The Torrey Pines HS rugby program in Southern California is now officially on campus.

“Rugby is coming on campus for the upcoming 2014-2015 winter season,” said TPHS Boy’s Athletic Director Matt Livingston, as quoted in an article written by Tim Pickwell in the Del Mar Times. “What that means is the club sport is being supported and operated under the direction of the Torrey Pines High School Foundation, and with the help of my office.”

The move is in part a response to Cathedral Catholic bringing rugby under the aegis of its athletic department in 2013. Cathedral finished the league season 7-0 in the SoCal Varsity Red division. Torrey Pines won the Varsity White South division with a 6-0 record last year.

The reason that Torrey Pines was in a different division was because the Varsity White division was for single-school teams that allowed a small number of kids from other schools to play. Varsity Red is for pure single-school teams. Torrey Pines Rugby, now that it is an official school sport, will field Torrey Pines players only.

After the varsity season is done in SoCal, players move on to clubs, with many from Torrey Pines playing for the San Diego Mustangs.

San Diego Mustangs Rugby Club President David Pool, who also coaches varsity backs, told Pickwell that this a significant move. “This legitimizes rugby at Torrey Pines High School. It provides an extra sport for students to experience with their school mates, and it provides the team greater access to more players.”

Also moving to the Varsity Red will be La Costa Canyon, which finished 5-1 in the Varsity White South in 2013-14, losing only to Torrey Pines. This significantly ramps up the competition level for the SoCal Varsity Red Division, which also boasts View Park Prep, which finished 5-2 last year.