Team Profiles

The British Army

Colours: Red

We are very pleased to welcome the British Army - particularly as they played in the original tournament 50 years ago.

The Guards and Cavalry played the earliest recorded game of rugby in the Army, in a setting best remembered for the ill fated 'Charge of the Light Brigade' and the dedication of Florence Nightingale. The setting was Balaclava on 27th March 1855 - right in the middle of the Crimean War. The Army Rugby Union owes its inception to three men in a railway carriage. Returning by train with Blackheath after a match against the West of Scotland, Lieutenant 'Birdie' Partridge and two other officers proposed the forming of an Army Union which was agreed on 31 December 1906. Uniquely the Royal Cypher, our emblem, was granted by King George V in March 1912.

The Army aims to play a range of challenging physical sports to satisfy and nurture all talents wherever its finds itself in the World. Rugby Union is a particular success such that since our formation, 190 Full International Caps plus a growing number of sevens representative honours have been awarded to Army players.

Today's Army team is somewhat fresh to the sevens circuit due to the unavailability of the 15 a side players in preparation of the annual pilgrimage to Twickenham for the annual Army v Navy match. We do however intend to give a good account of ourselves with a mixture of South Seas guile and British directness. ARMY - BE THE BEST is our motto we intend to live up to that challenge and enjoy the hospitality of the Sunshine Charity Sevens.

Man to watch - Isoa Damu Damu is the most recently "capped" a Fijian who has qualified Isoa Damu Damu is the most recently "capped" a Fijian who has qualified through residency and is now playing for England.