St Mary’s University trains with Royal Artillery ahead of Remembrance rugby match

St Mary’s University, London, welcomed The Royal Artillery rugby squad to campus for a special training day ahead of their upcoming match on 5 November, which will coincide with Remembrance commemorations and the University’s 175th Anniversary.

The event brought together student players and the Royal Artillery’s “Gunners” to share expertise and strengthen links between the two sides. The day included a strength and conditioning session in the University’s Performance Education Centre, led by St Mary’s coach Dave Gordon, where players tested themselves in a competitive lift-off.

This was followed by a keynote on resilience delivered by Fiona Ford, a coach for St Mary’s Endurance Performance Centre. The Royal Artillery then led a training session, giving St Mary’s students a taste of military rugby preparation.

The training day offered a glimpse of what’s to come on 5 November, when both the men’s and women’s teams will take to the field. Match day will also feature a bugler performing the Last Post in homage to Remembrance to honour those in the armed forces who have died in conflict.

Members of the public are welcome to watch the matches, with further details soon to follow.

Andrew Reid Smith, Head of Sport at St Mary’s, said: “We’re proud to welcome the Royal Artillery to St Mary’s. This is a unique opportunity for our students to learn from their leadership and teamwork, while sharing our own expertise. It’s not only great preparation for the match in November, but also a chance to strengthen the bond between our community and the Armed Forces.” 

The Royal Artillery - known as the “Gunners” - play a central role in the British Army, providing surveillance and firepower support on operations worldwide. Their rugby programme reflects the same values of discipline, teamwork and resilience.

St Mary’s University is internationally recognised for its sporting excellence and world-class facilities. Its state-of-the-art strength and conditioning suite support both elite athletes and students, and the University’s renowned degree programmes have produced graduates who have gone on to represent their country at the highest level, including rugby. Alumni include England internationals Ellie Kildunne, Jess Breach, Rosie Galligan and Abi Burton, who all shined in this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup squad.