Army Scotland assembled at Redford Barracks on Sunday 24 May 2026, beginning preparations to reclaim the Tri Service Scotland title, which had been lost to RAF Scotland & NI in 2025. With the iconic Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium set as the venue, there was a clear sense of purpose and pride amongst the players and coaching staff as they worked through key areas including defence, set piece, and attacking structure to ensure the squad was fully prepared for the occasion.
Walking out onto the Murrayfield pitch for the opening ceremony, accompanied by the pipes and drums of the RAF Scotland Pipe Band and Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, reinforced the significance of the day. A moment was also taken to honour the late Scott Hastings, a respected figure in Scottish Rugby.
Army Scotland opened their campaign against Royal Navy Scotland. From the outset, the side demonstrated control and intent, executing with pace, physicality, and precision. An aggressive start quickly paid dividends, with Army breaking the defensive line inside five minutes to take a 7–0 lead. Sustained pressure through multi-phase play and dominant carries allowed Army to dictate the game, adding further scores before the break.
Following a short turnaround, Army Scotland faced defending champions RAF Scotland & NI in a decisive fixture. The match presented a sterner challenge, with RAF showing organisation in defence and efficiency at set piece. An early maul from a lineout allowed RAF to take a 7–0 lead, applying pressure through territory and discipline.
Army were tested further following two yellow cards, temporarily reducing the side to 13 players. Despite this, resilience in defence ensured the score remained close at halftime.
After the break, Army responded with increased intensity and purpose. Exploiting space out wide, they broke through to level the score at 7–7 after a well-taken try and conversion. In a tightly contested closing period, RAF regained the lead with a try out wide, though a difficult conversion was missed, leaving the score at 12–7.
Army continued to apply pressure and, through sustained attacking phases, broke the line once more to move ahead 14–12 following a successful conversion. However, with less than a minute remaining, a penalty conceded just outside the 22 presented RAF with one final opportunity. This time, the kick was successful, securing a narrow 15–14 victory for RAF and confirming them as back-to-back Tri Service Scotland champions.
Despite the final result, Army Scotland delivered a strong and determined performance across the tournament, demonstrating clear progress, resilience, and the capability to compete at the highest level.
All images © Bryan Robertson Photography
