This year it is the turn of the Royal Navy to represent UKAF, marching on the trophy ahead of the clash between the Tigers and the Rhinos. The trophy party will be led by RNRL and UKAF skipper Petty Officer Ben (Yorkshire Prose) Taylor. Assisting him will be RNRL Womens Captain Leading Seaman Sam Alderson alongside RNRL Academy Coach Leading Engineering Technician Wata Robanakadavu.
Coincidentally, this year, the Royal Navy, for the third time in four years the Royal Navy took the Inter Service Rugby League seniors title after a dramatic final match between the Army and the RAF. By virtue of a huge points difference achieved in the first two rounds of the competition the Royal Navy players could only sit and wait for the outcome of the closing fixture of this year’s series. Despite stealing the game with a last minute converted try the RAF were short of the points required to overhaul the RN so the trophy returned to Portsmouth.
In the other competitions that make up the Inter Services Rugby League series the RN Women ‘the Wrenegades’ returned to the full 13 a-side format and pushed the Army and RAF all the way with the ever strong Army Womens team taking the trophy. Similar results for the Men’s Academy side saw them finish behind the RAF and series winners the Army.