Spc. Nicole Welch
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The sport of rugby has recently led to the jubilant interactions between multi-national troops at Camp Victory South, and it has allowed the troops to release the weight from their shoulders, if only for an hour.
Troops gather at Griffin Landing Zone every Sunday evening for an atypical style of physical training and a lot of entertainment under the scorching sun. The weekly touch-rugby matches originated as a challenge by the members of the Australian Defense Force to American service members, but are now more leisurely activities for troops of all nations, including Italy and Great Britain.
While rugby is one of the most popular sports in Australia, it is less common in the United States, and therefore many Americans had never played and were unfamiliar with the rules of the game. Most of them said they have played soccer or football, which are incorporated in the sport of rugby.
The Australians gave their opponents a quick lesson before the first match, but the Australians firmly dominated the competition. When it came time for the second week's battle between countries, both sides agreed to mix the teams up to make them more equal, said Flight Sgt. Steve Grimmer, Australian Defense Force's Air Force.
"It's so exhausting, these Australians are like Energizer bunnies, said 1st Lt. Amy O'Neill, HHC III Corps, who has prior rugby experience. "It's awesome to be out here because it gives us the chance to interact with people we normally wouldn't be able to."The playing conditions are less than ideal, with the intense heat and hard pavement, but the troops keep coming out to play, accepting the rolled ankles, skinned knees and hands that accompany the excitement of the game.
"It's not too bad playing on asphalt, but I'll be sore the day after playing," laughed Pvt. Kris Bellette, Australian Defense Force's Army. "It's good to get away from work, especially now that the Americans are getting a lot better each week." Through the simple word of mouth, the number of competitors has risen from 18 in the first week to 45 in the fourth week, said Lt. Col. John Carpenter of Joint Forces Command, who helped organize the competitions along with Grimmer and Lt. Col. Bill Thomson, Australian Defense Force. Because of the addition of new players, they now have two matches playing simultaneously at Griffin Landing Zone.
The rugby matches were more competitive in nature in their introduction, but the merged teams have allowed the players to partake in a friendlier contest that allows the participants to forge relationships with each other, as well as learn about the game itself.
"The real goal is to bring different nationalities together and have a good time," said 1st Lt. Roberto Forlani, Italian Ministry of Defense's Army. "There's some competition, but the rules aren't strict, and the Australians are teaching us their game."When the sun begins to set and the rugby matches have concluded, the sweat-drenched troops of various nations then head to "Aussie Island," where the Australians live and work.
There they cool off in the pool and enjoy their last bit of relaxation before they begin another exhausting workweek at Camp Victory. Any multi-national troops interested in playing rugby can meet at Griffin Landing Zone Sunday nights at 6:45 p.m. to be placed on a team.
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2004 |
| Date Posted: | 08.02.2004 13:27 |
| Story ID: | 174 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 85 |
This work, Rugby unites deployed troops of many countries, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
