Difference between revisions of "Taiwan"

Revision as of 15:21, 15 February 2021

Marine Corps Tom Grippo said he played for a combined services (tri service) team from 1968-1971 in Taipei, membership of which included Medal of Honor recipient Mike Thorton

Tim Connell (Msgt) played for them in 1961, 1963-67 and 1968-73. He started a true team in 1968 calling ourselves the Outsiders. We were also known as the Taipei Jùrén [巨人, Giants] as we were bigger than the local team

From the memory of Richard Juve: I was a member of the American Rugby team (HSA Rugby Team) in Taiwan1968-1969, approx 2 full years. I worked at the American School. We held many matches at the school since our field was considered a decent one with grass. We had about five teacher players from the school, another 8-10 military types and several businessmen. I feel that we may have played just about every weekend. I do not recall that we ever practiced; perhaps one of two times.

When we played the national Japanese team that flew in from Japan we played in the National Stadium in Taipei and filled the stadium with enthusiastic spectators. We beat the Japanese. They were fast, tough had great form and will. We were taller, our line was just as fast and the former football players could hit. We hurt them. Our lineouts were phenomenal. Our height was a stunning advantage.

When we played the Taiwanese, on horrendous muddy, fields, in the cold and rain, we had difficulties. We lost games, but had great fun. The camaraderie on the team was phenomenal. Our passing game was not great, and our kicking was nonexistent.

We managed a trip to Hong Kong and lost to the Hong Kong colonial police. They danced around us. They could pass, fake, kick past us and showed great expertise in a game many grew up with. They showed us excellent hospitality.

Tim Conell, USAF, (Jupiter, Florida) Tom Grippo US Army, (San Antonio, TX) Jay Henderson, USN, Tom Wacker, banker, Tom Pooley, USN, Earl Ballard, (top of the Rocky Mts. CO) teacher, Hickey, former USMC/teacher, Richard Juve, USMC/teacher were some of the players.

We were never short of players. The guys loved to mix it up. The Chinese had teams in every city. We traveled by bus and train and stayed in little rundown local hotels. Every game was glorious. On several occasions we had high school students from military families play with us. One was an excellent place kicker.

As I think back, I feel we may have added a lot to the theory of friendship because we mixed it up with the locals in the mud and there was lots of that. No calls were made about locking an opponent around the neck. Not many of us knew much about the rules. We had lots of confidence, little patience and enjoyed the adversity. The guys were not confused with procrastination or idleness. Our goals was to get on the field, do some hitting (tackling) run with the ball and hold tight when tackled. It was unpleasant to release the ball. The agenda in our head was mentally ingrained. US football. We were mindful of our errors and focused on charging as competent athletes. We were always confident of success. We learned on the run. All of us were newbies trying to get it right. We encouraged each other in the learning process. Rugby looked ridiculously easy to us, after getting hit several times in a ruck, we learned not to forget and hard it was to learn.

All the Americans were competent athletes. Some had trouble with fitness, but we were all young. Rugby was an opportunity to relive our former athletic selves. We were considerate of others and had the right attitude. In every game, our performance improved. We achieved our goal of getting together and tried to be a better version of ourselves. We strived for self-satisfaction and were intolerant of the opposition that got in our way on the field. We focused on each moment of the game.

Rugby was a great lasting, fulfilling, satisfaction. The game is unprecedented and socially engaging. Associates said it was suicidal and we said it was mentally healthy.

The day after a game I was sore. The effort affected my muscle groups. We never had to use coercive means to get guys to play. More and more suicidal young adults wanted to engage and play. Rugby is a culture. It absorbs you and you embrace it.

When I left Taiwan and HAS Rugby the players had several other seasons.