Utah rugby, and in a broader sense HS rugby in the West, gets a jumpstart with Ra Puriri Invitational in St. George, Utah this coming weekend.

The Ra Puriri Tournament was started by United Head Caoch Colin Puriri and Snow Canyon Head Coach Michael Puriri in honor of their father. The tournament has for years been a starter for the Utah season, and usually has brought in teams from Nevada and Arizona.

The tournament is held in the southern part of Utah, where the weather is a little milder. Snow Canyon and Mikaera Puriri, Michael's son, will host and run the event.

This year 10 teams are expected, with most of them coming from Utah, but Arizona still being represented.

The teams are:

Snow Canyon
United 
Herriman 
Olympus 
Genesis 
East 
SLV Rhinos 
Mountain Ridge 
American Fork 
Red Mountain (AZ) 

This list includes reigning school-team National Champion Herriman HS plus United, which has been a contender at the national level for many years, as well as Genesis, which took 5th at Nationals in the HS Club division last year.

"I’m very excited for the potential of this year’s invitational," said Mikaera Puriri.