Difference between revisions of "Main Page/Intro"

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US Military teams have existed on and off since the 1919 Allied games held after WWI.  Servicemen have played in the 1920 Olympics and with a variety of teams until the last 1960's when base level teams began to organize. They were fueled by the service academies who have a long history, but it was not until the formal organization of USA Rugby in 1974 that there began a concerted effort to support military teams. From that initiative in the late 1970's, we saw the formation of the first Combined Services team, and later, service teams and intraservice championships.  The US Combined Services Committee was formed and guided the growth and spearheaded the objective of making rugby an official DoD sport.  When that happened in 2000, the CS committee was superseded by the Armed Forces Sports Council and in a few years was formally dissolved by the reorganization of what is now USA Rugby during the early 2000's. The Armed Forces Sports Council voted to switch to 7's format from 15's, effective for the 2012 championship. The addition of 7's to the Olympics provided the justification, as well as easier funding of 7 vs 15 teamsThe five Service rugby directors, who previously comprised the permanent CS committee members, continue to lead collaboration on behalf of their respective players under the authority of their respective Service sports offices for all formal military rugby events.
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[[File:2012_Djibouti.jpg| x300px|thumb|left|Team organized by Capt (USN) Don Sheehan in 2012]] In the words our our first Combined Services coach, "Sensei" CJ Kolson, "Rugby is a game of controlled aggression, ideally suited to the development of the warrior spiritPhysical fitness, mental toughness, spontaneous tactical boldness, cohesive teamwork and decisive leadership are premium qualities of this (our) game"
 
The official Armed Forces Rugby website is:
 
http://armedforcessports.defense.gov/Sports/Rugby.aspx
 
 
The competition is always fierce, yet the sense of brotherhood seen within the rugby culture has always been stronger among our the military teams. 
 
  
  
If you see any gaps in this site please forward your concerns to the appropriate link below:
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US Military teams have existed since the '''[[1919 Allied games]]''' held after WWI and some of the players involved in those games went on to play in the '''[[1920 Olympics]]'''.  In the late 1920., we saw '''[[Marines in China]]''' in 1927-31[[https://worldrugbymuseumblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/an-american-rugby-pioneer-in-china-henry-bluett-liversedge/]] and in the 30s, '''[[Marines in Philadelphia]]'''.  Servicemen have played on a variety of teams until '''[[base level teams in the late 1960's]]''' began to organize.  They were fueled by the service academies who have had rugby history dating from the 60's and one of the more successful base level teams (Pensacola) took part in the Monterey Tournament in the 60s.  Other early base level teams were '''[[Ft Jackson]]''' (AL), Fitzsimmons (CO), and an overseas team in Taipai '''[[Taiwan]]'''.  The first team in Europe, '''[[Frankfurt Americans]]''', was started in 1973, and '''[[Okinawa]]''' Lyons also in the early 70s, but it was not until the formal organization of our national governing body, USA Rugby in 1974, that there began a concerted effort to support military teams. The structure provided for a 'military committee', but it lay dormant in spite of some '''[[early volunteer offers]]''' until 1979 when it began '''([[providing for a Combined Services Chairman]])''' allowing the opportunity for a USA Rugby '''[[Combined Services Committee]]''' .  The activity of that committee are chronicled in the documents and  '''[[Minutes of the Combined Services Committee]]''' and the on the field club actions in the '''[[CS Newsletter]]''' which started in 1981 and spanned for two decades keeping military ruggers in touch with each other. Some of this was summarized in the '''[[Combined Services Handbooks]]''' which were distributed to military rugby team leaders across the globe. There was a documentation of the first '''[[Combined Services Women's Newsletter]]'''. You can read the '''[[subsequent military rugby history]]''' that led to the adoption of rugby into the official DoD sports programs, which followed the lead of the Marine Corps who gave 'official' status to the game in 1988. Up until that time, the Combined Services Committee worked under their own guidelines, an example of which can be found in the 1989 Handbook [[http://usarmedforcesrugby.com/index.php?title=Portal:1989_CS_Handbook]]
 
 
Combined Services
 
 
 
Army - Mike Legg at mike.legg@mail.house.gov
 
 
 
 
 
Air Force
 
 
 
Navy
 
 
 
Marine Corps
 
 
 
Coast Guard
 
  
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There are several ->  '''[[notable Military Rugby firsts]]'''
  
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The '''official DoD''' Armed Forces Rugby website is:
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http://armedforcessports.defense.gov/Sports/Rugby.aspx
  
If you wish editor capability so you can edit a particular site yourself, please contact
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Click here to go to the sites for the -> '''[[service academies]]'''
  
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Click here to go to the sites for the -> [[National Governing Body Officers with military background]]
  
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Click here for a list of Fallen Military Ruggers:  [[https://sites.google.com/site/fallenmilitaryruggers/]]
  
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Click here for '''[[CISM Competition]]''' which restarted in the sport of rugby in 2024
  
 
''This site is not an official activity of the US Government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of Homeland Security. Product Endorsement by its teams, athletes, staff, or its representatives does not constitute product endorsement by the US Government.''
 
''This site is not an official activity of the US Government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of Homeland Security. Product Endorsement by its teams, athletes, staff, or its representatives does not constitute product endorsement by the US Government.''

Latest revision as of 17:52, 7 July 2024

Team organized by Capt (USN) Don Sheehan in 2012

In the words our our first Combined Services coach, "Sensei" CJ Kolson, "Rugby is a game of controlled aggression, ideally suited to the development of the warrior spirit. Physical fitness, mental toughness, spontaneous tactical boldness, cohesive teamwork and decisive leadership are premium qualities of this (our) game"


US Military teams have existed since the 1919 Allied games held after WWI and some of the players involved in those games went on to play in the 1920 Olympics. In the late 1920., we saw Marines in China in 1927-31[[1]] and in the 30s, Marines in Philadelphia. Servicemen have played on a variety of teams until base level teams in the late 1960's began to organize. They were fueled by the service academies who have had rugby history dating from the 60's and one of the more successful base level teams (Pensacola) took part in the Monterey Tournament in the 60s. Other early base level teams were Ft Jackson (AL), Fitzsimmons (CO), and an overseas team in Taipai Taiwan. The first team in Europe, Frankfurt Americans, was started in 1973, and Okinawa Lyons also in the early 70s, but it was not until the formal organization of our national governing body, USA Rugby in 1974, that there began a concerted effort to support military teams. The structure provided for a 'military committee', but it lay dormant in spite of some early volunteer offers until 1979 when it began (providing for a Combined Services Chairman) allowing the opportunity for a USA Rugby Combined Services Committee . The activity of that committee are chronicled in the documents and Minutes of the Combined Services Committee and the on the field club actions in the CS Newsletter which started in 1981 and spanned for two decades keeping military ruggers in touch with each other. Some of this was summarized in the Combined Services Handbooks which were distributed to military rugby team leaders across the globe. There was a documentation of the first Combined Services Women's Newsletter. You can read the subsequent military rugby history that led to the adoption of rugby into the official DoD sports programs, which followed the lead of the Marine Corps who gave 'official' status to the game in 1988. Up until that time, the Combined Services Committee worked under their own guidelines, an example of which can be found in the 1989 Handbook [[2]]

There are several -> notable Military Rugby firsts


The official DoD Armed Forces Rugby website is: http://armedforcessports.defense.gov/Sports/Rugby.aspx

Click here to go to the sites for the -> service academies

Click here to go to the sites for the -> National Governing Body Officers with military background

Click here for a list of Fallen Military Ruggers: [[3]]

Click here for CISM Competition which restarted in the sport of rugby in 2024

This site is not an official activity of the US Government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of Homeland Security. Product Endorsement by its teams, athletes, staff, or its representatives does not constitute product endorsement by the US Government.