The Army Rugby Union (ARU) was formed on 31st December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant JEC ‘Birdie’ Partridge’s (Welch Regiment) idea to have a body to administer the playing of rugby in the British Army. Image File history File links Allred_med. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

Since the game’s invention in 1823, which in itself has a British Army connection because William Webb Ellis was a son of an Army officer, members of the Army have been keen players, but it was not until the Crimean War (1854-56) that a record was made of a game being played. Thereafter regiments of the British Army played wherever they were stationed in British Empire spreading its popularity around the globe. It was a result of the game being played in India in the 1870’s that led to the 3rd (East Kent) Regiment and the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment having a hand in the creation of the Calcutta Cup, the oldest international trophy in the Rugby Football Union (RFU). The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Statue of William Webb Ellis outside Rugby School William Webb Ellis (November 24, 1806 - January 24, 1872) is often credited with the invention of Rugby football. ... Combatants United Kingdom France Ottoman Empire Kingdom of Sardinia Russian Empire Casualties 17,500 British 90,000 French 35,000 Turkish 2,050 Sardinian killed, wounded and died of disease 256,000 killed, wounded and died of disease The Crimean War lasted from 1854 until 1 April 1856 and was... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... The Calcutta Cup is a rotating trophy awarded to the winner of an annual rugby union match between the national teams of England and Scotland. ... The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the rugby union governing body in England. ...

Shortly after the ARU was formed the RFU kindly donated a handsome cup, the Army Cup, which was to be competed for at inter-unit level. Over the years there have been some ferocious contests for cup and from those contests the reputation of the Army’s great rugby units have been made. Those units include; the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, the Welch Regiment, the Royal Signals and 7 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the rugby union governing body in England. ...

The highlight of the ARU season is the annual Army Navy Match held at Twickenham. The first of these matches took place in 1878 at the Kennington Oval, but it was not until 1907 that the match became an annual fixture as part of the Inter-Service Competition. That competition was expanded to included the Royal Air Force in 1920 the same year that CSM CW Jones (Welch Regiment) was to become the first ‘other rank’ to be picked to represent the Army. The Army Navy Match is the annual rugby union match played between the senior XV teams of the Royal Navy and British Army. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

Between the wars (1920-39) the ARU arranged matches against the French Army, the last of which was played shortly before the Nazi invasion of France in 1940. The period also saw Army players being selected for British Lions teams. In 1931 the Army Rugby Union Referees Society (ARURS) was formed and continues to provide professional refereeing for all games. The French Army (Armée de Terre) is the land-based component of the French Armed Forces. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Two rugby teams may be known as the British Lions, though it is not the correct title for either: The British and Irish Lions are a touring side playing rugby union. ...

Although the activities of the ARU were curtailed during the Second World War (1939- 45), as they had been during the First World War (1914-18), a series of Service International matches were played around the country by teams drawn from rugby playing servicemen; these games drew large crowds and help to maintain the nation’s morale through the dark days of the war. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

After the war first class rugby players brought in through National Service dominated Army rugby. During the period 1948-62 more men played for the Army XV than in any other previous or subsequent era. It meant that thirty Army players were selected to represent their countries and from among those selected; Matthews, Hall, Cameron, Scotland, Mike Campbell-Lamerton and Fisher were given the added privilege of captaining their respective national teams. Also on a national front the ARU can boast of the fact that it has had appointed from its ranks Presidents for the English and Scottish RFUs. They were: Major General BA Hill CB, DSO (English RFU 1937-39), Colonel BC Hartley CB, OBE (English RFU 1947-48), Major General RGS Hobbs CB, DSO, OBE (English RFU 1961-62), Brigadier FH Coutts CBE, DL (Scottish RFU 1977-78), Brigadier DW Shuttleworth OBE, ADC (English RFU 1985-86) National Service is a common name for compulsory or voluntary military service programs. ... Mike Campbell-Lamerton (soldier and sportsman), August 1, 1933 - March 17, 2005. ...

In 1996 the ARU officially recognised women’s rugby, which had been played in the Army since the late 1980’s. A women’s Inter-Service competition was introduced in 2003 and since its inauguration the Army teams have been its undisputed champions.

For many years units have played rugby sevens, but there was no representative side. In 2000 that changed after Army XV players were used to assist England to prepare for the IRB Sevens. The occasion gave rise to the creation of an Army Sevens team, which has become a significant force in the game, winning some of the sport’s major competitions.

External links

• Army Rugby Union - Official site