LAS VEGAS -- She’s exhausted. Leanne Hardin has trained hard her entire career, so she knows this feeling. But 20 minutes into practice, the intensity hits a new level.
Carrying the ball, she pushes forward, battling fatigue from a 6,000-mile journey and the strain in her legs. Caught off guard, an opponent closes in fast, lifting and slamming her to the turf.
It takes a moment, but Hardin rises, brushes off the cut on her knee and the ache in her shoulder, and tracks the ball to the opposing wing. Now it’s her turn. Before the ball carrier can accelerate, Hardin delivers a crushing tackle, halting the advance with precision and force.
Forging a Legacy
Rugby once bore the moniker “a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen,” known for its roughness and intensity. Today, that reputation has evolved as skilled athletes redefine the sport’s narrative through sheer merit.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, rugby sevens debuted with electrifying matches that shattered expectations. Players showcased speed, strength, and fearless resolve, proving their mettle with every play.
Just 30 miles from the Las Vegas strip, 19 Airmen—active-duty, Guard, and Reserve—formed the Air Force’s first official rugby sevens team, built on discipline and determination.
Lisa Rosen, a seasoned coach with a proven track record from the Air Force Academy and USA Rugby, leads the squad. She draws parallels between breaking into rugby and excelling in military roles.
“There used to be a combat exclusion … so certain roles were off-limits, but that’s changed,” she said. “That barrier was always there for a reason. ‘Well you guys aren’t really going to fight.’ But, that’s gone now.”
Rosen added, “Airmen are flying helicopters, jets, recovery missions, and leading convoys—proving their capability every day.”
Proving Ground
The Air Force rugby sevens team debuted at the Las Vegas Invitational, North America’s largest rugby tournament, facing off against veteran teams stacked with Olympic and HSBC World Series talent.
They held their own against elite competition, bowing out in the Shield semifinals. USA Rugby backed the initiative, moving the team’s final pool play game to the 35,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium alongside the HSBC World Series’ Las Vegas stop.
“The way we’ve been talking about it internally is picking up the bar,” Rosen said. “We always talk about pushing the bar, but you can’t push it until you lift it.”
Unified Strength
Rugby sevens, a fast-paced variant of the traditional 15-a-side game, condenses match time to 14 minutes with seven players per side. Its inclusion in the Olympics has spurred investment, drawing skilled athletes to the sport.
“Sevens is a lot easier to teach than 15s, and it’s a lot easier to incorporate someone who has skills from other sports,” Rosen said. “One of the best players from the U.S. and the captain of the U.S. [Olympic] team came from ice hockey, bringing contact, passing, and agility skills that translate to rugby. I encourage all Airmen with talent: ‘If you think you can do it, then come out and try.’”
Hardin, a staff sergeant from Pápa Air Base, Hungary, joined after a co-worker recognized her athletic prowess.
“I played football, basketball, baseball with the boys when I was young,” Hardin said. “I was told I couldn’t play high school football so I played volleyball; they told me I couldn’t play baseball anymore so I played softball. I got into boxing later, so I’ve always been in sports.
“To play for and represent the Air Force at a level that we are is amazing,” she said.
Team captain Emily Raney, a first lieutenant at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, brings prior rugby experience from the Air Force Academy. As a program manager, she values the team’s cohesion.
Raney, who scored the team’s first-ever try, credits their success to collaboration with the men’s team and the Air Force’s emphasis on adaptability.
“I think one area that people in the military have an advantage, when it comes to rugby, is our adaptability,” she said. “We move all the time so we have to be adaptable in the military, and so coming in and understanding each other and focusing on the strengths of each individual, is something I think we kind of do seamlessly.”
Raising the Standard
It’s warmer today, and Hardin’s forehead glistens with sweat. Practices are done—now it’s game time.
Lacing up her cleats to face the Scion Sirens, led by Olympic veteran Jillion Potter, Hardin hears cheers as the Air Force men’s team wins nearby. The whistle blows, and the Sirens kick off. Hardin catches the ball, dashes to the sideline, and is met by Potter’s tackle.
She springs up, undeterred, and soon finds herself facing Potter again—this time delivering a decisive takedown, earning Coach Rosen’s approval.
“The bar is set,” Rosen said. “Now all we need to do is keep pushing.”
The Air Force women’s rugby sevens team huddles together after a practice in Las Vegas, March 1, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Siuta B. Ika)