Update: Cathedral’s rugby team won its game against Saint (26-5). They continued on to the playoffs.
Cathedral’s varsity rugby team is preparing for its big game versus Saint Augustine High School at Dusty Rhodes Park on Saturday, January 28th at 2:00 PM. If the Dons win, they will then move on to the playoffs as the league champions.
Head coach Glenn Irvine, along with Karen Fong, Anthony Tarra, Jason Raven, Chris MacBain, and Matt Baier coach both JV and varsity teams, and both teams usually practice together.
Mr. Baier, American Government and Economics teacher, is the only on-campus coach. As he began playing in college, he has plenty of experience with the sport.
He said he, “loved it” and got to play all over the world.
“When I moved down to San Diego after graduation, I continued playing with a Men’s Club team,” said Coach Baier. “However, I stopped playing a few years ago in order to start the program here at Cathedral.”
The Dons rugby team practices three days each week – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – on Cathedral’s lower field. During practices, the athletes participate in drills and play game situations – “typical practice stuff,” Coach Baier said.
“We make sure everyone gets a chance to play, so if a varsity player doesn’t get into the game one weekend, he’ll get a chance to play in the JV game. This way, everyone who shows up to practice gets to play,” he said.
Standout players include senior captains Casey Palid and Lucas Zender, junior Joey Kuperman, and sophomore Ronan Nelson.
Coach Baier is enthusiastic about the rest of the season. He said, “It would be great to get back to the championship game and even better to win it this year.”
