Main Page/Intro
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[[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 (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 and subsequent military rugby history that lead to the adoption of rugby into the official DoD sports programs. 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.
When Rugby became a recognized DoD sport in 2000 (1996 for the Air Force), the Combined Services Committee was superseded by the Armed Forces Sports Council and in 2002 USA Rugby formally dissolved the Combined Services Committee as a function of our National Governing Body and stopped recognizing the annual tournament as a USA Rugby Championship Event.
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.
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
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.
