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Boys HS Nationals About to Kick Off

irish rugby tours

Boys HS Nationals About to Kick Off

Belmont Shore vs LCA was an overtime game in 2024. It could be again. Alex Goff photo.

It's a bit wet in Elkhart, Ind. this week.

Rain and even some thunderstorms have come in this week, but the weather will ease up for the action, which kicks off tomorrow, Thursday.

We have some information for you to take a look at and listen to.

Here is the event e-program.

 

8x8 Sports

The Brackets

Tier II favorites are probably SOC Raptors, but Rugby Washington champs Eastside Lions, Heartland powers KC Jr. Blues, and Virginia champs Fort Hunt will all have something to say about that.

This is often a bracket of upsets and surprises.

HS Club favorites are the Charlote Cardinals, but it's pretty clear that this is a highly-competitive bracket. The 2024 runners-up, The Woodlands, have been seeded 7th (!). LCA vs Belmont Shore promises to be very close indeed, and Cavemen vs Charlotte Tigers is an intriguing one. In the Friendship Cup tournament in March Cavemen tied the Cardinals, a performance that vaulted them into contention. The Tigers lost to the Cardinals, but their result of 37-25 was a very close one.

This will be a massively challenging tournament.

And in the School bracket St. Ignatius is the top-ranked team and has played and beaten three of the teams in this bracket. However, they would be smart not to take Greenwich (their opening opponent) lightly. All eyes will likely be on Notre Dame de la Salette vs Jesuit of Sacramento. We at GRR World Headquarters have asked several well-connected observers which team they think will win and no one can agree.

Gonzaga vs Herriman could also be an interesting one. Herriman is seeded #3 but Gonzaga has had their tactical number.

We go into more detail here in this video: