The Royal Navy Polo Association Today
The RNPA fields two teams. For principal fixtures the Royal Navy team is drawn from the senior squad. The other team is known as the Royal Navy Blue Jackets and consists of new and developing players.
The RNBJ squad is designed to provide maximum playing opportunity for those players who are yet to reach first team standard, whilst ensuring they progress in their polo abilities by playing against other teams several times a month during the season.
The UK Armed Forces Polo Association selects players from the Royal Navy, British Army, and RAF Polo Associations for matches against international teams hosted across the world.
The RNBJ squad is designed to provide maximum playing opportunity for those players who are yet to reach first team standard, whilst ensuring they progress in their polo abilities by playing against other teams several times a month during the season.
The UK Armed Forces Polo Association selects players from the Royal Navy, British Army, and RAF Polo Associations for matches against international teams hosted across the world.
Playing Opportunities
Sailors from 815 Naval Air Squadron give polo a try as part of a team building day
Our Aim
Our aim is to actively provide opportunities for any member of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Naval Reserve to take up polo and play competitively at all levels. Most of our players, who come from across all ranks, begin their polo career with the RNPA, having ridden little or not at all before trying their hand at polo.
"In 2019 alone we welcomed 18 new players, including 4 sailors, 1 Royal Marine, 3 Reservists, 3 University cadets and 3 officer cadets"
We welcome established polo players, beginners and those who just want to give polo a try as something different.
Polo taster sessions have proven particularly popular with officers, sailors and marines looking for a unique team building activity and support from in-service funds, including the Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity, help keep costs low.
The RNPA works closely with unit and establishment physical training instructors and sports representatives to organise anything from a 2 hour taster session to a 3 day long novice course. Courses are run by the excellent coaching team at Tedworth Park Polo Club in Hampshire which includes accommodation options and a great social atmosphere. We will do anything we can to help get you onto a horse and hitting a ball, so get in touch via our Contact page.
"In 2019 alone we welcomed 18 new players, including 4 sailors, 1 Royal Marine, 3 Reservists, 3 University cadets and 3 officer cadets"
We welcome established polo players, beginners and those who just want to give polo a try as something different.
Polo taster sessions have proven particularly popular with officers, sailors and marines looking for a unique team building activity and support from in-service funds, including the Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity, help keep costs low.
The RNPA works closely with unit and establishment physical training instructors and sports representatives to organise anything from a 2 hour taster session to a 3 day long novice course. Courses are run by the excellent coaching team at Tedworth Park Polo Club in Hampshire which includes accommodation options and a great social atmosphere. We will do anything we can to help get you onto a horse and hitting a ball, so get in touch via our Contact page.
Trying Polo
So, if you're serving in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, the Reserves (including the University Royal Naval Unit) then we can get you on a horse and learning polo.
Whether you want to learn from scratch, get back into it after a few years away or you just want to try a taster session then please get in touch via our Contact page and we'll do the rest. No previous experience or equipment is needed- just a willingness to give it a go!
Whether you want to learn from scratch, get back into it after a few years away or you just want to try a taster session then please get in touch via our Contact page and we'll do the rest. No previous experience or equipment is needed- just a willingness to give it a go!
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Our Patron
Our President
Our Patron His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales has been both a player and a supporter through his many years of involvement with the RNPA.
Our President, Admiral Tim Fraser CB is the current Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. He took up the role as our president in July 2019, following on from Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB, ADC, DL
Our Chairman
The Chairman receiving a prize from Jeremy Hackett
Our Chairman Captain Al Wilson RN is currently serving in the United States as the UK National Liaison Representative to the strategic NATO Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.
Captain Wilson is a warfare officer in the Royal Navy, and has commanded four warships, the last of which was the frigate HMS Sutherland; whilst in command he was deployed on operations to the Middle East and Gulf regions as well as conducting counter-piracy operations off Somalia. He took up polo at Tidworth 20 years ago and has been lucky enough to play Royal Navy and Armed Forces polo around the world, including in Argentina, Chile and the United States. Whilst serving in the USA he is fortunate enough to play at the Virginia Beach Polo Club.
Click below to download the Chairman's Letter for the 2019 season.
Captain Wilson is a warfare officer in the Royal Navy, and has commanded four warships, the last of which was the frigate HMS Sutherland; whilst in command he was deployed on operations to the Middle East and Gulf regions as well as conducting counter-piracy operations off Somalia. He took up polo at Tidworth 20 years ago and has been lucky enough to play Royal Navy and Armed Forces polo around the world, including in Argentina, Chile and the United States. Whilst serving in the USA he is fortunate enough to play at the Virginia Beach Polo Club.
Click below to download the Chairman's Letter for the 2019 season.
| Chairman's Letter |
History of the Royal Navy Polo Association
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 Tedworth Park 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.
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 Tedworth Park 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.