Rugby Ohio championship Boys HS team St. Ignatius has released its 2016 schedule, which includes several high-level out-of-state opponents, including both NIT championship teams.

St. Ignatius Coach Dan Arbeznik said his program still has two open dates early in the season, but added that he is excited to test his squad against top programs from Indiana, New York, Texas, and DC. They will face off with perennial Indiana tough guys Penn HS, and then also annual New York champion Xavier HS in mid-March. Then comes a four-game, five-day tour of Texas before the league season trule gets underway.

Then defending HS club national champion Royal Irish on April 23, and HS single-school national champion Gonzaga on May 1.

This schedule is a reflection of where many top programs are leaning now. Their league seasons tend to be short, so to garner recognition in the national rankings and also to get noticed by the NIT selection committees, teams are starting to find competition across state lines. An excellent example is March 30, when Ignatius takes on 2015 Texas champion Westlake, a team that has voiced its desire to play games outside its region.

2016 St. Ignatius A-Side Schedule
February 27 - Open
March 5 - Open
March 12 - @Moeller(OH)
March 18 - Penn (IN)
March 20 - Xavier (NYC)
March 28 - @Saint Thomas (TX)
March 29 - @Cy-Fair (TX)
March 30 - @ Westlake (TX)
April 1 - @Dallas Jesuit (TX)
April 9 - @Saint Edward(OH)
April 16 - @Hudson(OH)
April 23 - @Royal Irish(IN) in Columbus
April 29 - Brunswick(OH)
May 1 - Gonzaga(DC)
May 7 - Midwest Tournament(IN)
May 7 - Midwest Tournament(IN)
May 8 - Midwest Tournament(IN)
May 14 - Saint Xavier (OH)
May 21 - OFF
May 28 - State Semi-Final
June 4 - State Final