Rugby: Local High School Teams to Play for Virginia State Championships June 4

(May 31, 2011) - Loudoun high school rugby players have two opportunities to bring home state titles on Saturday as the undefeated Western Suburbs U19 boys -- with players from Briar Woods, Loudoun County, Loudoun Valley, Stone Bridge and Woodgrove high schools -- and the Western Loudoun girls, a team based in Purcellville, play Saturday at T.C. Williams High School.

Western Loudoun faces Fairfax Police Youth Club (FPYC) at 1 p.m. in the Girls Championship and the Western Suburbs U-19 squad faces Heritage High School of Newport News at 2:20 p.m. in the Division II Championship. The Division I Championship at 3:45 p.m. pits Springfield Youth Club/West End vs. NOVA U-19.

The Girls Championship is a rematch of the 2010 championship won by Fairfax.

The Boys Division II Championship pits Heritage High School (Newport News), a first year club that will represent the Peninsula Conference. Their opponent is Western Suburbs u-19 from Lovettsville. In the regional semifinals, Heritage defeated Fort Hunt, and Western Suburbs defeated Denbigh High School, 13-5.

The Boys Division I Championship sees 2010 champion Springfield Youth Club / West End (SYC/WE) versus NOVA u-19. These 2 Northern Conference clubs defeated challenges from Menchville and Kecoughtan high schools to reach the State Finals.

Western Suburbs U-19 is coached by Steve Lough, who built a regulation rugby pitch in his yard and that is where the adult teams and the U-19 club practice and play their matches. Read more about the club and the unique set-up in this article from Leesburg Today.

For Saturday's title games in Alexandria, admission is free to children and students (18 and under) and $5.00 for adults.

“It‘s exciting to know that the League will be able to showcase its championship at a first -class facility such as Parker Gray Stadium so that spectators will be able to witness the tremendous sport that is rugby” said Rugby Virginia‘s Executive Director, Frederic Bardot. “We hope to make this event memorable for players and fans alike.”

The 2011 Virginia State High School Rugby Championship schedule is as follows:

1:00pm Girls Championship Western Loudoun v Fairfax Police Youth Club (FPYC)
2:20pm Boys Div. II Championship Heritage H.S. (Newport News) v Western Suburbs u-19
3:45pm Boys Div. I Championship Springfield Youth Club /West End (SYCWE) v NOVA u-19