Utah Youth Rugby is set for its state 7s championships this weekend, getting the 7s season in before the weather turns.
The tournament is going to be pretty compacted and straightforward, with semifinals and placement games.
Coming into last weekend the Northside Red Wolves were leading the standings, with Cavemen, Herriman, Mountain Ridge, and Northside Black Wolves all chasing them.
After the Northside Red Wolves (the new name of what had previously been LCA) went 3-0 last week, they secured the #1 seed.
Cavemen also went 3-0 and secured #2, passing Herriman, who are #3. The Red Wolves will take on the best team from Tier 2, TOA, in the other semi.
In the Tier 2 QFs, it's:
Northside Black Wolves vs Brighton
Wasatch vs Wallace Stagner
Murray vs War Frog/Olympus
Mountain Ridge vs Rhino/Barbarians (who are the Tier 1 #4)
For the girls, #1 Skyridge HS/Lehi HS enters the postseason as the top-ranked girls' program and will face #4 Orem HS in the first semifinal. In the other semi, #3 Syracuse HS meets #2 Westlake HS. So this is a competition that drives a school-team competition.
“Utah Youth Rugby is focused on growing girls rugby across the state," said Cavemen Coach Vaha Esikia. "Last year, girls high school rugby became an emerging sport, and our hope is to see it become fully sanctioned. It’s exciting to see the sport continue to grow in Utah, and we have an amazing group of girls with tremendous talent.”
Skyridge HS/Lehi HS has maintained its place at the top of the rankings, but Westlake HS and Syracuse HS remain firmly in contention. Orem HS, meanwhile, enters with an opportunity to upset the top seed and secure a championship appearance.
With every team just one victory away from reaching the Cup final, the margin for error has disappeared.
