Under beautiful blue skies and in crisp November temperatures, Lycee Rochambeau, the French International School of Washington, DC, hosted the first annual Yorktown Sevens Tournament. The tournament was a celebration of French culture in the DC area with French music, food and match commentary throughout the day. There were matches for high school girls and boys at the U19, U17 and U15 levels.

The tournament was also a history lesson for those that played. It named after the pivotal battle in Virginia during the Revolutionary War for Independence where French support for the American Revolution led to final victory over the British and the establishment of an independent United States of America.

The championship match was a fiercely contested affair between the host team Lycee Rochambeau and the Warrenton Wolves from Rugby Virginia. It was an amazing display of French flair and ball movement from the hosts and electric running and power in contact from Warrenton.

Lycee Rochambeau did not have an easy path to the finals. They had to go through Good Counsel (12-5) and Saint Johns (26-12) in pool play. In the semifinals, the boys from Rochambeau slugged it out with a very physical Rugby Virginia select team (22-12). This victory set up the match that everyone wanted to see between the French School and Warrenton.

The host team struck first with from the opening kickoff sending the ball through the hands to Center Paul Vincent who hit a gap in the Warrenton defense and zig zagged his way to a converted try. With their next two possessions, it looked Rochambeau might be able to break the game open by twice sending the ball wide to talented newcomer and lightning fast Wing Yapheath Norris, who was able to turn the corner touchdown both for unconverted tries.

And while it looked like the Rochambeau players had the game under control, Warrenton had different ideas. Getting the ball to their own talented Wing Dmontae Noble who sliced and diced his way through the French defense two tries to narrow the score to 17-12 at halftime.

The French defense stiffened their defense in the second half, and Warrenton struggled to keep possession of the ball as a result. Pressure defense by David Canonse, Charlie Siarkas and Jean-Remi Verella led to a turnover which was then shifted through the hands from Jacques La Fonta to Aiden Perrenoud who put Center Archie Cullen into space for the exclamation point and the championship trophy. Final Score: 22-12.

French International Superstar Serge Betsen handed out the trophies to all of the champions. Betsen shared with the young high school rugby players what the sport means to him and how important his work in supporting children in Cameroon. Paul Vincent and Dmontae Noble were both named the players of the tournament. Rugby Virginia swept the U17 and U15 brackets, while West End were victorious in the girls division

The perfect day closed out with Lycee Rochambeau Coach Yann Chartier and Principal Catherine Levy handing a check for $1000 to Serge Betsen for the Serge Betsen Academy for under privileged children in Cameroon. The Maryland Exiles Youth Rugby program donated over 100 pairs of athletic cleats for the children of West Africa.

Team Roster for Lycee Rochambeau
1. Yvan Daniere
2. David Canonse
3. Aiden Perrenoud
4. Jacques La Fonta
5. Archie Cullen
6. Paul Vincent
7. Yapheath Norris

Reserves
8. Cosme Moneron-Dupin
9. Oscar Chatain
10. Nathaniel Turak
11. Seamus McDonald
12. Charlie Siarkas
13. Adrian Kundanmal
14. Augustin Vareille
15. Jean-Remi Verella