The International Military Sports Council (CISM) is a multidisciplinary organization that organizes regional, national and international events for its 140+ members. Among its lineup are quadrennial Summer and Winter Games, which traditionally occur the year before the Olympics. Rugby 7s has been added as a trial sport, and the U.S. Armed Forces Sports are currently in the Netherlands for the 2nd annual Military Challenge Rugby 7s tournament. [lead photo c/o All-Army Sports]

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CISM supports 25 Category A sports, which qualify them for annual World Military Championships and Olympics-styled tournaments every four years. The Challenge category is for emerging sports, and once a sport shows enough interest and participation from member nations, then it will be evaluated for Category A status. In 2023, rugby 7s, ultra running and functional fitness all entered the lineup.

 

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The 2024 rugby event occurs from June 1-7 (game days are June 4-6) in Amstelveen, Netherlands. The U.S. Armed Forces has sent both men’s and women’s teams. There was a selection and prep camp last week at both Fort Hamilton (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and West Point Academy (N.Y.), and then the final 12 players for both teams were named. Reigning Armed Forces 7s champion Air Force accounts for five players, while runner-up Army has sent four players to the Netherlands. The Marines have two representatives, and Hollis Connick is the Coast Guard’s star. USA 7s Eagle Kasey McCravey (Army) is the women’s team head coach, while Kate Herren (Marines) and Tanya Siford (Air Force) captain the squad.

WOMEN’S TEAM ROSTER

LTJG Hollis Connick – Coast Guard
MAJ Danielle Deshaies – Army
SSG Lolita Galdones – Army
MAJ Kate Herren – Marines
TSgt Cheryl Johnson – Air Force
CPT Janet Lee – Marines
CPT Katie Mueller – Air Force
SSG Erica Myers – Army
CPT Kelsie O’Brien – Air Force
TSgt Tanya Siford – Air Force
CPT Kayla Williams – Army
1st LT Adrienne Yoder – Air Force

Team Manager: LT Vincent Nitopi – Coast Guard
Coach: CPT Kasey McCravey – Army

The women’s division includes four teams: U.S., France, Ireland and host Netherlands. They’ll play each other one on Tuesday, and then a second time on Wednesday. Afterward, teams will be seeded 1-4 for semifinals, then the final round will placing matches. See schedule below. The men’s division includes the aforementioned four nations as well as South Korea.

WOMEN’S SCHEDULE

Tuesday, June 4
0930 France v Ireland
1030 USA v Netherlands
1130 USA v France
1330 Netherlands v Ireland
1430 France v Netherlands
1530 USA v Ireland

Wednesday, June 5
0930 France v Netherlands
1030 USA v France
1130 France v Ireland
1330 Netherlands v Ireland
1430 Ireland v USA
1530 USA v Netherlands

Followed by semifinals and final placing matches.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. Follow @armedforcessports and @allarmysports on Instagram for live info.