Due to participation in the California State football playoffs, San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic had to delay its start in the inaugural season of the Southern California Interscholastic Rugby Federation, but now Cathedral is ready to go. 

The Dons are eagerly awaiting their season opener this Saturday versus Manhattan Beach’s Mira Costa. It will be the first meeting between the two teams and is a much anticipated matchup. Cathedral’s original opening test versus Fallbrook has been rescheduled to February. Even with only a handful of practices under their belt, the Dons are looking to build upon their successful trip to Ireland last April. The majority of this year’s squad made the trip as they held their own (1-1-1) versus St Munchins (Limerick), Bective (Dublin) and Malone (Belfast).

Saturday’s game versus Mira Costa will feature West Point recruit, and two-time CC captain Mile McCormick. A HS All American and last year’s Southern California Player of the Year, McCormick is joined by Brown recruit Caleb Price, and Long Beach State recruit Jake Mitten. 

Mira Costa will be led by senior captain, flyhalf, and Michigan recruit Evan Anderson, Ivy League bound outside center Slade Gordon, and hooker Luke Mohr.  The 2019 edition of the Mustang Ruggers are undersized but look to use their skills to compete against a very strong Cathedral Catholic side. The Mustangs enter the match 1-2 coming off a 50-12 victory over the Fallbrook Warriors.

Not to be outdone in the tour department, Mira Costa will be traveling to Wales this April to take on Carmarthen Athletic, Carmarthen Quins, and Lampeter School Team (Ysgol Bro Pedr).

The match between Cathedral Catholic and Mira Costa will feature the two schools that were the catalyst for forming the new SCIRF League which is made up of the top 100% high schools in southern California with the goal of becoming an official California Interscholastic sport. The partnership between the two schools, one public, one private, along with the rest of the new league, is a new plan to grow the game within the California high school system.

Kickoff is set for Saturday, January 12 at 6:00 PM at Mira Costa High School.