The Jesuit High School varsity rugby team kicked off the season with two phenomenal wins against Elsie Allen High School and Mother Lode Rugby Club. The Marauders performed at a high level showing strong signs of being on track for a hopeful National Championship-winning season.

“The team performed great, and the new players [did] as well, with a 75-5 win against Elsie Allen,” said wing Grant Deary ’19. “We looked like a National Championship team out on the field […] I thought our match against Mother Lode went well, it was freezing, but our team persevered and won by a large margin of 40-13.”

Even with these two flawless performances, Jesuit still has much to improve on.

“I would say there were no costly mistakes; however, we are going to continue to work on our defensive structure and technique,” said Fullback on the Rugby team Mason Warren ‘19. “[I gained a better understanding of] the importance of moving off the ball and how assisting a try is just as valuable as scoring one.”

Fundamentals are extremely vital to Jesuit’s success as they will provide a solid foundation for the team to build off of as they progress through the rest of the season.   

“There are always things to work on,” said Assistant Coach Louis Stanfill. “We judge ourselves on our performances, not our record. For the time being, we will continue to work the fundamentals: passing, catching, tackling, and position specific skills. These will be the foundation for us to improve our complexity.”

These crucial wins are stepping stones in Jesuit’s journey back to winning a National Championship. With an increased attention on the fundamentals, Jesuit will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the rest of the season.