The Unionville High School boys rugby team tried its hand at Rugby Sevens this past weekend at a tournament at PPL Park in Chster. From left (front row) Ian Mears, Dylan Rappucci, Tim Zeidman, Brandon Boon, Dan Clifford; (Back row from left): Glen Brown, Austin Todd, Samir Streatfield, Coach Joe Baker, Max Camateros-Mann, Chris Helle, Gavin Grim, Thomas Mallon.
CHESTER — The Unionville High School Rugby Boys Varsity competed for the first time in the 2015 High School Rugby Sevens Challenge (HSRC) at PPL Park this weekend. The Team had a very successful weekend finishing the tournament with 3 wins and 1 loss. They defeated LaSalle Prep, Roman Catholic and St. Augustine Prep (NJ), losing only to a strong side from Perry Street Pride Charter School from Washington DC.
Lead by seniors Tim Zeidman and Samir Streatfield, the team — which normally competes as a 15-man side — adapted to the challenge of sevens and played some great rugby, battling teams in a tournament that featured teams from around the country.
The Rugby Sevens format is new for Unionville which competes in the Rugby PA league during the regular season which uses the traditional 15-person per side format. But the faster paced sevens rugby is becoming more popular around the world — and will even featured as an exhibition sport during the next Olympics.
The HSRC was held as part of the larger Collegiate Rugby 7s Championship (CRC-7) which was held this weekend at PPL Park and televised nationally.
The team was coached by Unionville alum Joe Baker who was an All-American rugby player at Penn State and played for PSU in the collegiate championship at PPL a few years ago.
The Unionville High School Rugby program has been in existence for over ten years fielding Girls and Boys Varsity and Junior Teams. There is also an affiliated Under-15 boys team.
