Academy rugby teams win championships Published May 9, 2003 By Butch Wehry U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) -- The Air Force Academy men’s and women’s rugby teams won titles at the 2003 Collegiate Rugby Championships, held at Stanford University’s Steuber Rugby Stadium in Stanford, Calif., recently.The Air Force women beat the University of Illinois 17-15 in the finals May 3 for a repeat as national champions.They entered the tournament at the number one seed by virtue of defending their 2002 national title. Other women’s teams in the tournament were Penn State University and the University of California at San Diego.The Air Force men team defeated Harvard University 45-37 in their championship match May 4.This was the first national rugby championship for them since 1990. Other men’s teams in the tournament were the University of California at Berkeley and the U.S. Military Academy.“We’re tying to create leaders at the Air Force Academy, and that’s what you saw from our men and women … leadership,” said Dan Marine, coach for the Air Force men's team.“We’re also a strong family,” Marine said. “The support we’ve had from our alumni and the families of the athletes has been amazing. They’re the backbone of this success.”Semi-final and final Division I games for both men and women are being broadcast through May 18 on College Sports Television.