The New York State HS finals are set for this coming weekend with three different boys divisions in action. 

This has been an all-downstate affair for the past three years, with each division final has featured two METRO NY team facing off. Two years ago it was Harvey School losing to Xavier in D1 Tier 1 final, and Pelham over New Rochelle in D1 Tier 2 final. Last year it was Xavier over Pelham in D1 Tier 1 final, and Fordham over Play Rugby in D1 Tier 2 final. Rye won the D2 final.

D1 Tier 1

Xavier v Canisius
Fordham Prep v Kenmore
Xavier- went 4-1 in league play, with their only loss coming two days after the Boys HS Rugby National Championships in which they fielded a mostly JV side against Play Rugby. Xavier has been the winners every year, and look good to take this again. They should be able to rest some starters against Canisius out of Buffalo.

Fordham Prep is big and physical and not nice to play against, and are favored over Buffalo-area team Kenmore. Fordham lost handily to Xavier in league play, but with a forward pack that does well in the breakdown, they can control possession.

In the final, look for Xavier to pound Fordham Prep in what promises to be a physical game. Xavier went 1-2 at Nationals, but on loss was 24-20 to Herriman, and the other loss was on penalty kicks. Fordham will want their forwards to exert pressure on Xavier.

D1 Tier 2

Pelham v Fairport
Play Rugby USA v Syracuse
Play Rugby finished with one more point than Pelham in the standings thanks to that win over Xavier. However, Pelham actually beat Play Rugby during the regular season. With Play Rugby's run-and-gun approach, they will put Syracuse under pressure in the open field, but still have work to do in the set piece. The speed that they can bring is tough for teams to handle and experienced backs Noah Geltman and Jovante Spence, and younger halfbacks Damien Morley and Ross Pelat are at the center of that.

For Pelham, they started slowly but are playing their game now. Captain and scrumhalf Luke Persanis is very consistent on his passing, a smart box kicker, and has a high work rate. After losing to Xavier and Fordham Prep, Pelham beat Play Rugby and Harvey, along with New Jersey playoff teams Union and St. Peter's Prep. That should be enough to get past Fairport.

Play Rugby and Pelham know each other well and it will b interesting to see Geltman and Persanis face off. They have been playing against each other for nine years now. Pelham is yet to lose to Play Rugby, and their solid forward pack might see them through.

D2 

Keio/ FASNY v Corning
Rye v Saratoga Mustangs

Keio/ FASNY is a team made up of the eio Academy Japanese school, and th French American School New York. Their coach, of course, is English. They play an exciting, open style of rugby, and they finished 2nd in the Rugby NY 7s season. They are fast, fit, and unbeaten in D2 this year. Corning will need to dominate up front to beat them.

Rye won D2 last year and their only loss this year was to Keio/FASNY. Rye plays a solid, conventional style, and they are favored over Capital-area winners Saratoga.

That will set up an exciting matchup. Keio/FASNY won this matchup earlier in the season, but that means nothing.