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Army Rugby Union (Women) History

By the mid 1990’s women were regularly playing rugby and in 1996 their efforts were officially recognised by the ARU. Women’s rugby grew under the guidance of one of its founders Lt Col EE Cunningham, Adjutants General’s Corps (AGC) who retired from the position of ARU (W) Chairwoman at the end of the 2007-08 season. Success was soon in coming. In 2001 during their tour of Cyprus the Women's Tens Team lifted the Akrotiri Tens Cup.

In 2003 a Women’s Inter-Service Competition was introduced. The inaugural competition was won by the Army who, under the captaincy of Major S Butler, beat both the Royal Navy (35-5) and the RAF. Since its inception the Army has dominated the competition beating both Royal Navy and Royal Air Force teams in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

In 2005 the women made their first international tour to Canada and followed it in 2007 with a tour to New Zealand.

The Corps Competition was extended to include women's teams in the 2007-08 season and in its inaugural season was won by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) women's team who beat the Army Medical Services team.

For more see History of the ARU

Women's Inter-Services Tournament Champions

The Women's Inter-Services Competition began in 2003, but matches had been played against a RAF team in 2001 and a Navy team in 2002.


Year Champions Army v RN Army v RAF RN v RAF
2003 Army Army 35-5 Army Royal Air Force 
2004 Army Army 39-3 Army 17-3 Royal Air Force 
2005 Army Army 61-5 Army 34-0 Royal Navy 10-5 
2006 Army  Army 47-7  Army 38-0  Royal Navy 13-5 
2007 Army  Army 36-3  Army 36-0  Royal Air Force 17-10 
2008 Army  Army 75-0   Army 56-0 Royal Air Force 23-10


Army Women's International Players


Year Army Player Country No of Caps Regt/Corps
  Major S Butler Wales
 
  
1996-99 Captain J Parke-Robinson Wales
13
 AGC (RMP)  
  Private K Mayze Wales
 
  
  Captain M Magowan Ireland
 
  
1997 Captain A O'Flynn England
23  
 RAVC
  Private S Buckingham England
 
  
  Corporal S Wilkinson England
 
 QARANC 
  Captain M Hodge Scotland
 
 QARANC  
 2007 Lance Corporal J Leonard England
 1
 RE  



Women's Corps Competition

The Corps Competition was extended to include women's teams in the 2007-08 season and in its inaugural season was won by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) women's team who beat the Army Medical Services team.


Year Winners Points Runners Up Points
2007 Electrical and Mechanical Engineers   Army Medical Services