A week after the Cape Pirates opened the Florida Boys HS season with a 15-0 victory over the Tampa Krewe, a full slate of games is set for this weekend.

The Pirates got tries from Brennan George and Elvis Espanal and a conversion and penalty from Brock Roper, but it was really all about the defense. The Pirates were impressive in shutting out the Krewe, and now have a job ahead of them as they take on the Jupiter Sharks.

One of the more intriguing teams is St. Thomas Aquinas, which has started a program from whole cloth and with the backing of the football coaching staff. This past week in a preseason tournament they were winless, but there’s reason for optimism. They lost by a try to Boca, and 12-0 to Weston, before tying Naples.

“Although our guys are fairly new to rugby they show incredible heart out on the field,” said Coach Bryan Schmidt. “Our goals are the same as that of any other Saint Thomas sport, to win a state title.”

Meanwhile Naples remains one of the favored teams in the state. They are testing a lot of young players, with eight sophomores and a freshman on the game day squad.

“We are excited about developing the team this year,” said Paul Rokela, who is co-Head Coach along with Larry Fox. “We are aiming for the main goal at the end of the Florida season. Beyond this year it looks even more promising due to the developing sophomores and freshmen.”

Co-captains Ellis Cole (No. 8) and flyhalf Brandon Rokela are two of those sophomores, while veteran leadership comes from hooker Raymond Moncion, center Justin Liberman, center Nick Schmidt, and outside back David Raser.

Orlando is another team with high expectations. Their forward pack lost only two starters from last year, and among the returners is prop JC Rojas, who is short but stocky and almost impossible to ruck off the ball. Out wide Orlando lost three key backs, who all got scholarships to play rugby in college. And while that means Orlando might well be conservative early on as their threequarters get it together, that might happen sooner rather than later.

"They've just got to get used to each other," said Orlando coach Ken Sasiadek. "We also have some new guys coming in that look good."

That would be English kids Jack and Justin Smith, brothers whose family moved to Florida this year and could slot in nicely in a backline that will rely in part on the leadership of scrumhalf Chas Sasiadek, who has been a starter in the #9 jersey since he was a freshman.

This weekend's games in Florida Youth Rugby: