Boys Nationals - Meaning and Opportunity
The Boys HS Rugby National Championships is over and done and continues to show us why playing outside of your region is a good thing.
High school teams that routinely challenge themselves and are used to that challenge succeed at nationals, and the cycle continues. And here at Goff Rugby Report (now in partnership with FloRugby.com [1]) we see teams tha think they've got it all figured out struggle when playing out-of-league.
Ah, you say, well what about Fort Hunt? They were new to nationals this year and made the final. True, but Fort Hunt was playing out-of-region even before they applied to nationals. The Warriors started on a path of testing themselves before they applied to nationals. And that's as it should be.
Look at the video interviews linked below, and you will see a theme; players like testing themselves against opponents outside of their regular leagues. And if the players like it ... isn't that what it's about?
We will always get HS teams that are really, really good and don't play much out of their league. We will always have teams that play out-of-league and do it well, and opt for something other than the BHSRNC (Pacific Cup, for example). But if you want to play well on a regular basis at nationals, you have to formulate a schedule that helps prepare for the tournament. And if you want your players to get better, they need to face unfamiliar competition.
Tier II Quarterfinals St. Thomas Aquinas 21-17 South Bay 7th/8th 5th/6th 3rd/4th Final |
Single-School Quarterfinals Jesuit 62-3 Fishers [8] Consolation Semis Semis 7th/8th 5th/6th 3rd/4th Final (Game Reports [16]) |
Club Quarterfinals
Fort Hunt 40-15 Elsie Allen [17] Consolation Semis Semis 7th/8th 5th/6th 3rd/4th Final (Game Reports [25]) |
Links to Video Interviews (All free to access):
St Thomas Aquinas Players [27]
St. Thomas Aquinas Coach (who gets ambushed with a bucket of ice) [28]
Royal Irish Players [29]
Fort Hunt's Erik Roach - We'll Get Them Next Year [30]
Day II Wrapup [32]
[32]Gonzaga Player After Semifinal Win [33]
Royal Irish Players After Semifinal Win [34]
St. Thomas Aquinas on Dramatic Semifinal Win [36]
Brownsburg Loses 27-26 - Player Recap [37]
Nick Frederick of Royal Irish [38]
Gabe Mahuinga of Herriman [42]