The relatively new Harpeth Harlequins program completed their first fall of 7s rugby, and with it won the Tennessee state 7s championships.

The Franklin, Tenn.-based program has only completed three season of rugby, and opted out of the fall 7s competition the last couple of years due to competition for players with football and wrestling. However, as the program has grown, they were able to field a team this year, and looked very impressive. At the championship tournament this past weekend at the campus of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Harpeth went 5-0, scoring 146 points and allowing only 19.

Harpeth faced Sumner County in the final, winning 22-0. Overall through the entire fall, Harpeth was 14-0 in 7s games, outscoring opponents 456-63.

It was all about hard work, said Conditioning Coach Gil Filbey, who said that the “willingness of the players to be held accountable” and the fact that “the Harlequin rugby leadership is on the pitch, not the sideline," is what led to the undefeated fall.

Jack Shrader toko home the MVP award. The scrumhalf was a crucial distributor and despite being under 130 pounds, was a ferocious tackler. A well-regarded wrestler, Shrader took his power in contact to the rugby field. But it was a team effort, said Harpeth Head Coach Brad Kornmann. “They are the closest group of young men I have coached and really emulate the meaning of team,” he said.

Harpeth Harlequins recruit from five local high schools: Franklin High, Independence High, Centennial High, Page High, and Summit High. The goal for this club is to grow the game in the southern Williamson County area and to seed a team back into each of those schools. Led by captain, Jameson Reagan [FHS], this 7s side is comprised of nine players from Franklin High, along with two homeschooled athletes and one player from Brentwood High. The coaching staff for Harpeth includes Director/Coach Scott Reagan, Head Coach Brad Kornmann, and Conditioning Coach Gil Filbey.

"These boys were having enough fun playing rugby in the spring over the past three seasons that we could not talk them out of playing 7s in the fall," said Reagan. "Their high rugby IQ and ethos across the board allowed the coaches to just roll the ball out and let them play. Very happy for them. This is a great platform from which to launch our 15s season this spring.”  

Harpeth 2016 7s Roster
Michael Albert [FHS]
Jack Ambrose [FHS]
Matthew Burns [FHS]
Elijah Gaddes [FHS]
Nick Galbreath [FHS]
Garrett Peal [BHS]
Zach Rademacher [Homeschool]
Isaiah Rademacher [Homeschool]
Jameson Reagan, Captain [FHS]
Mitch Rossi [FHS]
Jack Shrader [FHS]
Avery Tate [FHS]