Former United States National Security Advisor HR McMaster is an unabashed rugby fan. 

He attended the Army-Navy game this year and continues to preach the value of the game as his current hometown—Washington D.C.—hosts Wales vs. South Africa this Saturday at RFK Stadium.

That same day, the three-star general will attend the Collegiate Rugby Championship sevens invitational in Chester, PA, to award the Pete Dawkins Trophy to the tournament champions.

Watch Wales vs. South Africa LIVE on FloRugby

Saturday, June 2 | 5 PM EDT

McMaster, 55, played rugby at West Point in the early 1980s and has been a recognized military expert ever since he published his PhD dissertation, converted into a more accessible form as the book "Dereliction of Duty," about the Vietnam War.

And he has always seen rugby as valuable to the warrior mindset. 

“To win in rugby,” McMaster told the Guardian, “you have to be committed to each other and work together, play together as a team. And that’s what combat requires."

McMaster shared the story of how the No. 8 from his West Point squad was injured in Iraq only to have his leg saved by a surgeon who had been the scrumhalf on the same team:

"So the guy who was shepherding the ball out of the scrum to that scrumhalf, now has that scrumhalf save his leg. Unbelievable.”

For McMaster, the lessons in teamwork and bravery learned while playing rugby extend far beyond the field.

“I think the warrior ethos is analogous to what a good rugby team has,” McMaster said. “They’re not going to be daunted by another team, or a difficult a situation in a game. They’re going to bind together and overcome.”

Live coverage of South Africa vs. Wales begins at 5 PM EDT on Saturday, June 2. Sign up for PRO to watch on FloRugby.