The Royal Navy and the RAF move to action stations for the first leg of the Inter Services Championship, sponsored by Babcock International, at Portsmouth on 7th April. This traditionally close encounter provides an opportunity for fine tuning before they meet the current champions - the Army.

Both the ‘Blues’ teams are rebuilding. The RAF, led by veteran Barbarian Pete Taylor (Harrogate) will prepare a relatively young side in the warmth of Barcelona. The season has been lengthened by, for the first time, playing in the County Championship.

The Royal Navy are upbeat, undergoing a major refit around the pairing of Dave Sibson and Dave Pascoe at half back. New recruits Tim Southall - formerly Newcastle Falcons Academy - and Jamie Caruana (Cornwall) will provide a punchy back division behind the traditional ‘hearts of oak’ pack. In typically combative mood, Chris Alcock who has played in these games many times, and is now the Royal Navy Director of Rugby said with only half a smile, “It’s war. The gun ports are open - stand by for a broadside.”

The finale will be the Army v Navy game at Twickenham on May Day. A blood and thunder affair before 40,000 partisans, the match goes back to 1887 at the Oval when the Navy beat the Army by a try and a goal to a goal.

Army coach Andy Hickling “...is aiming high and looking for the perfect performance”. After Oxford, Cambridge and the Harlequins he will select a squad for a high intensity four match training camp in South Africa. The final match against Stellenbosch University “...will be a true examination of where we have reached in preparation for the Babcocks. It’s very exciting.”

The Army, again led by recent Barbarian Mal Roberts , can call upon three full internationals, England ‘A’ and Counties players and six 7s internationals. After operations in Iraq and the Balkans, all are available for selection.

Inter Service matches are certainly never over until the referee blows that final whistle. Try telling a Royal Marine, with a chest full of medals lying 10 points adrift, with 5 minutes to go, that the tide is not about to turn.

Twickenham - 1 May 2004 - Army v Navy ticket hotline: 01252 334415
Tickets now on sale