UKAF rugby narrowly misses out on Shield success at prestigious US sevens tournament
The UK Armed Forces Rugby 7s side has just missed out on some silverware at the annual Rugby Town 7's competition in Colorado.
A spirited comeback saw them drag the score close but it was not enough and they lost the Shield Final 10-12 to a strong Gorilla Rugby side.
They were one of the 20 teams in the USA competing in the annual sevens tournament.
The UKAF side had trailed the Gorilla team 5-0 at the break, conceding a try right at the end of the half, then went 12-0 down in the second half to a second converted try.
Then with two minutes left in the match, Solo Radinarova went in for a try, and in the last seconds, Oni Nayagi scored a second try to make it 10-12.
But they missed the conversion, giving the Gorillas the win.
'Absolutely emptied themselves'
"The squad are desperately disappointed not to exact revenge over the Gorillas in the Shield Final", Director of UKAF Rugby 7s Wing Commander Nick Monahan told BFBS Forces News.
He added that the squad "absolutely emptied themselves in the attempt".
"The standard of the tournament this year is higher than ever, with the UKAF team competing strongly against numerous Olympians and other international and professional players.
"Rugbytown is especially gruelling given the altitude and temperatures here but they have risen to the mental and physical challenge of this 3-day tournament magnificently."
'Immensely proud'
Wg Cdr added: "The squad’s attitude and effort has been exceptional across all the preparation and the weekend itself, but unfortunately didn't get the results they deserved.
"All the players, coaching, management and med staff have represented UKAF to the best of their ability and I'm immensely proud of them."
The UKAF side had been on quite a journey to get to the Shield Final.
Having lost their first two games in the RT7s pool stage, 26-19 to Gorilla Rugby and 21-12 to the Tsunami Warriors, a change in form saw them pick up two crucial wins.
The UKAF side followed up a 43-5 win against Misfits 43-5 with a close 14-12 win over the Ramblin Jesters, who had previously been unbeaten in the tournament.
After the group stages, they were beaten comprehensively 40-7 by the Social Griffin side but then bounced back to secure a place in the Shield Final with a thumping 50-0 win over the US Navy's "All Navy Rugby" side.
The RT7s started in 2012 at the US Armed Forces at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado.
Year after year, the number of participants gew, and it has now become one of the toughest 7s rugby tournaments in the world.
Ahead of the event, BFBS Sport reporter Julian Evans joined the men's and women's UKAF teams at their training in Aldershot to get an inside scoop on their expectations.
The women's squad will be led by former RAF and Wales international Corporal Sian Williams when they head to the Dubai Sevens in November.
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