cinch Stadium will be hosting two Inter Service Championship fixtures for the first time this Easter, with the men’s and women’s teams from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force going head-to-head in Northampton.
The Senior Women will kick off the day on Saturday 19 April at 1pm, with the Senior Men playing at 4pm.
Tickets are available from 12pm on Friday 14 February for a special Early Bird price of just £15/£20* for adults and £5* for juniors. After the two-week Early Bird window ends, tickets will be priced at £17/£22* for adults and £5* for juniors.
To secure your place now, please CLICK HERE.
Northampton Saints has a long relationship with the UK Armed Forces. A signee of the Armed Forces Covenant in 2017, the Club was also home to Edgar Mobbs – a legend of English rugby who won the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. The Mobbs Memorial Match (first played in his honour in 1921) is one of the longest-standing fixtures in rugby, and over the years has featured the Barbarians, East Midlands, Northampton Saints, Bedford Blues and the British Army.
Furthermore, each year the Club and its supporters donate thousands of pounds to military charities such as the Royal British Legion and Army Benevolent Fund.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force for their men’s and women’s fixtures in April,” said Julia Chapman, Chief Executive at Northampton Saints.
“At Saints, we’re very proud of our long-standing relationship with the Armed Forces. A significant number of our former players have enjoyed distinguished military careers, our War Memorial stands proudly inside cinch Stadium just a stone’s throw from our pitch, our annual Remembrance Ceremony remains one of the most poignant moments in the Club’s calendar, and the Mobbs Memorial Match continues every season more than a century since the first fixture was played.
“So, it’s very exciting to have agreed a multi-year deal to stage Inter Service Championship matches here in Northampton, and I have no doubt that the town’s rugby supporters will get behind and enjoy both fixtures this Easter.”
Julia Chapman, Chief Executive at Northampton Saints
The first visit of the Inter Service Championship to cinch Stadium could also see a return to the East Midlands for LH Sam Matavesi, who played in the 2024 Gallagher Premiership triumph for Saints before moving to Lyon OU last summer.
Matavesi scored a decisive try for the Royal Navy in Plymouth last year, but the Navy had to withstand a second-half fightback by the RAF which fell just one point short. Meanwhile, the RAF Women continued to show why they are one of the leading teams in the country with a 34-12 win over the Navy.
This year, the Royal Air Force is the designated home team, and with a number of major airbases within 90 minutes’ drive of Northampton, Director of RAF Rugby Union Engagements Air Cdre Al Roberts is hopeful for a vociferous crowd getting behind the Light Blues.
He said: “Everyone involved with the Inter Service Championship is looking forward to showcasing the best of military rugby at one of the best venues in the country.
“Playing this game in Northampton brings us closer to RAF centres of population for the first time in several years, and it would be fantastic to have lots of light blue in the stands at cinch Stadium.”
Julia Chapman, Chief Executive at Northampton Saints
“We are delighted to be taking our game against the Royal Navy to Northampton. Last year the Senior Men served up a dramatic clash, while our Women showed why they are regarded so highly with an outstanding performance. Hopefully we will see more of the same in 2025.”
The Royal Navy Mariners and RAF Vultures will also be playing their game in the Northampton area on Friday 18 April, with a venue and kick-off time to be confirmed.
2025 INTER SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES:
- Navy v RAF : cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (Northampton), Saturday 19 April – CLICK HERE to book tickets.
- Army v Navy: Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), Saturday 3 May
- Army v RAF: Kingsholm Stadium (Gloucester), Saturday 17 May
*All ticket prices are subject to a £1.50 booking fee.
