Chief loves to coach, play rugby

Published Dec. 7, 2006
By Senior Airman John Gordinier
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The Air Force Rugby Team recently won the Armed Forces Rugby Championship for the third year in a row with a little help from a Shaw member who is a rugby fanatic, player and assistant coach.

Chief Master Sgt. Craun Fansler, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent, played on the Air Force Rugby team from 1985 to 1987 and has been the assistant coach for the Air Force Rugby team from 1988 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2006.

"I started playing rugby at Montclair State College, N.J., in 1976 before I joined the Air Force," Chief Fansler said. "I loved it and later that year I went to school in England on an exchange program. That's where I really got hooked."

After graduation and upon return to the United States, the chief joined the Air Force and started playing rugby on the Clark Air Base team in the Philippines in 1980.

"Back then, rugby was a new sport in America," Chief Fansler said. "Rugby was not well known nor was there much experience. Players who had experience in the game became a coach, which is how I first started coaching."

Since 1985, when he started with the Air Force Rugby Team, the chief has played and coached in more than 160 games and has helped the team earn eight championships.

The 54-year-old man still plays the brutal sport of rugby three to four times per year, usually playing "old boys" rugby, where all the players are over 35 years old.

"I enjoy playing rugby because it allows me that physical competition that I have always loved," the chief said.

The game is perfect for the military, Chief Fansler said. It's all about making decisions in a constantly changing environment to achieve victory. Rugby consists of a lot of stress provided by the opposing team. Also, unlike football, there are no timeouts. In fact, if there is an injury on the field and it is not directly where the action is, play continues. Once the play stops, usually when there is an infraction of the rules or when the ball goes out of bounds, only then will the referee check on the injured player.

"In this sport, you have to be fit," the chief said. "The game is two 40-minute halves with a five-minute break at halftime."

One of the remarkable things about rugby is that a person tries to physically beat their opponent during the game, but when it's all over, the two get together and have a beer, Chief Fansler said. Rugby players are members of a brotherhood.

"I would never compare a game with war, but in a lesser way, rugby players are like a 'band of brothers,'" Chief Fansler said.