The last time Army and Navy women were on the field in major competition was a year ago, when both were in the finals of their respective championships; both came away runners-up, and since then the COVID-19 shutdowns have made it difficult for them to rebound.

Now they have a chance at something. As part of a Men's-Women's doubleheader at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, West Point will take on Navy in a clash between the second-place NCAA team (the Black Knights of West Point), and the second-place Women's Fall D1 team (the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy).  It promises to be a massively physical affair where everyone might be playing for pride, but maybe that's all they need.

Getting On The Field

"Challenging is probably the most used word of 2020," growled Army Head Coach Bill LeClerc, who had been looking at a new format for the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) league for NCAA varsity teams.. "The NIRA fixtures committee did an awesome job of putting together a schedule that spanned three divisions and over 20 teams. Then to see it collapse like a house of cards was pretty heartbreaking for all. But once conferences started to cancel most fall sports the writing on the wall became pretty clear."

But the service academies were better equipped than other institutions with regard to putting students in a bubble and controlling how they interact. With sports viewed as an integral part of a cadet's or midshipman's development, the academies needed to figure out how to keep physical activity going. But being active is one thing; competing against another institution is another. 

"I think we as a program have not lost sight of the fact we are lucky to be practicing and getting a few matches in this Fall," said Navy head Coach Murphy McCarthy. "I think that has helped us tremendously in working with the restraints that were, and are, in place. Normally I get to work with the Plebes throughout Plebe Summer during the intramural/athletic period, but this summer we only got to really chat big-picture stuff via zoom three times. Once we were allowed to train, we had the team broken up into five Pods and essentially it was very much like having platoon with five squads, but these squads remained separated and we proceeded through drills like that for a few weeks. It was a great leadership opportunity that the girls really did well with and I think it benefited the Plebes tremendously."

Army also eased into things, going through a five-week return-to-play period before starting full training at the end of September. They have kept their squad relatively small (31), but LeClerc needed more eyes on groups as they were spread out more, and West Point grad (Class of 2012) Kaitlyn Kelly has been hired on as a full-time assistant coach.

LeClerc, like McCarthy, has seen some benefit in changing things up.

"This has been a useful time for everyone," he said.

So How About The Teams?

"We are looking pretty good but not playing anyone but ourselves for an extended period of time is tough on really getting a sense of where we are," said McCarthy. "We have a great crop of new Plebes that have come out for the team and they are developing nicely."

Navy will see two newcomers get some game time on Saturday, with Plebe Mariah Johnson showing well as a loosehead prop who gets a lot of work done, and senior Reagan Miller, recruited to the team by club president Nicole August during Marine in the summer, should play some at wing.

Army will also bring in a few newcomers. As a varsity sport they have a little recruiting pull, and that helps, but as they say, no plan survives contact with the enemy.

Olivia Popp, Taylor Driver, Molly Murtagh are all Plebes who have accomplished big things in high school, while three more—Kate Hartford, Sylvi Imrem, and Gwen Vestal have a ton og potential.

"When you lose a talented class of seniors like Bailey Gable, Gio Ferguson Lewis, Damaria Morton, and Sam Sullivan, it's always going to be difficult," said LeClerc. "That’s the nature of the beast and we have some very gifted hard working players who are ready to step up and carry on the legacy of Army Women’s Rugby."

College rugby teams always have to deal with graduation, but the Navy team has another issue to worry about—eyesight. A few of the juniors who would be expected to be available to play are not because they underwent eye surgery in order to further their desires to fly jets. Recovering from eye surgery and contact sports don't mix, so they will be on the sidelines.

"We have been mixing it up in three or four positions to get the right people in the right place for a proper battle with Army this Saturday. Our class of 2021 Midshipmen have really stepped up in leading the team," said McCarthy.

It's A Rivalry After All

Go Army, Beat Navy, or Go Navy, Beat Army ... it rolls off every tongue automatically. It's part of how they pursue their training. And sports, especially a physical sport like rugby, is where it can often be best expressed.

"If you ask any Midshipmen or Naval Academy alumni if they could only play one rugby game in a season, there is only one answer," said McCarthy. "Beating Army is always at the top of the list. The mutual respect within the rivalry is what galvanizes it; 80 minutes of blood, sweat, and tears…. to sing last!.

"It's fitting that the only games we can play are other academies," added LeClerc. "For 80 minutes nothing else will matter. Once the game is over, these warriors know real work begins."