Florida Youth Rugby is hosting a festival weekend of games this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Neuqua Valley out of Naperville, Ill., LaSalle out of Philadelphia, and San Martin out of Argentina will be in town to play a series of games with host teams.

Cardinal Gibbons, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pompano, and Miami will all play shortened matches against Neuqua and LaSalle.

Meanwhile, the Florida Juice state select side will take on San Martin. Another South Florida team made up of players from Key Biscayne, Okapi, and West Pines will also play a San Martin XV. Finally, Florida International will also play San Martin.

For the Juice, this is an important, early-season hit-out for the select side.

While not all of the players are confirmed, the Juice should show well, despite missing flyhalf Matt Mairowitz and No. 8 Dakota Shelton to injury.

About 20 players return to the Juice from last year.

“They have all been involved in the monthly training camps which follows the EIRA structure and philosophies,” said Coach Chris Oosthuizen.

This game will feature an open-subs format and Oosthuizen will get game time for as many players as possible before the major tryout on March 13.

“This is by no means the final item,” said Oosthuizen. “Competition this year for spots on the Juice teams are the strongest in our nine-year history, and that bodes well for Florida Youth Rugby.”