Hey there, Rugger!
👊 Happy Friday.
We’re gearing up for Nationals—but first, a massive battle in Pennsylvania this Sunday, plus one team doing something pretty cool at Nationals.
Live streams, insights—we’ve got you covered.
Packed with rugby. Let’s go 👇
⚠️ Programming note: We’ll be at Nationals next week. Like last year, that means no Friday newsletter—we’ll push it to the following week.
🇺🇸High School Boys Nationals
May 21-23
Elkhart, Indiana
🎥 Live-stream will be here.
Rankings update every Monday night. You can see the full picture here.
There’s a new #2 in the School division 👀
🏟️ Nationals
We made this for you so you can follow along with Nationals in one spot. It’s got all the matches and field locations. And we’ll update the scores throughout the tourney.
A few Round 1 matchups we’re circling:
Club | Cavemen (UT) vs Okapi (FL)
Very different styles in this Club division match. Okapi brings speed, flair, and a dangerous kicking game. Cavemen counter with a sizable pack and a bruising, ground-and-pound approach.
School | Sacramento Jesuit (CA) vs Gonzaga (DC)
This is a tremendous, historic rivalry that never disappoints. Both teams have shown signs of greatness this season. Which one will advance to semifinals?
Tier 2 | Carmichael (CA) vs Fort Hunt (VA)
Another style clash. Fort Hunt plays structured and disciplined ball, while Carmichael excels at playing off-script and catching defenses off guard.
🏆 State Finals
It’s rematch season, and a few legacies are on the line.
PA — Doylestown vs Gregory the Great. A 2025 state final rematch. More on this one below.
WA — Eastside Lions vs Liberty. Liberty took the last meeting a couple weeks ago. Expect this one to have some edge.
KS — St. Martin’s is chasing a four-peat. KC Jr. Blues, new to the Kansas league, have a chance to crash the party before Nationals.
OR — Camas vs Bend Blues in the Oregon final. Two strong sides with a state title on the line.
NJ — Christian Brothers Academy takes on St. Augustine in the New Jersey state final.
🏆New winner in Florida
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new Florida State Champ in the U19 Boys division.
Key Biscayne Rats took down Okapi 25–12 in the final, and their fans went berserk. They played a clean, mistake-free game and leaned on their forwards to control the tempo throughout.
After the match, the Key Biscayne captain (we didn’t catch his name) summed it up about as honestly as you’ll hear all season:
“We just wanted to beat them so hard… I didn’t want to lose to them again.”
Key Biscayne’s season ends with a trophy. Okapi now turns the page quickly—with Nationals waiting next week.
⚔️ BC High (MA) vs Belmont HS (MA)
Last night these two squared off in a rainstorm, and BC High took the victory 34-5.
Outside center Colton Blind and No. 8 Mike Conley were standouts in the victory.
The night also marked a milestone for head coach Paul Carty, who picked up his 100th win at BC High. 🙌
🧡 Heartbreak and hope in Maryland
Liam O’Donoghue, a sophomore at Calvert Hall (MD), was back on the sideline with his team this week after surviving a car accident two weeks ago that tragically took the lives of two of his friends.
He was there in his mobile hospital bed as Calvert Hall’s JV side captured a state title, and his teammates were fired up to have him with them.
An emotional, powerful moment for the group—and a great testament to the team’s brotherhood.
Local news picked up the story and did a nice little piece on it here
And here’s where you can contribute to Liam’s recovery. 🙏
💛 The Golden Shorts
If you’re watching the Charlotte Cardinals at Nationals next week, keep an eye out—one player will be wearing gold shorts.
It’s part of a new initiative with their team sponsors: $10 will be donated to Claire’s Army for every point the Cardinals score during the tournament.
Each game, the captain—or previous match MVP—gets the honor of wearing the gold shorts as a symbol of the initiative.
Claire’s Army is a Charlotte-based nonprofit that supports families navigating pediatric cancer.
A great team, backing a great cause. We’re all about it.
We’re Switzerland here—but yeah… go score some points, Cardinals!
We’ve been posting rapid-fire updates on the Riot Hub—state finals, big results, and anything interesting we’re seeing around the country.
Tip: If you follow your team on Rugby Riot, you’ll get these Quick Hits directly in your inbox whenever we post something about your team 🙌
Liam Ewer, Cavemen scrumhalf, possibly mid-sneeze during last weekend’s state final.
📸 Wade Bricknell
👀 Players to Watch
Two flyhalfs on our radar:
Devin Pointes | Carmichael (CA) | Flyhalf
We’ve mentioned other Carmichael standouts, but Pointes deserves his own spotlight. He’s constantly probing with ball in hand—creating space, stressing defenses, and keeping things unpredictable.
What stands out most is his ability to toggle between structure and chaos. One phase he’s steady and controlled, the next he’s off-script and attacking space. That balance makes Carmichael a tough team to contain.
Jamie Weir | Doylestown (PA) | Flyhalf
Weir brings a lot to this Doylestown side. He’s deceptively quick, with a sidestep that regularly beats the first defender.
But the bigger impact might be his boot. When he was out earlier this season, Doylestown struggled to control territory. Since his return, their kicking game has added another layer to an already dangerous attack.
If the Dragons make noise at Nationals, expect Weir to be right in the middle of it.
“Many great U18 Raptor sides could not do what this group did today: get a win over Belmont—one of the great programs in the USA. Our seniors broke that bogey for our club. That will be their legacy.”
Belmont Shore had beaten the Raptors every time these two met—until now. This group finally flipped that script.
They may have just missed out on a Nationals trip, but this is a win their seniors will carry with them for a long time. And for a young squad, it’s the kind of result that can springboard them into next season.
Gregory the Great vs Doylestown
Pennsylvania State Final
5:00 PM EST
PSU Berks
This is a massive rematch of last year’s state final, where Doylestown defeated Gregory the Great 29–22.
Doylestown has built on last year’s success this season—powered by an impressive junior class and strong senior leadership. Their lone loss came on the road against Charlotte, and their consistent performances earned them a #4 seed in the Tier 1 Club division at Nationals.
Gregory the Great, on the other hand, has a storied history in Pennsylvania rugby and has been the benchmark for other teams in the state for a long time, with seven state titles to their name.
Despite a strong season—including a preseason win over Gonzaga—GGA enters as the underdog after a 43–21 loss to Doylestown in the regular season.
Styles
Doylestown boasts a big-bodied side with plenty of speed. They impose their will up front and then slash through defenses with a physical, fast backline. When the Dragons get moving, they’re tough to slow down.
Gregory the Great is known for tenacious defense and a very tactical approach on offense. They may not have the same size, but they make up for it with speed, structure, and high-IQ playmakers.
Things to watch
How will GGA slow down Doylestown’s ball carriers? If they commit two defenders to the tackle, will the Dragons be able to exploit the space out wide?
And who wins the set piece? In big games like this, lineouts can quietly become the difference.
Watch the game here on Sunday:
Oddball musings, thanks to the cold tub.
⚽︎ When did hacky sack come back? I don’t know, but it’s back.
🫣 Hoping there aren’t any Nationals games decided by a penalty kick shoot-out. That was rough last year.
🌱 I’m mentally preparing to talk about the lush grass in Elkhart way too much this week—and whether it’s cut to the right length this year. It’s a whole thing.
That’s a wrap, gang!
Next week we’ll have more dope rugby stuff to share with you; scores, highlights, stories… all the goods.
If you like this, share it with your friends!
Be well, ruck with gusto, and may your compression shorts always stay in place.
-The Rugby Riot Team