This year marked the first time in school history that Cathedral Catholic fielded a rugby team. Led by head coach Matt Baier, the team impressed in its inaugural season, finishing the season with a record of 3-2.

“The team did a lot better than I expected. I am really excited – we beat some great teams,” Baier said.

While the team didn’t play that many games this year, they did face some stiff competition.  Fallbrook, Torrey Pines, and Saints all had teams this season as well, and the CCHS team’s games against these schools led to some of the most memorable moments of the year.

The only two losses this season were against Fallbrook, ranked number one in Southern California.  The first time out, the Dons lost by 50 points; in the next game they were winning at the half, eventually losing, however, 27-12.

The final game of the season was against CCHS rival Saint Augustine. Both teams felt that rugby would be a great way to revive an old tradition. Saints decided that the winner of the game each year should be awarded the old Charity Bowl trophy, which used to be given out to the annual winner of the Uni/Saints football game.

When all was said and done, the Dons trounced Saints 40-17 and were awarded the illustrious trophy. There was also a small segment on KUSI featuring the victory and some of the highlights of the win.

Even though the rugby program is brand new, this season proved that the Dons will be competitive for years to come.  The future looks bright after such a successful season, and the team looks to be one of the best in San Diego for next year.

“I feel good about the future.  We have about 20 kids coming back with experience, and we hope to get even more players next season.  This year was a positive first step toward establishing rugby in San Diego,” Baier said.