The rugby coaches at Greenwich HS, Joe Kelly, Glenn Fox, Mike Schacter and Mike Fina, are very optimistic about the upcoming season as the Cardinals look to push for a high finish at the Boys HS Rugby National Championships.

Many of last year’s starters and a solid group of maturing players make up what appears to be an extremely powerful team led by their five captains Ian Pearson, Patrick McTiernan, Alex Nanai, Kevin Iobbi, and Connor Weigold. Greenwich recently secured an invitation to the Boys HSRNC in Kansas City, Mo. This will be the 5th-straight national tournament for Greenwich. (Last year, Greenwich finished 6th at nationals, losing 24-12 to Penn, beating Notre Dame de la Salette 38-7, and losing 17-15 to St. Edward.)

The program, now 31 years old, has a record turnout of over 150 players this season. Many of the players having come through the OGRCC successful youth program and many others are playing for the first time as freshmen.

Greenwich will be challenged early with nationally-ranked teams Pelham and Fairfield Rugby Club, both invited to compete at nationals. A couple of weeks later they hit the road and head down to Virginia compete in the Jesuit tournament where many of the best teams in the east will compete. After returning they face nationally rank #2 and rival Xavier.