RAF make history by beating Army to win their first Inter Services rugby league title

· Forces News

In a competition never won by a non-Army team, the Royal Air Force came into the middle fixture of the 2026 Inter Services rugby league knowing the significance of the task at hand.

Coming back off an impressive 34-10 victory over the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, the in-form challengers took on the defending champions on a mostly sunny day in Stanningley - Air Force home turf.

The Army, so dominant over the last two decades, went in 8-4 up at half-time and looked to use plenty of power and physicality to try and push a dynamic RAF team backwards.

There was plenty of noise from a crowd who gathered at the beginning of a multi-match day - not only the men's fixture between the services later, but also the Stanningley side - and their gradual rise in volume through the 80 minutes reflected the increase in tension and intensity between the two teams.

Grace Burnett, vice captain of the side, was named player of the match for her attacking and defensive prowess, ever present when putting teammates into space, soaking up defenders and running hard lines into a red wall.

Speaking to BFBS, she said: "So proud, especially beating the Army and to win the game, it feels so so special to be a key part of that and clearly someone somewhere thought I deserved player of the match and honestly it's an honour".

Head Coach Max Green told BFBS he was delighted with the style his side played, especially their first try in the corner with the ball going through multiple hands and beating the Army defence on the outside.

It the light blues who managed to seize momentum in the key moment, with 18-year veteran player Rachel Robinson scoring the winning try in her final game for the Air Force, setting off scenes of jubilation as her side won the competition with a week to spare.