There are winners and also-rans in these All-Star tournaments, but it’s worth sometimes having a look at those that finished lower down in the standings.

Take South Carolina, for example. The SC Boys Varsity team won the Bowl in the South RCT, which is a consolation prize, but they only lost one game. That was their opener, 15-10 to the Florida Juice, who ended up making the cup final. South Carolina then ran the table, beating Virginia 2, ARE, and Arkansas to take 5th.

It was an impressive showing for a state that still struggles to get some respect. The SC runners-up, South Greenville, went 1-2 in the Boys HS Rugby National Championship, but learned a great deal there.

“The lessons brought back from nationals were so important,” said one of South Carolina's coaches Phil Weston, who also coached South Greenville. “The pace and intensity of those high-level games were very good for us.”

Also good was a feeling of unity in the South Carolina state team. The kids and their parents fronted up the funds and the coaches the time to assemble everyone in the Charlotte area for a week. The kids stayed at a campground which had sort of a bunked longhouse, and the cost wasn’t that much more than a bus and three nights in a hotel.

Photos courtesy South Carolina rugby.

“It was really good for us,” said Weston, who was joined on the South Carolina coaching staff by the likes of Nick Whitrow, who coached previously at Clemson. Whitrow is the Head Coach of the program and along with Weston had Rex Whitrow, Hayden Kane, Aaron Bontly, and Jeffrey Antley on his staff. It was Whitrow’s idea to hold the camp.

“They got to know each other as players and as kids, and we just became so tight as a group,” said Weston. “That made a huge difference.”

Weston’s son, Grant Weston, was very solid over the weekend at inside center, and he partnered with Jackson Clark, normally a scrumhalf but moved to outside center, to form an effective midfield pairing. Wando’s Charlie van Vliet, who won the state final with a touchline conversion, was 100% as a goalkicker.

Up front, Bishop England No. 8 Joe Thatcher turned many heads. Bishop England was the undefeated D2 winner in South Carolina, and this all-star team was an excellent opportunity for that team’s talent to be seen in a larger venue.

Fullback Joe Lafoy was also solid.

On Sunday, three teams faced off in a round-robin to decide who would win the Bowl. Both South Carolina and Arkansas defeated the Academy of Rugby Excellent, and thus the final game would determine the bow winners. The players were warming up and ready to play, but it turned out the referee was a shade late. Instead of glaring at each other, the players started chatting and soon were laughing and telling stories while they waited for the game to start.

The game itself was intense and close, with South Carolina holding on 19-15 to take the Bowl in a back-and-forth game. 

We’ll let tournament director Erik Saxon tell the rest:

“It was a hell of a match,” Saxon posted on social media … “both teams having heart, size, speed, technical know-how.  It was close.  In the waning minutes South Carolina was clinging to a slim lead (less than one score) and the Arkansas boys were playing out of their minds to take the lead back.  As time expired, the South Carolina boys collectively burst with excitement and screams of joy.  Simultaneously, several of the Arkansas boys collapsed on the pitch, totally spent - emotionally and physically drained - having given literally more than they had to give.  The South Carolina boys stopped whooping and hollering and one-by-one went over and pulled their opposition off of the turf and embraced them.  Big, honest, heartfelt man hugs...many players from both sides with tears.  This is rugby.  This is how you win.  I was humbled and proud to, in some small way, have been part of this and so many other real and honest moments this weekend.”

The two teams decided to pose together for the final photo of the tournament. That is the photo you see above.