Baseball was not the only local team to win a state championship last year; West End Rugby is the defending 2010 Division 1 Virginia High School State Champion.
In front of about 300 spectators at the T.C. Williams turf field, the boys defeated FPYC and WS 2010 graduate Joe Eustace was named MVP.
Being state champions is a prestigious honor and though the baseball team got an appropriate amount of support, West End’s victory went virtually unnoticed.
“Our plan is to start a dynasty of winning,” said sophomore captain Reagan Douglas. “It’s just one step closer to completing our team’s goals.”
FCPS Risk Management bans certain sports and activities that are deemed too dangerous to be sponsored by the schools, as liability becomes a concern. Rugby is one of these activities, along with ice hockey, hang gliding, mud wresting, tug-of-war, skydiving, tattooing and others. As a result, most students and staff are not aware of the team and its achievements.
Though rugby is not technically a school sport, the players deserve the same amount of recognition because they put in just as much effort and dedication. The team practices at Franconia District Park two times every week, and practice is never canceled; in the case of inclement weather, they move to a public park that they call “Ditch on Hooes Road.”
“We want the community around us to be as excited as we are about our team,” said Douglas. “We want to bring pride back to West Springfield and give our community something to look forward to.”
West End is an SYC team that mainly recruits WS students, but also takes players from nearby schools including Lee, South County, Lake Braddock, and anyone else who is interested.
“Out of all the sports that I’ve played,” said senior Niko Sward, “rugby is by far the most fun.”
Douglas has been in the process of organizing a charity event that would feature West End followed by one of the Varsity lacrosse teams. They would play back-to-back games on the home turf with all proceeds going to Kristi’s Christmas, a foundation that gives underprivileged children a chance to go on a shopping trip to pick out new clothes and have a party with Santa Claus. This benefit game would not only contribute to a worthy cause, but also provide West End with some well-deserved recognition.
“Before I leave high school, I would like to see rugby become an accepted FCPS sport where all boys and girls can play for their individual schools and communities,” said Douglas. “Not only does rugby benefit the people who play it, but the communities around them as well.”
David White • Aug 15, 2011 at 10:55 AM
This was a great Article! To borrow a phrase from Rugby Culture “Well Played Lad! Well played!
Your article notes the concern by the FCPS for injury and the associated liabilities surrounding rugby as the reason why there is reluctance at allowing Rugby to be recognized as an officially accepted sport. While I am sure that this is true, more often than not the real issue is favoritism and bias toward more traditional forms of athletic sport competitions; budgetary prioritization or the perception that inclusion would force a redistribution of fiscal recourse away from favored choices (Football); and pure ignorance. The truth at the heart of the matter is that injuries occur far less frequently in High School Rugby than they do in High School Football. Additionally the sport is far and away a better ambassador for developing teamwork, leadership mental and physical toughness and general overall fitness.
I played Rugby for 16 years all over the world. I played on the starting 15 for the first two years when Rugby was first introduced at West Springfield School by our first coach Art Steffen. I then moved onto college, the military and civilian sides. Other great first year alumni from 1977 included Dave Yenowine (78), Steven Meyers(78), Rick Stockhausen (79), Pat Herrity (78), Nick Soti (79), John Houchens (79), Tm Pence (78), Bob Mills (78) and our coach Art Steffen.
West Springfield High School Rugby and West End SYC owe a debt of thanks to these early players and coaches and to their efforts at establishing the foundations that have enabled the success of today’s teams. We have come a long way 1977 – 78 when our original teams won only three games in our first two years. A STATE TITLE? What a tradition! Well Played Lads!! Well Played!!