RNPA about us



WELCOME TO ROYAL NAVY POLO The Royal Navy’s connection with polo has been long and distinguished. Polo was played by naval teams in a number of foreign stations as early as the 1860s and in 1874 the staff of Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet helped to start the Malta Polo Club. The Royal Navy Polo Association (RNPA) was founded in 1929 by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Keyes and continues to this day under the umbrella of Royal Navy and Royal Marines Equestrian Association. When the Royal Navy withdrew from Malta in 1962, the RNPA and its ponies returned to the UK to Taunton Vale Polo Club in Somerset. With the subsequent establishment of a base for Combined Services Polo at Tidworth In 1994, the RNPA moved to its current home at Tidworth Polo Club, where it maintains a string of ponies for members’ use. The purpose of the RNPA is to maintain the game of polo within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines by encouraging new players into the sport. The association seeks to promote polo for all ranks throughout the Royal Navy and Royal Marines by making it fun and affordable. To do this, significant financial subsidies are available for pony hire, introductory courses and foreign tours (all conditional on membership of the Sports Lottery Scheme), making playing Navy polo the cheapest in the country. The aim for 2010 reflects the increased focus on the development of polo within the Service and is: ‘To bring on established players and assist them in progressing to the next level’ Courses and Training Beginners courses, lasting 2 to 3 days, are routinely run at Tidworth and are subsidised for serving members of the Armed Forces. The RNPA also has a programme of training clinics designed to bring on the novice player to a level where he/she can play chukkas. Finally there is the Junior Development Scheme which was introduced in 2007 with the aim of bringing on those young players who demonstrate the necessary ability and commitment to the sport. Designed to increase match experience and team play amongst this cadre, a team consisting of three junior players, bolstered by a + Goal player is entered in selected club matches during the season. Fixtures The official fixtures programme consists of 10 matches against both Service and Civilian teams throughout the season, of which the principal Service matches are the Rundle Cup, (v the Army), the Duke of York Cup (v the RAF), the Inter Regimental Tournament and the Captains’ and Subalterns’ Tournament. 2010 has been a particularly good year with the RN winning the Rundle Cup, the Inter Regimental Tournament and the Duke of York Cup as well as coming second of 16 teams in the Captains’ and Subalterns’ Tournament.

WELCOME TO ROYAL NAVY POLO

The Royal Navy’s connection with polo has been long and distinguished. Polo was played by naval teams in a number of foreign stations as early as the 1860s and in 1874 the staff of Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet helped to start the Malta Polo Club.

The Royal Navy Polo Association (RNPA) was founded in 1929 by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Keyes and continues to this day under the umbrella of Royal Navy and Royal Marines Equestrian Association. When the Royal Navy withdrew from Malta in 1962, the RNPA and its ponies returned to the UK to Taunton Vale Polo Club in Somerset. With the subsequent establishment of a base for Combined Services Polo at Tidworth In 1994, the RNPA moved to its current home at Tidworth Polo Club, where it maintains a string of ponies for members’ use.

The purpose of the RNPA is to maintain the game of polo within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines by encouraging new players into the sport. The association seeks to promote polo for all ranks throughout the Royal Navy and Royal Marines by making it fun and affordable. To do this, significant financial subsidies are available for pony hire, introductory courses and foreign tours (all conditional on membership of the Sports Lottery Scheme), making playing Navy polo the cheapest in the country. The aim for 2010 reflects the increased focus on the development of polo within the Service and is:

‘To bring on established players and assist them in progressing to the next level’

Courses and Training

Beginners courses, lasting 2 to 3 days, are routinely run at Tidworth and are subsidised for serving members of the Armed Forces. The RNPA also has a programme of training clinics designed to bring on the novice player to a level where he/she can play chukkas. Finally there is the Junior Development Scheme which was introduced in 2007 with the aim of bringing on those young players who demonstrate the necessary ability and commitment to the sport. Designed to increase match experience and team play amongst this cadre, a team consisting of three junior players, bolstered by a + Goal player is entered in selected club matches during the season.

Fixtures

The official fixtures programme consists of 10 matches against both Service and Civilian teams throughout the season, of which the principal Service matches are the Rundle Cup, (v the Army), the Duke of York Cup (v the RAF), the Inter Regimental Tournament and the Captains’ and Subalterns’ Tournament. 2010 has been a particularly good year with the RN winning the Rundle Cup, the Inter Regimental Tournament and the Duke of York Cup as well as coming second of 16 teams in the Captains’ and Subalterns’ Tournament.