Watch out for De La Salle in Northern California.

The Concord, CA team is now 6-0 in NorCal's DI, and with 75 players in Varsity and JV, should have success for some time.

Known as one of the most successful high school football programs in America, the De La Salle Spartans rugby program has benefited from that pool of athletes, but also sometimes had to work to get out of football's shadow.

Photos by Peter Laurence. Above, Cole Taft. Below, Will Devine and Kevin Regan.

This year it's been a good one, even when starting flyhalf Steven Cline dislocated his shoulder in a warmup game. Erich Storti stepped in at the pivot position and has performed well. Captains Will
Devine (outside center) and Max Simmons (hooker), and tough running junior lock Cole Taft have all enjoyed strong seasons.

De La Salle has two more games left in the regular season, with Saturday against Los Gatos and a week later against Oakland rounding out the slate. With playoffs set for later in April, there's time for a little tour, and the Spartans will go to Arizona to play Phoenix Firebirds and Tucson Blackbirds, with other Arizona teams involved, too.