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News | Aug. 27, 2019

Army wins seventh-straight Armed Forces Ruby 7’s title

By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Hazel U.S. Armed Forces Sports

In a decisive fashion, Army captured their seventh straight Armed Forces Rugby 7’s Championship with a 33-5 win over the Air Force at Infinity Park in Glendale Colorado on August 25. 

Army remained dominate in this year’s tournament, outscoring their opponents 198-22 over five games. 

Speaking of the win, Army Capt. Will Holder said he believes his team “embodies the priorities of Chief of Staff of the Army General James C. McConville; people first and wining matters.”

Win or lose each team played with pride and dedication. Air Force took silver in the competition, with the Navy earning third place, Marines in fourth, and Coast Guard placing fifth.

The 2019 Armed Forces Rugby 7’s Championship was held in conjunction with the Rugbytown USA 7’s Tournament hosted by the City of Glendale for the eighth consecutive year. 

At the conclusion of the awards ceremony of the Armed Forces Championship, the Service branch teams and the British Army team participated in the ‘Fallen Rugger’ Ceremony. The ceremony honors all military rugby players who made the ultimate sacrifice. During the ceremony, each team captain placed a rugby ball at the foot of a reef as the names of those lost from their select service were read aloud.

Following the Armed Forces Championship portion of the Rugbytown Sevens, the Service teams faced off against the other civilian divisional winners compromised of teams from the United States and around the world. 

At the conclusion of the championship, seven players from the Armed Forces Championship were selected to the Armed Forces All-Tournament Team. Coaches and Service Representatives selected the top seven players based on their play during the Armed Forces Championship.  Army 2nd lt. Jacob Lachina of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash earned the Rugbytown 7’s Most Valuable Player honors for the entire tournament.  

Visit www.armedforcessports.defense.gov for complete results and links to photos, news and highlights. 

Armed Forces All-Tournament Team Selections: 

Petty Officer 1st Class John Curtiss, Station Cleveland Harbor, OH – USCG 
Capt. Austin Ollie’s, Los Angeles AFB, CA – USAF 
Spc. Cody Melphy, Fort Carson, CO – Army 
2nd lt. Cole Euverard, U.S. Naval Academy, MD – USMC 
Capt. Mark Griffin, Hurlburt AFB – USAF 
Capt. Will Holder, Fort Carson, CO – Army
Lt. j.g. Dustin Smith, USS Gerald R. Ford – Navy