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Jr. Stormers Seek Challenge at Nash Bash

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Jr. Stormers Seek Challenge at Nash Bash

De Haas is a HS All American and USA U20 player, and a big part of Little Rock's success. Jim Duvall photo.

It’s not easy for the Little Rock Junior Stormers to get some notice, if only because they are the only high school rugby team in Arkansas.

That seems a little weird given that Arkansas has two very strong college teams, but that’s how it goes sometimes.

For the Junior Stormers, rugby life means finding competition wherever they can. This week, it will be at Nash Bash in Nashville, Tenn.

Led by HS All American scrumhalf Ruben de Haas, and HS All American lock forward Steven Benson, the Stormers certainly have some talent.

Benson in action for Eagle Impact Rugby Academy, is a superb lock for the Stormers.

Logan Jones and Drew Galloway are two solid loose forwards who work well together, and prop Josh Zamudio is a powerful presence up front.

Head Coach Pieter de Haas said he has made sure his team is facing the toughest competition in Nash Bash and that appears to be the case. On the slate, Little Rock plays Harpeth out of Tennessee, Memphis Inner City, and St. Xavier out of Kentucky.

"We have to travel to get games, so if we see a tournament I jump on it because I know the guys will get a few games in," said de Haas. "We've had some great teams from Memphis and St. Louis reaching out to us, but it's a challenge."

The players continue to ask for strong competition, and they will get it, if sporadically. The Dallas Harlequins Colts will visit them next week. Then next week they go to Memphis to play Christian Brothers, and then the St. Louis Ruggerfest after that. 

"That's a good bunch of games," said de Haas. "You always get quality competition at the Ruggerfest, and that's what we want."

See the Nash Bash schedule here.