Fort Hood men win Alamo City rugby tournament

SPORTS
www.FortHoodSentinel.com
May 8, 2014
D5
Fort Hood men win Alamo City rugby tournament
BY SGT. 1ST CLASS
JOSHUA JOHNSON
14th PAD
The Fort Hood Rugby Football
Club defeated the University of
Texas San Antonio at the Alamo
City Rugby Fiesta 7s Tournament
in San Antonio April 26 in the final
match to win the tournament championship.
“With our great victories, Fort
Hood Rugby has quickly become
the talk of Texas rugby,” said Dan
Chase, Fort Hood Rugby head
coach.
The Phantom Warriors went
undefeated through six matches,
earning first place. The team faced
three Texas rugby clubs to determine the standings for a playoff
round, the winners of which faced
off for the title.
“The entire tournament was a
great experience,” said Mario Scott,
3rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, who scored five tries,
which are similar to touchdowns in
American football.
Not all of the scheduled teams
showed up to the tournament, “but
it did not stop the host from putting
on a great showing,” Scott said.
After winning the tournament,
Fort Hood RFC combined with
Alamo City RFC for a rugby 15s
match against the Old Pauline
Football Club, a rugby club from
England touring in the U.S. whose
scheduled opponents could not
make the match. Old Pauline was
victorious.
Rugby 15s is a different style of
play compared to 7s. For 15s, 15
Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Johnson, 14th PAD
Fort Hood Rugby Football Club players prepare for battle on the pitch before
their first match in the Alamo City Rugby Fiesta 7s Tournament April 26 in San
Antonio. The team went undefeated in six matches, winning the tournament
championship.
players are on the field for 40-minute halves. For 7s, only seven players
are on the field for seven-minute
halves, and they are typically played
in a tournament format.
“Our game is 7s,” Scott said. “Our
“We were all out there, burning up
in 90-degree weather, on a turf field,
wearing these huge men’s old jerseys, some of us playing for the first
time. It was just an incredible feeling
and a proud moment.”
Though the women had just
enough people to field a team for
the event, they are still seeking more
individuals to join the team, Hexom
said.
“As a new team, we are always
looking for new players,” she said.
“You don’t need experience; we can
teach you the sport. We just need
women who are willing to learn,
work hard and get a little aggressive.
Rugby is just a fun sport and a great
way to hang out with incredible
people, on top of being part of an
amazing tradition.”
TOP, Brianna Hexom, Fort Hood Rugby Football Club women’s team captain, goes
for a tackle at the Rugby 7s Expo at the Scottish Festival Saturday in Arlington.
The Fort Hood women’s rugby team debuted at the event playing two matches
against the Dallas Harlequins Women’s RFC, losing their first match, but winning
the second. ABOVE, Jeffrey Hexom goes airborne, diving into the try zone, scoring
for Fort Hood Rugby Football Club during the Rugby 7s Expo at the Texas Scottish
Festival Saturday in Arlington. The Fort Hood RFC went 2-1 at the event.
speed is overwhelming and our
experienced players constantly coach
us on technique even as the game
goes on.”
The Fort Hood RFC took
momentum from the win in San
Antonio to the 2014 Rugby 7s Expo
at the Texas Scottish Festival Saturday in Arlington. The men’s team
won two of three matches, losing
only to a solid Oklahoma City team.
The Fort Hood RFC women’s
team debuted, playing two matches
against the Dallas Harlequins Womens RFC at the Expo, losing the
first, but winning the second.
“We have a lot of really raw talent that performed incredibly well
on Saturday,” said Brianna Hexom,
the women’s team captain from the
3rd BEB, 3rd BCT, 1st Cav. Div.
With the first match under their
belt, members of the team are looking forward to growing the team and
taking part in more events in the
future.
“The women’s team has big aspirations, but it all starts with little
steps,” Hexom said. “Finally getting
to play together as a team was a great
step in the right direction.”
The Fort Hood RFC practices
every Tuesday and Thursday from
6-8 p.m. at Venable Village Field on
U.S. Highway 190. The club is open
to civilian and military personnel
and has men’s, women’s and youth
teams for various age groups, starting from age 4 through high school.
For more information about the
team, visit Fort Hood Rugby Football Club on Facebook.
Mario Scott moves the ball forward during a friendly rugby 15s match with Old Pauline Football Club, a touring team from
England, April 26 in San Antonio. The Fort Hood RFC combined with the Alamo City RFC to play Old Pauline after their
opponents couldn’t make the scheduled match.