Southern California HS clubs go into the Boys HS Rugby National Championships feeling pretty good, and also feeling like they got out of a pretty heated crucible in their league.
The San Diego Mustangs won the league, looking most impressive in doing so.
We're really deep," said Head Coach Matty Sandoval. "It's crazy how many good players we have. And the thing is, nobody wants to be the weak link. No one wants to disappoint his teammates."
With a backline that includes some real talents such as Dylan Trower, Andrew Taich, Will Reiter, and Rees Curtis, they can spin it wide and finish brilliantly. Sandoval freely acknowledges his teams "live off penalties and mauls."
But in the last two games they have scored one try off a maul. Why? Those backs, who are prominnenty featured in the USA age-grade teams.
Add to that a powerful forward pack led by Shay Farkash, prop Gavin Lowe, and the second row partnership of Carson Bischoff (6-6 and mobile) and Duck Choy (6-4 and mobile), and you've got yourself a foundation.
Lowe might well be the team's MVP.
All of it combined for some dominant wins. They won their semifinal against the SOC Raptors 52-19. In the final, against a very strong Thunder team, the Mustangs led 38-3 before letting in two late tries.
"This team is just a good team and they have such a good mind-set," said Sandoval. And that depth? Well they won the Gold U18 final, as well, with their 2nd side.
Thunder, for their part, are probably fielding their strongest team since 2022, beating Belmont Shore twice and the Raptors as well. They join the Mustangs at the HS National Championships.
"We're excited about it," said Sandoval about a tournament where his team is the #2 seed, just behind the Charlotte Cardinals. "We've got experience as the tournament, and we know you've got to win the recovery game. That's as important as anything."
