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Re-cap of LA Rugby Club’s U18 Boys’ Inspiring First Season
It’s April 25, 2014, the eve before the Under 18 Boys’ team plays its playoff match against a San Diego club ranked 3rd in the USA. The mounting excitement leads to a poignant reflection of our inaugural season.
Led by coaches Paul Breen and Fernando Ayala, the talented young squad had an impressive year that carried them into the post-season with a 5-1-1 record. Beginning in 2009 with a U8s group, the Los Angeles Rugby Club (LARC) has remained dedicated to developing its youth program. Each season since then, LA has added a new grommet division that includes U10s, U12s, U14s, U16s and now a U18s. Rewardingly, the matriculation of these student-athletes through LARC’s historically rich system has earned playoff berths for both the U18s and U16s this year. This doesn’t tell the whole story, however.
To truly appreciate the winning success of the 2014 season, one has to understand the organizational hurdles as well as the individual challenges we surpassed.
LARC’s U18’s team is the result of meshing together basically two very distinct groups. On one side is a well-disciplined core of young ruggers, which for the most part learned rugby just months ago in late 2013 as members of their respective and also new high school programs. Although novices to the sport, their keen focus and structured, scholastic training, which include playing American Football, helped them transfer their athletic skill-set onto the rugby pitch.
The remaining majority of players are comprised of a motley crew of mostly inner-city kids; many of which have experienced unique, at times inconceivable obstacles – like the loss of a parent. While such personal challenges required constant attention and effort to surpass – even just temporarily – these remarkable, life-testing situations award our young men with immense, fighting courage and heart. Since many of these athletes are Islanders/Tongans with gifted rugby talent, as their discipline developed, so did their extraordinary contributions to the team.
To share in the achievements and maturation of our young team is special. To witness these uniquely diverse groups – each with their own stories and personalities – evolve into one fiery rugby TEAM, has been amazing! The manner in which the players, from the very start, never allowed their differences to disrupt the team chemistry, especially on a personal, human level was the catalyst that led to such a triumphant year. More importantly, having the opportunity to coach these great kids, while developing respectful relationships with them individually, is profound.
Reflecting back on our season is thrilling! The fact that the U18 team’s only loss resulted from an intensely fought match against our Santa Monica rivals, who were ranked #12 in the nation, only adds hunger to the season’s quest. The squad knows we could have won that league match; such is life. Like any defeat, if lessons are learned and execution improves as a consequence, then the experience proves worthy.
Unfortunately, while LA’s U18s played well in their single-elimination playoff match, the team came up short against a stronger, more experienced opponent; losing by a score of 42-7. Nevertheless, praise to our players is deserving. Congrats to all who shared in making this an awesome season. As an active member and former player/captain of this local, non-profit organization for over 20 years, I am grateful and proud to have had the opportunity of coaching and sharing in the success our U18’s boys’ team.
back to home page
Re-cap of LA Rugby Club’s U18 Boys’ Inspiring First Season
It’s April 25, 2014, the eve before the Under 18 Boys’ team plays its playoff match against a San Diego club ranked 3rd in the USA. The mounting excitement leads to a poignant reflection of our inaugural season.
Led by coaches Paul Breen and Fernando Ayala, the talented young squad had an impressive year that carried them into the post-season with a 5-1-1 record. Beginning in 2009 with a U8s group, the Los Angeles Rugby Club (LARC) has remained dedicated to developing its youth program. Each season since then, LA has added a new grommet division that includes U10s, U12s, U14s, U16s and now a U18s. Rewardingly, the matriculation of these student-athletes through LARC’s historically rich system has earned playoff berths for both the U18s and U16s this year. This doesn’t tell the whole story, however.
To truly appreciate the winning success of the 2014 season, one has to understand the organizational hurdles as well as the individual challenges we surpassed.
LARC’s U18’s team is the result of meshing together basically two very distinct groups. On one side is a well-disciplined core of young ruggers, which for the most part learned rugby just months ago in late 2013 as members of their respective and also new high school programs. Although novices to the sport, their keen focus and structured, scholastic training, which include playing American Football, helped them transfer their athletic skill-set onto the rugby pitch.
The remaining majority of players are comprised of a motley crew of mostly inner-city kids; many of which have experienced unique, at times inconceivable obstacles – like the loss of a parent. While such personal challenges required constant attention and effort to surpass – even just temporarily – these remarkable, life-testing situations award our young men with immense, fighting courage and heart. Since many of these athletes are Islanders/Tongans with gifted rugby talent, as their discipline developed, so did their extraordinary contributions to the team.
To share in the achievements and maturation of our young team is special. To witness these uniquely diverse groups – each with their own stories and personalities – evolve into one fiery rugby TEAM, has been amazing! The manner in which the players, from the very start, never allowed their differences to disrupt the team chemistry, especially on a personal, human level was the catalyst that led to such a triumphant year. More importantly, having the opportunity to coach these great kids, while developing respectful relationships with them individually, is profound.
Reflecting back on our season is thrilling! The fact that the U18 team’s only loss resulted from an intensely fought match against our Santa Monica rivals, who were ranked #12 in the nation, only adds hunger to the season’s quest. The squad knows we could have won that league match; such is life. Like any defeat, if lessons are learned and execution improves as a consequence, then the experience proves worthy.
Unfortunately, while LA’s U18s played well in their single-elimination playoff match, the team came up short against a stronger, more experienced opponent; losing by a score of 42-7. Nevertheless, praise to our players is deserving. Congrats to all who shared in making this an awesome season. As an active member and former player/captain of this local, non-profit organization for over 20 years, I am grateful and proud to have had the opportunity of coaching and sharing in the success our U18’s boys’ team.
back to home page