All Army Rugby Team in the Media

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Army News Service, Oct. 22, 2001) - U.S. military rugby players from around the world converged on Fort Leonard Wood, Oct. 10-12 to determine the 2001 Armed Forces champion. The Army held firm to defend its title, but not without a fight from the Navy.

In the midst of America's war on terrorism, the Armed Forces Rugby Championship went on as planned. Air Force couldn't make it, Navy got the go-ahead only days before and dozens of players weren't able to come. The Marines were hit the hardest, losing 17 of their original players.

The military rugby players were excited that the tournament went on as scheduled. "Some of the best rugby talent is right here in this tournament," said Petty Officer 2nd class J.C. Lewis, Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

The cool fall weather of Missouri's Ozarks was ideal rugby weather. However, Navy's Petty Officer 1st class Pat Wallace, North Island, Calif., said most of his team members play in southern California and are not used to the cold and rain.

Despite the weather in the first game, Navy started off strong, beating the Coast Guard 25-5. Lightning broke up the game, but not Navy's momentum.

With the delay in the first game, the second game was pushed back. Despite the late start, Army came out strong against the Marines, ending the first half 18-0. While the Marines played hard the second half, they couldn't hold the Army. Army beat the Marines 35-0.

Thursday morning Army squared off in the rain with Navy. While Navy was able to slow the Army down during the second half, the damage was already done and Army won 34-3.

In torrential rains, the Marines took on Coast Guard. The first half ended in favor of the Marines 13-3. Coast Guard wasn't able to hold them and the final score was 24-3.

After a quick break, the Marines came back to play Navy for a crucial game. Both teams played hard to determine who would make it to the finals. Marines made the only score in the first half to lead Navy 7-0. But the second half teetered back and forth. Shortly before the end Marines led 13-12, but Navy scored a penalty kick and beat the Marines 15-13.

The undefeated Army returned Thursday afternoon to play Coast Guard. In an unexpected twist, Coast Guard scored first to lead 5-0. Coast Guard was able to keep the game close, but Army pulled through and won 16-12.

For Friday's consolation game, the Marines played Coast Guard. The match started close, ending the first half 8-5. Then for the last 15 minutes the Marines took off and sealed their third-place win 25-10.

Having already lost to Army 3-34, Navy head coach Cmdr. Don Sheehan, from Washington, D.C., said his team was going to go back and reflect on where each player could improve before the championship game. "It's been a real shake out for my guys," said Sheehan.

Having just re-entered the tournament a week ago, most of the Navy team had literally just come off a ship where they don't get to practice. By Friday though, they were playing strong.

Wallace knew the championship game, "was going to be a battle. Army is solid."

The weather finally broke and the sun made it out Friday afternoon for the championship game. Navy played Army hard with the support of the local Navy detachment cheering them on. They led Army for most of the game, but with 10 minutes remaining Army pulled through for a 19-16 win.

It was "a good hard game," said Army Spc. Wayne Nicholsen, 35th Aviation Brigade, Warrensburg, Mo. "Air Force is usually our hardest competition, but Navy was good and played hard."

Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., will again host the Armed Forces Rugby Championship in 2002.

Next the Armed Forces Rugby team migrates to Tampa, Fla., Dec. 7-9 to compete in the 2001 Inter Territorial Tournament. After winning tier two last year, the Armed Forces team advances to the top tier, tier one.





						All Army Rugby Team in the Media





	From the Army News Service Army defends championship rugby title by Rhonda Squizzero FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Army News Service, Oct. 22, 2001) - U.S. military rugby players from around the world converged on Fort Leonard Wood, Oct. 10-12 to determine the 2001 Armed Forces champion. The Army held firm to defend its title, but not without a fight from the Navy. In the midst of America's war on terrorism, the Armed Forces Rugby Championship went on as planned. Air Force couldn't make it, Navy got the go-ahead only days before and dozens of players weren't able to come. The Marines were hit the hardest, losing 17 of their original players. The military rugby players were excited that the tournament went on as scheduled. "Some of the best rugby talent is right here in this tournament," said Petty Officer 2nd class J.C. Lewis, Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The cool fall weather of Missouri's Ozarks was ideal rugby weather. However, Navy's Petty Officer 1st class Pat Wallace, North Island, Calif., said most of his team members play in southern California and are not used to the cold and rain. Despite the weather in the first game, Navy started off strong, beating the Coast Guard 25-5. Lightning broke up the game, but not Navy's momentum. With the delay in the first game, the second game was pushed back. Despite the late start, Army came out strong against the Marines, ending the first half 18-0. While the Marines played hard the second half, they couldn't hold the Army. Army beat the Marines 35-0. Thursday morning Army squared off in the rain with Navy. While Navy was able to slow the Army down during the second half, the damage was already done and Army won 34-3. In torrential rains, the Marines took on Coast Guard. The first half ended in favor of the Marines 13-3. Coast Guard wasn't able to hold them and the final score was 24-3. After a quick break, the Marines came back to play Navy for a crucial game. Both teams played hard to determine who would make it to the finals. Marines made the only score in the first half to lead Navy 7-0. But the second half teetered back and forth. Shortly before the end Marines led 13-12, but Navy scored a penalty kick and beat the Marines 15-13. The undefeated Army returned Thursday afternoon to play Coast Guard. In an unexpected twist, Coast Guard scored first to lead 5-0. Coast Guard was able to keep the game close, but Army pulled through and won 16-12. For Friday's consolation game, the Marines played Coast Guard. The match started close, ending the first half 8-5. Then for the last 15 minutes the Marines took off and sealed their third-place win 25-10. Having already lost to Army 3-34, Navy head coach Cmdr. Don Sheehan, from Washington, D.C., said his team was going to go back and reflect on where each player could improve before the championship game. "It's been a real shake out for my guys," said Sheehan. Having just re-entered the tournament a week ago, most of the Navy team had literally just come off a ship where they don't get to practice. By Friday though, they were playing strong. Wallace knew the championship game, "was going to be a battle. Army is solid." The weather finally broke and the sun made it out Friday afternoon for the championship game. Navy played Army hard with the support of the local Navy detachment cheering them on. They led Army for most of the game, but with 10 minutes remaining Army pulled through for a 19-16 win. It was "a good hard game," said Army Spc. Wayne Nicholsen, 35th Aviation Brigade, Warrensburg, Mo. "Air Force is usually our hardest competition, but Navy was good and played hard." Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., will again host the Armed Forces Rugby Championship in 2002. Next the Armed Forces Rugby team migrates to Tampa, Fla., Dec. 7-9 to compete in the 2001 Inter Territorial Tournament. After winning tier two last year, the Armed Forces team advances to the top tier, tier one. Soldiers selected to the 2001 Armed Forces team include: 2nd Lt. Christian Skoglund, Fort Rucker, Ala. Lt. Col. Mike Legg, Fort Myer, Va. Cpl. Mose Timoteo, 445 Civil Affairs, Calif. 2nd Lt. Al Weinning, Fort Rucker, Ala. Sgt. Simona Totive, Fort Drum, N.Y. Capt. Chip Curtis, Reserve, Dobbins Air Force Base, Ga. Capt. Nathan Reel, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. 1st Lt. Ryan Moore, 1-225th, Honduras Spc. Chris Ipan Van-Zelen, USAR, Fort McPherson, Ga. Sgt. Pat Conrad, A Co., 1/175th Infantry, Md. Spc. Clarke Lam, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii 1st Lt. Charles Thumoepean, Fort Hood, Texas Jim Figg from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., will be the team captain.