Rugby season has begun and it’s as strong as ever! Winning and participating in two Fall 7’s rugby tournaments, the program is pumped and ready to start another season with the status of Texas State Champs. Coached by Mr. Anthony Mattacchione, Mr. Raul Ornelas, and Mr. Austin Ryan, both Varsity and JV have been successful in their initial three games.
Varsity’s first game and victory was played January 21, 2011, against Coppell. Meeting Saturday, January 29, 2011, on a beautiful day at Lake Highlands Park, the Jesuit Rugby team clashed with Stony Point for an early season match. Excited for the season opener, JV fought hard an
d worked well together to obtain a 51-5 victory over Stony Point. Consisting of several freshmen and new sophomores, the JV team was ready for their debut. “The fall 7’s tournaments helped us to work more fluidly,” says Garrett Stanford ’13. In their second game of the season varsity won yet another game, this one with the score of 45-0. Then, at Scrum for a Cure the varsity won 65-5 and successfully raffled off a 7’s USA Rugby jersey.
“We want a great year, and like every year, we want to succeed and our main expectation is to make and win state,” explained
Coach Ornelas. “This year, as defending state champs, the spot light is on us, and there are a lot of obstacles to overcome, but with the current commitment of the rugby program, coaches, and players, we are looking forward to a positive year.”
As defending state champs, the Jesuit Rugby varsity team has high expectations and goals this year, and it has followed through so far with a 3-0 winning streak.
Photography by Nic Brown ’12
