Two Matches and Intense Preparation
Both matches will be at RAF Aldershot, which has a rugby stadium on the grounds. The team has played there before, but not for both games. Both games are anticipated to be held there this time.
The bulk of the preparation work will be done on the first three days on the tour, where Head Coach Allen Clarke, on the tour for the third straight year, and assistant coach Mike Tolkin (his 2nd) will formalize the plays and playing structure.
More Than Just Rugby
Hugely important in this entire thing is recognizing the sacrifice and the difficulty in military service. Players talked about how playing and touring is more about a form of recovery for these players than it is about winning rugby games.
Rugby is the vessel for making sure America's veterans are supported.
RMA Podcast: Why Rugby Has Value for Veterans
In addition, this tour happens during the Remembrance Day period. Known as Veterans Day in the US, Remembrance Day is a more solemn and hard-hitting day in Britain, where WWI especially took a massive toll on the youth of the nation.
The US Military Team attends Remembrance services at the Chapel at Sandhurst, and will also attend the UK Armed Forces match with the Belgian national team Kingsholm, the home of Gloucester Rugby.
The Players
The squad that makes this tour includes several players on their third trip, but also some new faces. With the military matches held on the West Coast and East Coast of the USA this summer, several players put themselves in the frame for selection.
Run by Mark Drown and with the tireless behind-the-scenes work of Nic Punimata and Kevin Flynn, the team is coached. by Allen Clarke and Mike Tolkin and plenty more coaches, this is a well-run operation.
Returning players include: power-running center Mattie Tago, towering lock Jackson Bristol, and MLR pros Darby Koikoi Nelligan and Collin Grosse. Shane Palmer put in a heroic effort against the Army last year, in the rain and mud, as the Military team didn't have a backup scrumhalf and Palmer had to put in a full 80 in difficult circumstances.
This squad has nine players who played in MLR, PR7s, or for the USA. Several new players were found in those summer games and they provide much-needed depth and power.
It's also interesting to note that players who go on these tours seem to end up coaching—two of Air Force Academy's coaches, one at Loyola New Orleans, one at LSU, and one at Brown are just a couple of examples.
