GRR: Rugby New York
Along with Rugby NY, several other high school rugby competitions are gearing up this weekend.
After a bit of a soft launch, Minnesota sees four games scheduled for Friday (although one game appears to be a forfeit). Albert Lea, Becker, and Eagan have all started well in an eight-team league, although Southside is probably going to struggle to field a full side.
Rugby New York's Boys High School season starts this coming weekend.
Met NY will see all teams play in the same division, with seven teams in action:
Fordham Prep
New Rochelle HS
Pelham HS
Playrugby ACADEMY
Rockaway Club
St Anthony's HS
Rye HS
(Xavier HS is playing an independent schedule)
Getting young rugby players on the field has been a challenge for many state governing bodies and leagues as COVID-19 regulations and restrictions are different in different states and counties, and the restrictions are constantly changing.
High School rugby teams in New York are embracing touch rugby, which has proved to be a good way to get players back on the field while also making local and state officials feel comfortable with how contact is handled.
The New York State HS 7s wrapped up its fourth week of competition building toward this coming weekend's final event.
The back-and-forth rivalry between Pelham HS and PlayRugby Academy continues, and this past weekend PlayRugby took the Boys Varsity division, garnering some payback for the prevous week's Pelham victory.