The Florida Youth Rugby Boys DI league is off and running this weekend, with nine games on the docket.

Orlando is the defending state champs and the Griffins start at the Westside Wolverines. Riviera Beach Maritime Academy logged the best record in the regular season, and will visit Jupiter, which was 2nd in the league last year. That's a high-profile early clash.

The Jupiter Sharks have been working very hard to expand the program with U10s, a Middle School team, JV, and a girls team. They have 11 returning varsity players, but not all will be available for this weekend's game. However, watch out for captain and No. 8 Dakota Shelton, who continues to improve and who is starting to get notice at elite level. Scrumhalf Kyle Lazera played with the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy U16s that toured British Columbia last summer, and is back. Flyhalf Lewis Gray is only 15 but is an impressive new addition.

Jupiter is playing their first game at their new field, Sharks Field, a full-sized rugby field at Carlin Park which was created thanks to a generous donation and the help of Palm Beach County Parks Department.

Also among the games is Key Biscayne at Cape Pirates. The two teams were virtually equal in record last season, and both seem poised to make a run.

"We have a much more mature team this year," said Cape Pirates Coach Steve Roper. "We only lost three seniors, and we are a much more well-rounded team."

Like Jupiter, the Pirates now have their own fields (and a clubhouse to boot), and that has drastically improved their numbers.