FDNY Bravest Football and Rugby in Action on National Firefighter's Memorial Weekend

by Warren Rosenberg, MetroSports Magazine - May 12, 2023

This past weekend of May 6th and 7th, 2023, was designated as the National Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial Weekend by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, an organization formed by an act of Congress in 1992. It came just two days after the May 4th celebration of International Firefighters Day. On this very important weekend, two of the FDNY’s sports teams took to the field in competition against other Metro area first responders, providing some of the most exciting and competitive sports activities in the region.

On Saturday, May 6th, the FDNY Bravest Football team took to the field against the TriState Shields, a football team comprised of Police, Fire, Corrections, Courts, Federal Agents, Military, Sanitation and E.M.S. personnel. Coming into the game as the reigning 2022 National Public Safety Football League (NPSFL) Division I Champions, the FDNY Bravest faced a primed and committed TriState Shields.

Competing at the Joseph Fosina Field in New Rochelle, this hard-fought game remained so close and competitive that it needed to be settled in overtime. The offense played their role, as noted on the FDNY Bravest social media, “the three headed rushing attack of Fung-Sumpter-Wilson pounded the ground all day, willing the Bravest to a thrilling overtime victory, to remain undefeated on the season.” And so did the defense, “the Bravest Defense made plays in the backfield time and time again on Saturday, keeping the score close the entire time. Every inch of real estate was crucial in this nail biter.”

On Sunday, May 7th, on the turf at the new Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon, the FDNY Bravest Rugby team took on the NYPD Finest Rugby team in what can best be called another nail biter. In a hard-fought but respectful contest against their NYC rivals, the Bravest prevailed in a match that came down to the final minutes. Summing up the contest, and noting their deep respect for the NYPD, the Bravest noted on their social media site, "it was a tight one but in the end NYPD Rugby came out on top by less than a try. It’s always an honor playing alongside our brothers in Blue. Thank you to NYPD Rugby for hosting us.”

MetroSports Magazine, The New York Sports Photo Group, Clarkshots1 and all of us in the New York Metropolitan region enjoy watching your spirited competition and thank you for your brave and dedicated service to keeping us all safe.