High School rugby in Tennessee gets going this weekend, weather permitting, and South Doyle remains one of the teams to watch in the state.

South Doyle will kick off against Maryville Friday, and Head Coach Matthew Lance said he feels he has the most athletic and most experienced in the club's history.

"Our expectation is nothing short of a State Championship in the Tennessee Cup Division," said Lance. "With close to 40 guys on this season's roster, most returning from last season, the speed and competition at practice is like nothing we have ever had."

South Doyle started with a 26-10 win over a strong Alpharetta Phoenix team out of Georgia and followed that up with a scrimmage win over McMinn County.

"Since playing 7s most of the year, our team has adopted a very fast-paced style of play where nearly anyone can fill in as scrumhalf without missing a beat if it means quicker ball," said Lance.  "Our experience in our junior and senior classes allows us to play field position and other strategic points of the game like we have never been able to do before."

Jonathan Doster and Brandon Tamasese-Both suited up for the Smokey Mountain select side at the Las Vegas Invitational, and several South Doyle seniors are looking at college football or rugby opportunities (Harley Weeler was IMAC Football Defensive Player of the Year).

Fed by a strong middle school program, and with South Doyle Football going 12-1 with five rugby players on the starting defense. 

"The support we have from the community and school is a rugby coach's dream," added Lance. "I tell the guys that no one has it better and to be thankful for what we have! It is part of the speech every morning after 7am workouts in the school's weight room, where we average 23-24 in attendance every morning. This team is committed like never before."

On the slate for the Smokey Mountain Conference:
McMinn Black v Bearden
South Doyle v Maryville
Karns v Bradley
Farragut v Barbarians

West Tennessee Conference and Memphis Conferences have a jamboree

Highlights from South Doyle v Alpharetta Phoenix (if you don't see the video initially, refresh the page)