FORT BENNING, GA - Thirty-five rugby players from across the Army will come to Fort Benning to compete in the All-Army rugby trial camp Oct. 28. The trial camp runs until Nov. 6.
"The players who compete at the trial camp are the best rugby players in the Army," said Lori Smith, director of fitness facilities.
"They play at more of a professional than recreational level. These guys have probably played rugby for years and grew up playing rugby on a local team and in college."
The trial camp is a tryout to see which players are the strongest, Smith said.
Ten players will be cut before the camp ends. Twenty-five will make the All-Army team and play in the Armed Forces Rugby Tournament Nov. 9-13 against the Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and Air Force.
The Armed Forces Rugby Tournament will be at Fort Benning 's Stewart-Watson Field.
Smith said rugby is an interesting sport to watch.
"It takes a lot of skill and guts to get out there and play rugby," she said. "It's an amazing sport. You see heart, passion and drive in the players you don't see that in a lot of other sports."
Spectators are welcome at the trial camp and the Armed Forces tournament. The All-Army team hopefuls will compete in scrimmage games and drills.
Smith said a trial camp scrimmage schedule hasn't been released yet, but she anticipates scrimmages will be from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Scrimmage games will be played at Stewart-Watson Field next to Smith Fitness Center.
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