The Rugby Colorado season gets going in earnest this weekend with a full slate of matches (weather permitting).

Heading the list of games is perennial contender East HS, which plays Regis Jesuit as the curtain-raiser for the two Pacific Rugby Premiership men’s club games to be held at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colo.

The Denver Barbarians plat Olympic Club, while Glendale hosts Belmont Shore. East v Jesuit kicks off at 11:45pm in the Infinity Park stadium, which is always cleared of snow on game day, so the game will go on for sure.

Also set for this weekend:

Aurora at PAC

Castle Rock at Ridgeview Academy

Chaparral at Littleton

Grand Junction at Broonfield

Westside SWARM at Aspen

Fort Collins at Boulder

Highlands Ranch at Central

Notable in their absence would be the 2014 state champs the Colorado Springs Grizzlies, who will kick off their season March 7.

Meanwhile, East HS face Regis Jesuit for the Rugby Boot Bowl. This is an annual challenge trophy between the two schools. The trophy is a pair of old-school big-cleated rugby boots that once belonged to East HS Head Coach Bill Baer. They were mounted onto a plaque and each result is recorded on the trophy. This is the 10th playing of the Rugby Boot Bowl, with East winning seven and Regis winning twice.

“It has always been a good, tough game,” said Baer. “We’re excited that we get to be a curtain-raiser for the Premiership club games.”

East has been chasing Colorado Springs for top in the state for some time, now. They continue to expand their reach, fielding an A side, B side, and now a frosh-soph team. But as the club itself is big, their players normally are not.

“We’re small,” said Baer. “We rely on fitness and the payers have really dedicated themselves to their fitness. They have a strong work rate and we’re going to need it if we want to get by Colorado Springs.”

HS All American Adam Leonard is a burly junior inside center with plenty of skill and an aggressive streak. He’s a key performer for East. Auggie Benett is a crossover from soccer who seems to have figured out the game quickly. 

But more than the odd player, what excited Baer is how the team has been working. They want it, he said, and it all starts with the Rugby Boot Bowl.

Here’s the video of East v Colorado Springs in the 2014 state final. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PLpOonjNvs

Colorado Springs won 33-6.