Brophy Prep won the Arizona D2 state title last week, beating Scottsdale 49-19 to take the title, and it was the culmination of a very quick run to prominence for the new program. 

Under Head Coach Steve Ciarfalia, Brophy Prep started rugby in January. Brophy Prep is a Jesuit Catholic school, and it made sense to Ciarfalia to follow the trend of Jesuit schools embracing rugby.

“We’ve only been playing 15s for four months,” said Ciarfalia. “It’s been a really good experience.”

Over the past few years, kids who attend Brophy have been interested in rugby but had to go play at nearby clubs.

“We didn’t have that school identity that the players were looking for,” said Ciarfalia. “We had the interest but not the structure.”

Ciarfalia was helping coach the lower grades at Arizona State, and when that coaching staff was disbanded, Ciarfalia was contacted by Tim Moran. A 1987 graduate of Brophy, Moran proposed that he be the general manager of a new rugby program, handling the paperwork and the administrative stuff. What he needed was a coach. Ciarfalia, class of 2005 at Brophy, was asked if he’d do it.

“We said he wanted to get it started and have the program stick, and I would concentrate on coaching,” said Ciarfalia. “The school is really behind it.”

In fact, the Brophy athletic director is a high-level high school play, and, said Ciarfalia, “having an AD who is that connected to the game, and the school itself is very much behind us, which is great.”

Players got acquainted with the game over the fall and played some 7s. And then they moved into 15s, and once the 7s players started, they drew more into the 15s program.

“It was tough at the beginning,” said Ciarfalia. “But I used every resource that I could. Grand Canyon University came out and helped. I used to play in London and I got an old friend of mine come out, and Salty Thompson has come out. I just used all the resources I could.”

Winning a state championship in the programs first semester will harbinger big things for the program. 

John Roney emerged as a standout flyhalf for the team. His sidestep produced some space for his support, but he was also able to run in some tries from long range. No. 8 Cole Macias was an imposing attacker and drove the gain line back. Joshua Lesley is a convert from football who is now getting a look at the higher levels. Flanker Victor Castillo has an excellent work rate and is an Arizona recruit. One of the more experienced players, Owen Reinhart captained the team as a sophomore, and led in the front row.

"He did well to keep the guys in order," said Ciarfalia, which wasn't all that necessary. More important for the coach was how the players approached the game.  “We just focused on the basics and the fundamentals and then I am also kind of old school, and I like teaching about the rugby culture. The players see that rugby allows them to run, catch, pass, and do more.”