1981 ->: Early History of  US National Sevens Rugby Teams

3. 1993-1999. International Men's Sevens Explodes

From the World Cup to the World Series

(With a Link to the Start of International Women's Sevens)

-- So, this is what I'm thinking re coaches at this time (and see below)

1991-94: Steve Finkel was the official coach thru March 1994 Hong Kong
        ad hoc coaches during this time
            1993 May: Mike Saunders at Sicily 7s
            1993 June: Steve Gray at Lisbon 7s
1994-96: Mike Saunders - official coach from Besagne August 1994 through March 1996 Hong Kong
        ad hoc coaches during this time               
            1995 Dec: Jimmy Wilkinson at Punta del Este 7s
            1995 (¿month?): I'm told Dave Poquette coached at Japan 7s, but have no other information ...
1996-97: Mark Williams official coach from Japan Sevens (-¿April?-) 1996 thru March 1997 World Cup 7s (Hong Kong)

Unknown: possibly Fall 1997 - (I'm told John Tyler coached at Japan 7s but have no data) (was there an official US coach at this time?)

1997-1999: Bill Russell was the official coach from Dubai Dec. 1997 to Hong Kong 1999
        ad hoc coaches during this time
            1998 April: Steve Gray at Japan Sevens
            1998 May: John Tyler at Paris Sevens
            (¿was there a 1998 Dubai 7s? ¿was USA there? ¿if so, who coached?)
            1999 May: John Tyler at Paris Sevens (May) (¿was this a "no official coach" period [after Russell, before Smith]?)
[next chapter]
1999-2000: Tommy Smith (from Dubai to end of World Series 2000)

Above is a summary of a lot of things that need to be done.  A lot, however, has been done.  That follows.

This chapter of the story is, in many ways, an interim chapter.  It starts after the first-ever Rugby World Cup Sevens, and it finishes before the start of the first World Series of Sevens. In the interim, however, many things happened. In addition, both those landmarks were men-only events.  During this chapter, there will be a link to the pre-history and beginning of international women's sevens which culminated in the Hong Kong Women's Sevens in March of 1997.

US at Sicily Sevens, Catania, Italy (May 22-23, 1993)

1993-0522 Eagles at Sicily.jpg
Eagles at Sicily Sevens - May 1993
Standing, L to R: Steve Jung, Rob Lumkong, Al Dekin, Jay Wilkerson, Dennis Gonzalez, Mike Saunders (coach)
Kneeling, L to R: Andre Bachelet, George Conahey, Ed Schram, Tom Billups (capt), Chris King

Mike Saunders was the coach/manager, and the players were

Andre Bachelet, Cal-Berkeley
Tom Billups (captain), Old Blues (CA)
George Conahey, -- ¿club then? -- ¿OMBAC? ¿Belmont Shore? --
Al Dekin, Watsonians (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Dennis Gonzalez, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Steve Jung, Milwaukee
Chris King, Cal-Berkeley
Rob Lumkong, Cal-Berkeley
Ed Schram, Cal-Berkeley
Jay Wilkerson, Belmont Shore

US Results at 1993 Sicily Sevens, Catania, Italy (W4 L2)

US 26 Netherlands 7.  The Eagles scored from the opening kickoff, setting the tone for the game. Andre Bachelet (1) and George Conahey (a hat trick) scored tries, including one that covered the length of the field. Rob Lumkong suffered a thigh bruise and would not be available for the rest of the tourney.

US 14 Welsh Buffaloes 17.  The Eagles went up 14-0 but squandered their lead.  Trailing 14-17 in the last minute, they got across the goal line, but were whistled up for a forward pass.

US 16 Penguins 27.  The Eagles pushed the Penguins harder than any other opponent, but, leading 7-5, poor handling cost the US a couple of tries.  Bachelet and Conahey both scored tries.

Sicily had a confusing nomenclature for the divisions: the top was "Trophy" and the second was "Etna Cup" (the equivalent of what is normally called the Plate).

US 28 Sweden 0 (Etna Cup Quarterfinal).  Due to injuries, Sweden was bolstered by the addition of Ireland's World Cup scrumhalf. Tries were by Bachelet, Dennis Gonzalez, Jay Wilkerson and Chris King.

US 26 Cardiff 19 (Etna Cup Semifinal) (Overtime).  Mike Saunders noted that this was "the type of mach that drives a coach crazy."  The Eagles jumped out to a 19-0 lead and then watched it dissipate. Forced into overtime, the Eagles marched the kickoff into the end zone to win the game. Bachelet scored 2 tries and Jay Wilkerson added two as well.

US 38 Netherlands 12 (Etna Cup Final).  The final started 30 minutes after the overtime semifinal but the Eagles youthful legs were vital in the 20 minute game.  The US opened the scoring when Bachelet broke from the defense and dished to wing Steve Jung, who found center George Conahey who scored and converted. 7-0. Jung then found room, fed Bachelet who scored. Conahey converted. 14-0.  Conahey, who accounted for 23 points in the match, added another converted try and  penalty kick before a weary Eagles' defense permitted a Dutch try. 24-5.

Following a ball won by Dennis Gonzalez, Jung got a switch pass from Conahey and scored. 31-5. After another try by the Dutch, Bachelet scored from a penalty play to close the scoring. The Eagles were Etna Cup Champions.

US at 1993 Lisbon Sevens (June 5-6, 1993)

1993-06 USM at Lisbon 7s.jpg
Eagles at 1993 Lisbon Sevens
Standing, L to R: Steve Gray, Harry McDonald, Marty O'Connor, John Flamish, Al Dekin, Mark Miller, Keith Seaber
Seated, L to R: Paul Sheehy, Thadd Hill, George Conahey, Greg Teliczan

US at Hong Kong Sevens (March 26-27, 1994)

1995-03 HK new stadium-1200w.jpg
Photo from The Hong Kong The Sevens: Celebrating Twenty Years by John Blondin
 The completed Hong Kong Stadium
The stadium was completed by the 1994 Sevens (this picture is from 1995)

1994-03 USM at HK-from scan.jpg
Eagles at 1994 Hong Kong Sevens
Back, L to R: John Hisamoto (trainer), John Jelaco (manager), Jim Burgett, Rob Randell, Tom Brewer, Richard Tardits, Chris Campbell, Steve Finkel (coach)
Front, L to R: Vaea Anitoni, Andre Bachelet, Maika Sika, Tomasi Takau, Chris O'Brien
(would like a better version than above)

An article on the tournament is in April 11, 1994 issue of Rugby Magazine, pp. 8-12

Steve Finkel was the coach, John Jelaco was the manager, John Hisamoto the trainer, and the players were

Vaea Anitoni, -- ¿clubs of this entire team? --
Andre Bachelet, -- ¿club? --
Tom Brewer, -- ¿club? --
Jim Burgett,  -- ¿club? --
Jon Campbell, -- ¿club? --
Chris O'Brien, -- ¿club? --
Rob Randell, -- ¿club? --
Maika Sika, -- ¿Kansas City Blues in 1994? --
Tomasi Takau, Aspen
Richard Tardits, Life College of Chiropractice

US 24 Sri Lanka 14.  This game was more difficult than it needed to be; Steve Finkel commented that "... our rookies were nervous. They got out of synch and reverted to a 15s pattern of moving the ball forward, instead of playing sevens." Sri Lanka was in the game till last minute when Vaea Anitoni sealed the win by chipping over the sweeper and gathering the ball for the try.

US 10 Western Samoa 33.  The Eagles played a very straight-forward attack game, running their big players with support. The pattern showed promise, although mistakes cost them.  Andre Bachelet scored both Eagle tries.

US 14 Ireland 12 (Plate Quarterfinal).  This game was a huge improvement over last year's 38-0 loss to Ireland in the Rugby World Cup 7s. Richard Tardits scored 2 tries and Chris O'Brien made both conversions

US 29 Japan 7 (Plate Semifinal).  This was an easy victory for the US, with tries scored by Jim Burgett (2), Vaea Anitoni (2), and Richard Tardits.  Andre Bachelet converted both Burgett tries.

US 21 Korea 26 (Plate Final).  The Eagles started out with a try by Maika Sika following a kick blocked by Chris O'Brien to take a 7-0 lead, and following a Korean try Vaea Anitoni's try got the US back on top, but Korea scored two more first half tries to take a 19-14 they never relinquished... Jim Burgett scored the third Eagle try, and Chris O'Brien made all 3 conversions.
New Zealand beat Australia to win the Cup Championship.

The US leading try scorers were Vaea Anitoni (5) and Jim Burgett (4).

US at Besagne Sevens, Toulon, France, August 13-14, 1994

There is no team picture at this tournament. The picture below shows that it seems to be a nice location.

1990-94-Toulon+Sicily+Benidorm on map-1500w.jpg
Besagne Sevens is located at the middle arrow (Toulon, France)
Other early 90s Mediterranean stops were in Spain (Benidorm 7s, left arrow) and Italy (Sicily 7s, right arrow)

Vaea Anitoni, San Mateo
George Conahey, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Britt Howard, Life College of Chiropractic 
Dan Kennedy, Old Blue (NY)
Dan Lyle, -- Washington? OMBAC? --
Rob Lumkong,-- ¿club? --
Rob Randell, -- ¿club? --
Ed Schram, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Rich Schurfeld, -- ¿Belmont Shore? --
Maika Sika, --¿OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)?  -- KC Blues? --

US Results at 1994 Besagne Sevens, Toulon, France (W2 L1 T2)

US 21 France 21.  As far as I know, no write-up of any of these games exists.

US 19 Tonga 21. 

US 12 Irish Wolfhounds 12. 

US 25 Besagne 10 (Bowl Semifinal). 

US 19 Romania 14 (Bowl Final). 

US at Punta del Este, Uruguay, January 7-8, 1995

¿ -- TEAM PICTURE -- ?

Two American teams participated in the tournament: an official US selection coached by former Eagle Jim Wilkinson, in his first stint at high-level coaching, and Atlantis, an invitational side that I put together and coached.

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Chris Andres
, NOVA
Jon Campbell, Atlanta Renegades
Chris Carney, Montauk (NY)
Chris Motes, Old Blues (CA)
Marty O'Connor, South Jersey
Joe Santos, OMBAC
Ed Schram, OMBAC
Mike Siano, Life College
[Jim Wilkinson, NOVA]

Rich Schurfeld was also selected, but had to drop out at the last instant when his business became victim to the California floods. This left Jimmy with eight players, and he reluctantly dusted off his boots, just in case.

US Results at 1995 Punta del Este (W1 L2)

The results of both the US national team - Eagles - and the US invitational side Atlantis games are given in the March 10, 1995 issue of Rugby Magazine, pp 14-15.

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  Montevideo scored first, but the US got on the board with a length of the field try started by Marty O'Connor and finished by Chris Andres. The US dominated the second half and easily won the game.  Captain O'Connor and Jon Campbell scored tries.  Chris Motes converted all 3 tries.

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  This was Argentina's tournament; the US scored its only try when Chris Carney committed several defenders and produced the ball to Chris Motes, who got it to Campbell and then to Andres for a good try.  With injuries to Mike Siano and Ed Schram, Jim Wilkinson got in his first bit of national duty in several years, finishing the last 3 minutes of the match as a player.

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(Plate Quarterfinal).
  The US took an early 5-0 lead on a try by Chris Motes.  Spain, however, went ahead 7-5 after applying heavy pressure on the US following their kickoff.  Early in 2nd half, with the US pressuring Spain in their own goal, a Spaniard got through a gap, and Spain finished off a length-of-the-field try.  It was to be the winning try in a game totally dominated by the US.  The inevitable US try came too late and wasn't converted.  12-14.

US at 1995 Hong Kong Sevens (March 25-26, 1995)

1995-03 Eagles at 1995 HK 7s.jpg
Eagles at 1995 Hong Kong Sevens
(-- ¿is there a better version? --)

Mike Saunders was the Coach, Bob Davis the Manager, Jim St. Ville the Team Physician, and the players were

Vaea Anitoni, San Mateo
Tom Brewer, Old Blue (NY)
Jim Burgett, OPSB (Old Puget Sound Beach)
Jon Campbell, Atlanta Renegades
Steve Hiatt, Old Blues (CA)
Dan Lyle, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Joe Santos, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Ed Schram, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Maika Sika, -- ¿Dallas? -- 
Richard Tardits, Life College

US Results at 1995 Hong Kong Sevens (W1 L2 )

The tournament is described in the April 10, 1995 issue of Rugby Magazine, on pp. 6-9. (-- The version I have has about 1/3 of most pages cut off --)  -- Talk to Allyn Freeman re getting full-page scans of April 10, 1995 pp. 6-10 --

US 38 Taiwan 7.  The Eagles performed flawlessly in this game.  They built a 26-0 lead at halftime on tries by Tom Brewer, Maika Sika (2) and Vaea Anitoni (a try plus 3 conversions). Richard Tardits and Steve Hiatt added 2nd half tries and Anitoni had a conversion to cap off the scoring. 

US 7 New Zealand 40.  The Rugby Magazine article does not note the US scorer.

US 17 Argentina 21 (Plate QF).  The only thing noted in the Rugby report was that the Eagles lost the game on a very questionable penalty try.

New Zealand beat Fiji 35-17 to win the championship.

US at Japan Sevens, April 15-16, 1995

I have to date not been able to find either the roster of this team nor a team picture.

It wasn't until February 12, 2016 that I was made aware of this tournament (reminded, I guess, more accurately, though I had completely forgotten).  I could find no information on this tournament other than a website completely in Japanese.

I contacted Bill Baker, a former player on my Bethlehem PA club who has been living several years in Japan and who explained the page to me.

US Results at 1995 Japan Sevens

The first figure, below, shows the pool the US was in: they defeated Daitobunka University 47-0 and lost to Toshiba 19-29.  This is shown in the first figure.  In the second figure we see that the US was knocked out in the Plate QF by Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), 12-26.

1995-04 Japan 7s-US pool.jpg
US Pool in Japan 7s: The US is represented by  アメリカ
The US defeated Daitobunka U. 47-0 and lost to Toshiba 19-29.


1995-04 US loses PQF to Taiwan.jpg
This is the US QF game which they lost to Chinese Taipei 12-26

I show this information in this format because it is the only place I was able to find the results of this tournament. It must be somewhere else, but this search indicates, perhaps, the difficulty of a complete documentation of all US sevens matches.

US 47 Daitobunka U. 0.  -- no detailed results

US 19 Toshiba 29. 

US 12 Taiwan 26 (Plate Quarterfinal.  

 Selections from the web page, the 1995 Japan Sevens pool and Plate championship brackets are shown here.

US at Taiwan Sevens, October 14-15, 1995

1995-10 Eagles at Taiwan 7s.jpg
Eagles at Taiwan Sevens October 1995
Top, L to R: Mike Saunders (coach), Nick Bell, Bill Russell, Steve Robke, Dan Lyle, Matt Alexander, Dennis Gonzalez, George Conahey (manager & trainer)
Bottom, L to R: Dave Hodges, Ray Green, Thadd Hill, Joe Santos

Mike Saunders was the coach, George Conahey the manager/trainer, and the players were

Matt Alexander, Denver Barbarians
Nick Bell, NOVA (Northern Virginia)
Dennis Gonzalez, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Ray Green, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Thadd Hill, Fort Worth
Dave Hodges, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Dan Lyle, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Steve Robke,  Kansas City Blues 
Bill Russell (captain), Old Blue (NY)
Joe Santos, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)

Thanks to Ray Green, we have some tournament documentation:

  
1995-10 Taipei Sevens US Roster  //  1995-10 Taipei Sevens US Roster
Cover and US page from 1995 Taipei Sevens Program

US Results at 1995 Taiwan Sevens (W3 L2 )

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US 35 Sri Lanka 14. 
US 7 Fiji 19. 
US 21 FIRA 10 (Plate QF). 
US 12 Republic of China (Taiwan) (Plate SF) 5. 
US (loss) Hong Kong (Plate Final).  -- (The Rugby scan I was sent has the score and details of this game cut off :( but Bill Russell reported that US lost in last minute)(need to find better version) --

-- Talk to Allyn Freeman re getting this scan --




misc 1996 note: -- Life College of Chiropractic became Life University in 1996.  --

US at 1996 Hong Kong Sevens (March 29-31, 1996)

Mike Saunders was the Coach, Ed Schram Sr. the Manager, Ed Ayub the physiotherapist, and the players were

Vaea Anitoni, Tongan Yankees
Andre Bachelet, Old Blues (CA)
Jim Burgett, OPSB (Old Puget Sound Beach)
Thad Hill (Fort Worth)
Dan Lyle, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Rob Randell, Old Blues (CA)
Ed Schram, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Tomasi Taku, Belmont Shore
Richard Tardits, Life College
Mark Williams, Gentlemen of Aspen

US Results at 1996 Hong Kong Sevens (W1 L3)

The results of the US at the 1996 Hong Kong Sevens are given in the April 15, 1996 issue of Rugby Magazine.

US 19 Canada 20.  Rugby called this "tragedy number one." The Eagles led 19-17 with 30 seconds to go, stole a Canadian scrum, and started attacking.  A late whistle, however, gave Canada a penalty which they dropped through the posts to win 20-19.

US 5 South Africa 38.  The Eagles were never really in this game, and the only score was by Thadd Hill with a burst up the middle. Injuries to two key players - Jim Burgett and Mark Williams -, however, did not bode well.

US 24 Papua New Guinea 21.  Because of the format, the Eagles needed to win this game *and* score four tries to get into the Plate round. They did that.  The final score appeared close because of two last minute PNG tries; the US was not really threatened. Andre Bachelet started the scoring and Vaea Anitoni added a hat trick and 2 conversions.

US 12 Argentina 52 (Plate QF).  The US joined the Plate, as did South Africa, France and Argentina, the US's opponent.  With the score close (12-7 Argentina), Thadd Hill was sent off before halftime and - tragedy number two - the door swung open for Argentina.  It's tough to play 6 on 7 against a good team, and the second half was tough to watch.

Watching in the stands were several members of the US Atlantis women's team - and I, their coach - who had the weekend before taken part in what would be known as a historically important tournament.  The current chapter - the story of the men's national sevens teams between 1993 and 1999 - will be briefly interrupted by a link to the tournament in which the Atlantis women set the stage for the future.

1996: Hong Kong Announces International Women's Sevens

As a result of a club sevens initiated at a December 1995 meeting in Dubai between Emil Signes, and Hong Kong's Anne Marie O'Donoghue and Ruth Mitchell, and subsequently a small sevens event in Hong Kong in March 1996, the weekend prior to "the" [men's] Hong Kong Sevens, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union announced that it would host an international Women's Sevens Event.  These events, and the first several years of international women's sevens are chronicled in International Women's Sevens Begins... Alternatively, click on the picture below for the same link.

That page (or chapter) will comprise the early years of International Women's Sevens, up to the first announcement that people within the IRB (now World Rugby) were considering "the big O" - Olympics! - for sevens.

1996-0430 HKW7s for 1997-1400w.jpg
April 30, 1996: Hong Kong Announces Women's Sevens in 1997

The next day another article traced this back to a 1995 meeting in Dubai airport and a small sevens in March 1996

Click on the image for the article on the pioneering years of International Women's Sevens

The founding of international women's sevens has been directly linked to setting the stage for rugby's entry - both men and women - into the Olympics. This will be described in the linked chapter.  The page below, from the Hong Kong Women's Sevens in 2002, corresponds to a talk given at the banquet; this talk, by the IRB's Jamie Scott, directly linked the 1995 Dubai meeting - and a second meeting between Emil Signes and the Hong Kong women in 1998 which led to bringing the women's final into the men's event in 1999 - to the opportunity to seek an Olympic spot for rugby; this is referenced in more detail in that first chapter on international women's sevens.

2002 HKW Jamie Scott pgm-900w.jpg
International Women's Rugby enabled the discussion of Olympic Rugby

With this salute to the chronology and significance of international women's sevens, we return to the men's events.

US Men at 1996 France Sevens (- ¿Oct. 11-12, 1996? -)

1996/1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens: Qualifier & Event

US Men at Rugby World Cup 7s: Hong Kong (March 21-23, 1997)

1997-0323 USM at RWC7.jpeg
Eagle Men Win Bowl at 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens
Top, left to right: Mark Williams (coach), Vaea Anitoni, Richard Tardits, Dan Lyle, Malakai Delai, Ed Ayub (trainer), Jim Burgett, Chris Morrow, John Jelaco (manager)
Bottom, L to R: Brian Gallagher, Jon Campbell, Brian Hightower, Chris Morrow

US Men after Rugby World Cup Sevens 1997

US Men at Hong Kong Sevens March 27-29, 1998

1998-03 US men at HK 7s-1200w.jpg
Eagle Men at 1998 Hong Kong Sevens
Top, L to R: Ed Ayub (trainer), John Tyler (manager), Mike Coyner, Willie Mahoni, Rick Matiszik, Dave Hodges, Al Dekin, Bill Russell (coach)
Bottom, L to R: Malakai Delai, Vaea Anitoni, Vuka Tau, Eric Tuipulotu, Thadd Hill

1998-04 US at Japan 7s-900s.jpg
April 1998: Eagle Men at Japan Sevens
In Center Japan's Sumo Wrestling Champion
Starting at 6 O'Clock and going clockwise: Matt Whelan, Dave Ries, Steve Hiatt, Jeremy Revell, Jon Hinkin, Malakai Delai, Al Caravelli (manager), Steve Gray (coach), Wayne Whitko, Finau Puloka, Kevin Linzey Henderson, Nelo Lui

Roster: Steve Gray was the coach, Al Caravelli the manager, and the players were

Malakai Delai, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Steve Hiatt, Old Blues (CA)
Jon Hinkin, OMBAC (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club)
Kevin Linzey, - club? -
Nelo Lui, - club? -
Finau Puloka, OPSB (Old Puget Sound Beach)
Jeremy Revell, - club? -
Dave Ries, Maryland Exiles
Matt Whelan, NOVA (Northern Virginia)
Wayne Whitko, - club? Penn State? -

Results, US Men at 1998 Japan Sevens (W0 L3)

What little there is, is from Rugby Magazine, May 22, 1998, p.4; this page also announces the team to go to Paris sometime in the current month.

US 12 Australia 52. 

US 10 Japan 24. 

US 7 Korea 21.  

1998 Paris Sevens (Men)

US Men Results at 1999 Mar del Plata Sevens (W1 L2)

US Men at Hong Kong Sevens (March 26-28, 1999)

US Men at Paris Sevens (May 29-30, 1999)

1999-0529 USW at Paris 7s-1100w.jpg
US Men at 1999 Paris Sevens
Top, Left to Right: -Unknown-, Jeremy Revell, Vuka Tau, Kevin Barth, -Unknown-, Ben Trautwein, Keith Seaber (manager), Jeff Ward (trainer), John Tyler (coach)
Bottom: Doug Brown, Nelo Lui, -Unknown-, Craig Hartley, -Unknown-, -Unknown-

US Men Results at 1999 Paris Sevens (W0 L4)