Army West Point Athletics
United Kingdom Travel Blog
March 09, 2019 | Men's Rugby
Friday, March 8, 2019: Andrew Dunham '22
Going abroad for the first time was pretty intimidating, but the ride there was pretty easy. We got done with training and hit the bus to get to London and besides normal TSA stoppages, the whole experience was easy. When we got to London it was a culture shock with British accents coming from everywhere and people driving on the left side of the road. We were released to go explore before our dinner at the House of Commons and a lot of us went to Churchill's War Room to go check out a foreign war museum. When we went into the House of Commons, we were greeted with a social and then a tour. The place was pretty phenomenal seeing where debates happen and the history behind the building. Dinner was amazing with guest speeches from Brigadier General Cindy Jebb and the US ambassador for the UK, Woody Johnson. Excited to see what other experiences we will have this trip.
Beat Navy!
-Drew Dunham
Saturday, March 9, 2019: Jason Green '20
After a long and eventful first day on tour, the team was excited to see what else London had to offer. The boys enjoyed some time off this morning with an authentic English breakfast and some site seeing around London. Some ventured to Buckingham Palace, some went down the block to St. Paul's Cathedral, and others roamed the streets for a bite to eat. At lunchtime the tour bus left for the historic University of Oxford! On the bus, some plebes presented Shakespearean Monologues to entertain the team and Cadet Luke Haug shared a brief history of Oxford. This afternoon, the team trained at Oxford's Iffley Field in preparation for our first game of the tour. Following training, the boys enjoyed some dinner in the clubhouse while we watched England play Italy in the six nations Rugby tournament. As the day came to a close the team sought good rest in anticipation for the following days game against Oxford.
Go Army!
-Jason Green
Sunday, March 10, 2019: Ian Morris '22"It's day three in England and the team spent the morning gearing up to take on the famed Oxford Blues at Iffley road. The night of light showers gave way to a muddy pitch and a strong breeze, but we could all agree it was a great day for some rugby. The game started quickly with a number of line-breaks and wide passes. The brothers were hitting hard and testing the Blues' defense, but at the half the locals had carved out a strong 10-0 lead. In the second half, a new attitude and several key subs prompted a strong comeback push, and with only three minutes on the clock it was only a 1-try game. With the subs, coaches, and parents behind them, the boys found the pass out wide to Jordan Jurosic who ran with a full head of steam through the opposing backline and into the try zone. With no time left the tie was set and the whole stadium cheered. A photo-op and a home-cooked meal followed with the host team in the legendary clubhouse fit with jerseys, plaques, and team pictures, one of which includes a strapping, young Coach Matt Sherman. In the photo, Sherman posted alongside his Oxford teammates following a match against Tonga. Overall a great English day."
-From,
CDT Ian Morris
Monday, March 11, 2019: Nolan Green '22
The team headed back to Iffley road to enjoy some beautiful English sun during a brief practice on Oxford's home turf. After refining their skills on the pitch, the boys hit the pool for an engaging recovery session led by expert athletic trainer, Joshua Werk. Following a team meal, two Oxford rugby players, Rob and Tom, led the guys on a tour of Oxford University, sharing its rich, historic roots that date all the way back to the 11th century. Army rugger, Drew Dunham even graced the tour group with his perfect performance of the Saint Crispin's Day speech from Shakespeare's Henry V. After viewing iconic landmarks like the Radcliffe Camera and the Bodleian Library, the boys set off to explore the depths of Oxford's homey town with a newfound appreciation and understanding of English culture. The guys are excited and are looking forward to the rest of the trip. Truly a day to remember.
Beat Navy,
CDT Nolan Green
Tuesday, March 12, 2019: Ben Schiher '20
After a wonderful couple of days in historic Oxford, the Army Rugby team packed up their bags and traveled down to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (RMAS). Sandhurst has a deep history in the United Kingdom, with its roots stretching all the way back to 1720. Sandhurst is similar to the United States Military Academy in the sense that it is an institution that produces officer for the Army, however one of the key differences is that Sandhurst is a one-year institution where Officer Cadets enter with pre-existing military service as well as an undergraduate degree. At Sandhurst, most of the curriculum is focused around military training, similar to summers at West Point.
Once we arrived, the team checked into the military academy's visitor accommodations in Victory College and began training for Wednesday's matchup against the Sandhurst rugby team. After watching film together, our team headed out into the rainy and windy weather to refine our skills and get in the right mindset for tomorrow's matchup. Following the training in the "Army" weather, the Army ruggers were briefed by Major General Paul Nanson CBE, the Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. The brief was a warm welcome to the similar, yet different, atmosphere here at Sandhurst. After the brief, we had plenty of time to go to the gym to get a workout in, do laundry, and explore the stoic grounds of the military academy. We then gathered for dinner and socialized with the Sandhurst ruggers, exchanging conversations that compared and contrasted our development both at Sandhurst and at West Point. Concluding dinner, we all went back to our rooms to get ready for tomorrow's big matchup, as the two historic military academies will clash on the pitch.
-Ben Schiher
Wednesday, March 13, 2019: Paul Adams '19
Today was a day like no other. We had the opportunity to spend the day at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst. We were able to tour the campus, historic grounds, and some of their landmarks. This fascinating tour was especially intriguing because there was a fair amount of similarities in architecture, aesthetics, and history between West Point and Sandhurst. The tour was followed by an intense and fiercely contested rugby match between the two teams. Though Sandhurst came out on top, both teams walked away bruised and battered from a tough game. After cleaning away the blood and dirt from the match, both teams joined together for a formal dinner and mixer filled with much food and hearty laughter. It was eye opening to share and revel in all the similarities between us, and laugh at some of the differences. It was a unique experience knowing that the men we played rugby with will be some of the same we see in the years to come fighting our nations wars.
-Paul Adams
Thursday, March 14, 2019: Davonte Carter-Vault '20
The boys were up early this morning to recover our bodies with another great pool PT session led by Josh. After enjoying a captivating experience at the Sandhurst Academy, we finally made our way to Swansea, Wales. Along the way we stopped for a riveting tour of the second largest castle in the United Kingdom at Caerphilly, Wales. Following the amazing insight into a bit of Welsh history we were back on the bus on our way to have a quick training session at a recreational facility in Swansea. We then made our way to Clyne Farm Centre where we checked into our farmhouse cabins. Not long after, we made our way to dinner with the Mumbles Royal Air Force squadron. There, we were treated to a wonderful serenade by their band and a beautiful violin solo by one of their young cadets. It was truly a pleasure to be immersed in the welcoming Welsh culture. Finally, the boys settled into our cabins and enjoyed a great night of bonding, playing chess and assorted card games. On Friday morning, the boys prepare for our match against Swansea University.
Beat Navy!
-CV
Friday, March 15, 2019: Cole Stacklin-Jarvis '20
This morning began with team breakfast at Clyde Farms, where we are staying during our time in Wales. After another packed English breakfast we headed to Rhossili Beach for a quick walk through and more sight seeing. The beach had some amazing scenery, even with the misty winds and fog we saw today. The pregame meal was held at Brasserie by The Sea and consisted of salad, delicious bread, and oil followed by spaghetti. After the meal we met for the pregame rituals at the farms. The highlight of today's rituals was a speech by former Cal rugby player and current captain of USA Eagles, Blaine Scully. He had some very inspirational words to share and set our mind right heading into the match. When we got to Swansea's stadium to play the weather was wet and muddy, as expected. The first half was very close as we held them to one try and gave hem a good fight. Unfortunately, we fell to a 22-0 final score. The match was followed by a meal with the Swansea team at Swansea University. A choir sang for us, the meal was premium, and the opportunity to converse and mingle with fellow ruggers was once again, priceless. This whole week has been amazing and full of unique opportunities. We've still been getting better every day. Today, was a great way to finish the competition, despite the outcome of the match. On Saturday, we are attending the Wales vs. Ireland match in Cardiff, which will be an unreal experience.
Navy in 15...
Always climbing,
Cole "Stack" Stacklin-Jarvis
Saturday, March 16, 2019: Jason Blackwood '20
Today, the Army West Point rugby team was able to fully submerge themselves in Welsh culture by attending the Six Nations final between Wales and Ireland. Only New Zealand takes rugby more serious than the Welsh, and this could be picked up the moment the team was dropped off. The streets around the stadium were blocked off and flooded with people. The scene was most comparable to a college town street when that respective college is having their football game. Bars were crowded, tickets were being scalped, and even the jewelry store worker who had to go to work was watching the game on his tablet. Wales as a nation had one focus, this game. The amazing part about this game was that if Wales won, they would win the Six Nations cup with a grand slam meaning they were entirely undefeated. The players went and bought merchandise to support their desired team; around half were for Ireland and half for Wales. Once everyone had their jerseys and their spot in the stadium, the main event was about to begin. What was most amazing about the game was actually an event that happened before the game started. Due to the recent shooting in New Zealand, the announcer called for a moment of silence. Approximately 74,000 spectators went completely silent. All that could be heard was the unaware yelling and cheering from the streets outside the stadium, but everyone inside was silent. I found it impressive and incredibly respectful. The game began and the level of skill demonstrated from both teams was incredible. Wales scored in the first 2 minutes and left Ireland trailing the entire game. Once the game was over, the players headed back to the bus and rode for 3 hours to their final hotel. It is our last night here in the UK, and I look forward to returning to the US, however, watching another game here in Wales is definitely something I would love to do again.
- Jason Blackwood
Players Mentioned
