Mildenhall rugby team helps to build stronger community relations

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ethan Morgan
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Slamming each other into the ground may not seem the best way for local nationals and Team Mildenhall Airmen to build partnerships, but for the Mildenhall Eagles it's just part of the game.

The Mildenhall Eagles are a rugby team comprised of both RAF Mildenhall Airmen and British local nationals. Ever since Craig Hunter, a local national, started the team about five years ago, it has been providing Airmen and locals the chance to interact with one another and learn about each other's cultures.

"Playing on this team is how I got the chance to really see England," said Dustin Hicks, 100th Communications Squadron. "I've had the chance to see many places including Ipswich, Norwich, Gt. Yarmouth, and other places all over England."

Hicks said there is a lot of competition out there for the Eagles and talent alone isn't enough to win these games.

"Experience is the biggest deciding factor when it comes to playing this sport, not talent," said Hicks. "Being talented has a big advantage, but when you're playing a team whose club has been established for 20 to 30 years (and their collective experience starts to show) that's when things start to get hard."

Even though playing teams with more experience can be difficult, it makes it that much more fun facing the challenge, said hicks. The goal of the game is to have fun. Whether win or lose both teams leave the field in high spirits.

"Whether you won or lost by 100 points it doesn't matter," said Hicks. "Teams I've played since joining this club all have great sportsmanship. Most of the time we and the other team share a meal together after the game no matter the outcome of the game."

The Eagles finished their most recent season in April and will start the next season with renewed vigor in September. Until the new season starts, the team will play friendly matches with other clubs to keep in shape and ready for competition.

The Eagles recently moved their club location from Jenner's Field, on the outskirts of Mildenhall, to Red Lodge Sports Pavilion, as it gives them a legitimate club facility to use and a new field to play on. The new facility allows the Eagles to train harder so they can play more competitively.

Anyone interested in joining the Mildenhall Eagles should contact Jammey Tipper-Booth at DSN 238-0965, commercial at 01638-540965 or email jammey.tipper-booth@mildenhall.af.mil.