The Eagle Impact Rugby Academy took the Boys U16 bracket at the Las Vegas Invitational, beating Atlantis U16s 38-5 in the final.

EIRA looked somewhat vulnerable in Friday's pool play. While they defeated Utah Academy 36-5 and Saints 7s 48-7, they also lost to Cobra, and it was Cobra, not EIRA, that won Pool B. In Pool A, Atlantis edged Utah Cannibals by four points, Upright Rugby by two, and Tennessee Tri Stars by five to go a very tight 3-0. British Columbia rolled to win Pool C.

In th quarterfinals on Saturday, Cobra defeated the Cannibals 19-12, 31-7, Atlantis handled Upright 27-12, and BC blew out the San Diego Selects 44-0. So that set up the semis, and Atlantis handled BC, while EIRA rebounded from that earlier loss to Cobra to win in a shutout 43-0.

"I was so happy for these young players in how they recovered from the loss to Cobra and beat them in the semifinals," said EIRA U16 Coach John Banarhall. 

In the final, EIRA, perhaps a little deeper and finishing strong, won big over Atlantis 38-5. Ethan Van Tonder, Sean Nolan, and Calvin Luimanga were outstanding in what Banarhall said was an excellent team effort.