Get ready Eagles, your very own Rugby team is gearing up to repeat their Varsity Cup Championship in the upcoming 2023 season. With the Eagles returning nine starters, the Eagle roster has the experience and is ready to reclaim the Varsity Cup for a second straight year. 

In order for the Eagles to repeat, they must first make it through many tough matches in the regular season. This year, the Eagles take on Saint Pius and Strake Jesuit twice. 

Yes, you heard that right, we get to play our rivals a total of four times this year. 

“Having rivalry games build a lot of excitement, we also have a very good chance of beating our rivals this year” returning starter Tommy Erb ’23 said.

On top of playing St. Pius and Strake this year, the Eagles are scheduled to take on Lamar HS, Allen HS, Dallas Jesuit, Lake Travis HS, and Detroit Catholic Central HS.

The Eagles are not, however, taking on clubs such as West Houston Rugby Club and Woodlands Rugby Club.

“With us not having to play extremely large club teams such as West Houston and Woodlands this will lighten our schedule up considerably” Erb said.

With this lighter schedule, hopes are high amongst the Rugby players to achieve a perfect season. With the only two regular-season losses coming from West Houston and Woodlands last year, the team is confident in achieving an undefeated season. 

Erb hopes to have a tremendous impact on the pitch as a returning starter and a four-year member of the program. His excellent play has earned him his starting position for the third year in a row. 

With Erb returning as a senior, he has expressed his determination to win the Varsity Cup again this year.

“To win the championship again this year, our team needs to have more grit and determination than last year” Erb said.

As optimistic as the team is, they are also realistic about the absence of experienced players who graduated last year.

“I feel the returning players and new players joining the program will carry on our winning tradition since they have grinded to get better during the summer”. 

Along with  Erb, the Eagle Rugby team is welcoming back nine of their starters. Returning starting forwards include Ted Naeher, Taylor DeJarnette, Julian Winstone, and Jacob Michael. Also, the Eagles are returning backs Sam Cornell, Mitch Onufrow, Berhane Linbeck, and Oliver Brown. Carrying many years of experience with them, the returning players add experience as well as an acute knowledge of the game to help them get a competitive edge.

With the returning players, change in schedule, and confidence in the team, the Eagle Rugby team is poised to retake the Varsity Cup this season in 2023.