Difference between revisions of "Main Page/Intro"

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US Military teams have existed since the '''[[1919 Allied games]]''' held after WWI and some of them 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 (Pensacola) took part in the Monterey Tournament.  But it was not until the formal organization of USA Rugby in 1974 that there began a concerted effort to support military teams. That administrative initiative evolved to allow the organization of the Combined Services Committee of USA Rugby in the late 1970's.  Only a few years later we saw the formation of the first Combined Services team, and quickly thereafter, service teams and intraservice championships. The US Combined Services Committee guided the growth in the decades that followed and spearheaded the objective of making rugby an official DoD sport.   
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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 spirit.  Physical fitness, mental toughness, spontaneous tactical boldness, cohesive teamwork and decisive leadership are premium qualities of this (our) game"
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When that happened in 2000 (1996 for the Air Force), the CS committee was superseded by the Armed Forces Sports Council and in a few years USA Rugby formally dissolved the Combined Services Committee as a function of our National Governing Body. Effective in 2012, The Armed Forces Sports Council voted to switch to 7's format from 15's. The addition of 7's to the Olympics provided the justification, as well as easier funding of 7s vs 15s teams. The 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.  Rugby competition is always fierce, especially between services, yet the sense of after match brotherhood has always been stronger among our military teams.
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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]]
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There are several -> '''[[notable Military Rugby firsts]]'''
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The '''official DoD''' Armed Forces Rugby website is:
 
The '''official DoD''' Armed Forces Rugby website is:
 
http://armedforcessports.defense.gov/Sports/Rugby.aspx
 
http://armedforcessports.defense.gov/Sports/Rugby.aspx
  
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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 -> '''[[service academies]]'''
  
 
Click here to go to the sites for the -> [[National Governing Body Officers with military background]]
 
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/]]
  
 
''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 14:42, 5 June 2020

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]]

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.

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