In one of the more intriguing results coming out of the Las Vegas Invitational was a 15s challenge match between the Kahuku Raiders out of Hawaii, and United HS out of Utah.

United, of course, has been a national title winner and contender for many years and is currently ranked #6 by Goff Rugby Report. Kahuku is still building its program, but the Kahuku football team is perennially one of the strongest in the country, with the school boasting many NFL players as alumni.

So with it being somewhat early in the season for United, it might not have been a surprise that Kahuku won, although the score of 38-17 certainly had the air of shock about it.

The Kahuku team is very new to rugby. About two-thirds are in their second year, with about a third of the team getting their first game in Las Vegas against the Napa Stormers. But, said Head Coach Seamus Fitzgeral, who also coaches the Hawaii select side, 90% of the team has been playing together in football since they were Pop Warner age.

The goals, said Fitzgerald, were to get more exposure for the team with an eye to playing at the NIT, and to get his players looked at. Some have already committed to DI college football programs, but rugby may well be the better option for others.

Kahuku did return 13 players from the team they fielded last year, and those players led Kahuku to a three-game sweep of games in Vegas. They beat Napa 74-5, United 38-17, and Las Vegas Rugby Academy 53-0.

For United it was a wakeup call. The team was missing Darian Power, who played with the HS All Americans, and three starters who were playing 7s with the Utah Lions program. In addition, a couple of other players didn’t make the trip. But, said Head Coach Colin Puriri, he expected his team to handle Kahuku.

“I was impressed with Kahuku's size and physicality, but we should be used to these type of big Polynesian teams playing here in Utah,” said Puriri. “Being our first hit-out and with those few missing I still give Kahuku a lot of credit. It’s too bad we couldn't have played them on Saturday, because we had those four players back.”

Puriri said Kahuku was fitter and showed good rugby skills. They ran very well with the ball in hand and controlled much of the game physically.

But, said Puriri, with Power, Ben Webber (former HSAA player Zach’s younger brother), young Bailey Wilson, hooker Gabe Mellor, No. 8 Terrence Levy, and John Raas, who can play center, No. 8, or prop, United is looking strong for this season.

“I’m excited about this team,” said Puriri. “We have about 20 younger classmen moving up to our varsity team this year, add to those juniors who are now seniors, and we have the makeup for another good team.”

With those positive words from United, Kahuku has to be thinking that maybe they’re on the right track.