2024 was another banner year for forces sport with exciting Inter Services competitions, military involvement at the Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as big UK Armed Forces fixtures across the sports.

But what does 2025 have in store for the military sportspeople?

Let’s take a look at some of military sport’s key events to watch out for in 2025.

Invictus Games 2025

For the first time ever, the Invictus Games will have a winter twist as new sports such as Alpine skiing, snowboarding and skeleton, among other winter sports, are added.

Alongside that, favourites such as wheelchair rugby, indoor rowing and sitting volleyball will return.

Team UK’s list of 60 – plus four reserves – is made up of 37 veterans and 27 service personnel, by far the biggest proportion of people still serving in the Armed Forces that Team UK have ever produced. 

BFBS Forces News will have a team out in Vancouver, Canada, to provide coverage of the games from 8-16 February.

Forces horse racing LIVE for the first time

For the first time, BFBS Forces News is planning to show live coverage of the 2025 Grand Military Gold Cup horse racing event at Sandown Racecourse.

The race takes place on 24 January and features the best riders that the military has to offer.

In 2024, Major Will Kellard, riding Farceur De Large, won despite an incredible run from 80-1 outsider Captain Douglas White on Fil D’Ariane.

Military rugby union’s stand-out fixtures

After what happened at Twickenham Stadium in 2024, next year’s Inter Service rugby union clashes promise to be a must-see.

The Army are the reigning champions in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, but the Royal Navy and RAF sides will be keen to change that for 2025.

Later in the year, you can expect key UK Armed Forces fixtures around the Remembrance period as well as seeing the young guns of the sport at the under-23s Inter Service championships.

A special event for next year will see the UK military host the women’s International Defence Rugby competition.

With the UKAF team competing among the best military teams across the world, it’s expected to be one of the headlines of the year.

As always, BFBS Forces News strives to be the place to watch all the best live action from the forces rugby union landscape.

The most explosive Forces Fight Nights

Boxing is one of the stand-out sports inside the British military.

With stars such as George Crotty and Brad Axe breaking out into the professional game, who will be the next forces star to make a name for themselves?

They will have more than enough big events to showcase themselves with Inter Services, service finals and exciting fixtures against external opposition in the works.

Can forces football continue to dominate?

Forces football fans will have plenty to enjoy in 2025.

The under-23s Inter Services will see the next generation of Royal Navy, British Army and RAF stars clash in a three-week tournament starting on 12 February.

After that, the senior men’s and women’s tournaments take centre stage as the Royal Navy men and RAF women defend their championships.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on Army and Navy teams involved in civilian competitions as well as forces personnel such as RAF Sergeant Dan McNamara’s progress in the game as Wolves Women’s head coach.

From there, attention turns to the pinnacle of forces football – the UK Armed Forces teams.

The men’s team are expected to host their Dutch and French rivals in the UK for the Kentish Cup while the women’s team will travel to the Netherlands to defend their President’s Cup trophy.

Eye-catching matches against the German Bundeswehr and Irish Defence Forces will also be on the agenda.

Rugby league’s international flair

It’s a big year for the RAF rugby league team.

In January, their Challenge Cup campaign sees them travel to Aldershot for an all-military tie against the British Army while later in the summer, they will host the Australian and New Zealand Air Force teams.

September is the month that Inter Services rugby league becomes the main attraction.

Last year, the RAF men finally won back an Inter Services trophy after an eight-year wait while it was business as normal for the Army women’s team who dominated again.

As well as all that, the UK Armed Forces team will compete in the President’s Cup against teams such as Great Britain Police, Great Britain Teachers and England Universities.

Other sports

Away from some of our most featured sports, action from the world of tennis, cricket and golf will see intense competition.

The military American Football scene is continuing to grow as is the forces darts community.

ESports continues to gain interest in the UK military and we will also have a special team out in Meribel for the Inter Services Snow Sports Championships in February.