some of international rugby's most famous names have made their mark in the Inter Service Championships – notably Rory Underwood and Paul Hull (Royal Air Force), and England Sevens stars Greg Barden and Josh Drauniniu (Royal Navy).

Growth

The Inter Service Championships are one of rugby's most historic competitions and have been played every year since 1920, except for during the Second World War and the Covid pandemic. Those early matches featured men only, with women joining the tournament in 2003.

The men's competition has been won multiple times by each service in the past decade. The British Army has won more than the other two services combined, but it took the red shirts six years to win their first title, in 1926.

The women's teams joined the tournament in 2003, and the competition has been dominated by the British Army. However, the Royal Air Force broke their winning streak in 2019.

Twenty one years on from the first edition of the women's IS Championships, all three weekends feature double headers at the same venues.

Overall wins

Men

British Army 47

Royal Navy 21

Royal Air Force 16

Triple tie 10

The Army and Royal Air Force have shared the title twice

Women

British Army 18

Royal Navy 0

Royal Air Force 1

There are further layers to the championships – the respective veterans' teams also play on the Friday night before the main action. They have been part of the set-up since 1996, and the British Army leads the way in terms of wins – 17 compared to the Royal Air Force's five and the Royal Navy's two.

The championships also seek to promote and nurture young talent and introduced the under-23s in 2006. It is played before Christmas, ahead of the senior teams' build-up to the spring championships.

This timing has allowed players to earn U23 and full caps in the same season, like Sapper Jack Johnson of the British Army whose kicking helped his side to victory in 2021 before helping the red shirts to victory in the men's competition.

The Army have won nine titles, the Royal Navy seven and the Royal Air Force one.