JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas. –
The Air Force Men’s Rugby Team held trials at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland June 18-22 to select players for the upcoming Armed Forces Men’s Rugby Championship Aug. 23-27 in Glendale, Colorado.
The trials include four daily practice sessions and culminate with participation in a tournament held in Austin. The best 16 players will be chosen for the tournament that will put all five service branches against each other.
“We’re going to create the best team possible for the tournament,” said Maj. Saleem Razvi, Air Force Rugby Team Officer in Charge. “I’m really optimistic about our team this year because these guys are out here pouring their hearts into it and giving us all they have.”
One of the athletes trying out this year, 1st Lt. Calvin Johnson, 625th Operations Center Branch Deputy chief, shares Razvi’s optimism about the team's prospects having participated in the past couple Armed Forces tournaments.
“The past three years we’ve finished second to Army,” said Johnson. “We’ve been so close year after year, but we’re really confident that this is going to be the year we take home first for the Air Force because of the work we’re putting in.”
While team members are focused on winning, the coach, Theo Bennett, highlighted the indirect impact of rugby and Air Force sports.
“To create a better rugby player who can put points up on the board is one thing, but we’re also trying to create better Airmen,” said Bennet. “Rugby is an intense sport, it builds physical as well as mental toughness. Obviously you have to be physically fit to be successful but it’s more than that, you have to have a lot of intelligence to be successful as a player and as a team. Decision-making, situational awareness and leadership are all qualities we strive to build.”
When the Armed Forces tournament is over, Bennett hopes that rugby will continue to be a part of the athlete’s lives.
“We want to instill a love for the sport in these Airmen,” said Bennett. “If they can keep up the same energy and enthusiasm for the sport, the values it teaches will only spread and become a greater part of their lives.”