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The sport of Rugby in the US like almost everywhere in the world has had deep ties to military service. We see this in the 1919 Inter-Allied games. The 1919 US Armed Services representative side would go on to form the backbone of the @USARugby eagles in the 1920 Olympic Games.
1919 Inter-Allied Games Roster:
1LT Herbert Cleck
2LT John Coulter
CPT Kenneth Dole
1LT Arthur Erb
1LT George Fish (Eagle #29)
2LT R.T. Fisher
CPL James Fitzpatrick (Eagle #30)
SGT Henry Hanser
CPL Frank Keeler
1LT Seth Millington
PVT Frederick Moore
1LT Robert Norris
1LT Herbert Cleck
2LT John Coulter
CPT Kenneth Dole
1LT Arthur Erb
1LT George Fish (Eagle #29)
2LT R.T. Fisher
CPL James Fitzpatrick (Eagle #30)
SGT Henry Hanser
CPL Frank Keeler
1LT Seth Millington
PVT Frederick Moore
1LT Robert Norris
Cont.
PVT J.T. O'Neill (Eagle #35)
1LT L.H. Slocum
2LT Gordon Snavely
1LT James Thoburn
2LT Irving Twombey
CPL Charles Schrader
Staff:
CPT H.R. Stolz (Eagle #27)
W.F. Hopkins, YMCA
1LT Sherman
2LT W.O. Fletcher
PVT J.T. O'Neill (Eagle #35)
1LT L.H. Slocum
2LT Gordon Snavely
1LT James Thoburn
2LT Irving Twombey
CPL Charles Schrader
Staff:
CPT H.R. Stolz (Eagle #27)
W.F. Hopkins, YMCA
1LT Sherman
2LT W.O. Fletcher
The US currently looks back to November 16th, 1912, as the date of first caps awarded. But if you look a bit deeper thanks to http://therugbyhistorysociety.co.uk/ there is a record that goes further.
There were men on the 1919 roster that led the USA All-American Representative team on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. CPT Kenneth Dole was the Vice-Captain of that tour. There are Eagles not on the Inter-Allied Games roster that served in WWI as well.
Notably, Arthur Erb's brother Benjamin Erb (Eagle #4). I find it fitting, that the last cap awarded in 1913 was given to Herbert Stolz who would coach the 1919 Inter-Allied Games team. Colby Slater (Eagle #43) served in WWI but did not play in the Inter-Allied Games,
When you examine the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games Rosters you also have a theme of Military Service. Notably Rudy Scholz who commissioned right as WWI ended, he would again serve during WWII.
When you examine the roster of awarded caps in @USARugby 's modern era you continue to see the theme of Rugby players serving their Nation when she called. You even see this in the professional era with @EricDuechle @WillHolder10 , Cody Melphy, @ImPatrickBlair , John Cullen
@WallyWelmers @nanafaavesi92, Ashlee Byrge, Kasey McCravey, and others.
You even see this impact in @usmlr with the likes of Duechle, Holder, Melphy, Cullen, Welmers, Irey, all having made an appearance in the league through it's first three seasons.
In Amateur game the Armed Services are well represented with teams at every Academy, Armed Forces 7s, and touring sides such as @OldBreedRugby and @wawasrugby
@GreatWarRugby some US stuff for you!
