This is possibly the most ambitious initiative in Single Service Rugby League since the sport was recognised across the three Armed Forces and sees Royal Navy Rugby League take on teams from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy in the Maritime Tri-Nations Tournament. Whilst this is the third staging of the tournament it is the first to feature a Ladies Competition to run alongside the Men’s Competition.

The competition has been set to coincide with the centenary commemoration of the cessation of hostilities in the Great War with the final match of the tournament to be played on 10th November to allow players and officials to take part in this hugely significant commemoration of World War 1.

Plans are well advanced as regards fixtures and venues under the direction of Lt Dave Potts RN on behalf of the RNRL Committee. The visiting teams should arrive in UK in late October and will be accommodated in the Portsmouth Area for most of their time in UK. Whilst the RAN has declined the offer of a warm up match the RNZN will take on a RNRL select side at Burnaby Road on 31 Oct.

Whilst a majority of the fixtures will be played in Portsmouth one set of games sees the RN face the RNZN in Plymouth in the opening round of the competition on 3rd November.

The current fixture list is as follows
31st October - RN Select XIII v RNZN - Portsmouth
3rd November – RN v RNZN – Plymouth
7th November – RNZN v RAN – Portsmouth
10th November – RN v RAN – Portsmouth
Following the final match in Portsmouth an end of Tournament Dinner will take place to formally bring the Tournament to a close.

The following day the teams will take part in events, along with the rest of the Armed Forces to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice of the Great War.

This promises to be a fantastic tournament and based on the two previous tournaments staged in New Zealand (2010) and Australia (2014) there will be plenty high class Rugby League on show as the Royal Navy strive to take the trophy for the first time with the RN Ladies, the Wrenegades looking to take the inaugural Ladies Tri Nations title.

Further details of the tournament will be posted here and via Twitter (@RoyalNavyRL) as the plans are developed and finalised.