Photos: Jay Coulter, www.jaycphotos.com. / See more
Last weekend, the California State Games (CSG) drew more than 80 teams to San Marcos, Calif., for the fifth edition of the rugby 7s tournament. Of the 16 U10 through U18 divisions, 10 were boys’ competitions, three were co-ed, and three were for the girls. In addition to the girls’ U12 round robin, the Aztecs won the girls’ U16 trophy, and South Bay U16s defeated Fallbrook for the U18 crown.
Founded 28 years ago, the CSG is a grassroots program of the United States Olympic Committee and allows amateur athletes to sample an Olympic-like atmosphere. During this year’s summer games, rugby was one of 22 sports to hold a competition.
“We are very fortunate and extremely grateful for all the support given to us by the staff at the California State Games,” enthused Hannah Lockwood, the rugby 7s tournament director. “They provide a degree of professionalism and support that rugby does not always have the pleasure of receiving, and we are extremely grateful for that.”
That support translated into assets like three-person referee teams for every U16 and U18 match, a first for Southern California, according to Lockwood. It’s also helped grow the overall participation of the tournament. Lockwood reflected on 2013, when rugby was introduced to the CSG, and the struggle to get 20 teams to commit.
“The most exciting thing for me to see this weekend was the number of girls participating in the U10 and U12 divisions,” Lockwood explained. “In an effort to continue to provide more opportunity for girls, [Southern California Youth Rugby] offered an all-girls, tackle U12 division, which is pretty remarkable.”
The girls’ U12 division contested three games, mixing players from Triton Rugby Club and two Barbarian sides. The U16 division included the Aztecs, Coastal Dragons, Fallbrook and Poway (see full results below). The Aztecs went 3-0 on the day and the team’s 19-5 pool play win over Fallbrook was the decider for the trophy. The U18s had two pools of three teams, and the South Bay Spartans (the U16 side) went undefeated on the day, bettering Fallbrook 28-14 in the title match.
“While the U18 games were thrilling and getting to watch USA 7s-capped Eagle Lilly Durbin carve it up was remarkable, it was the youngsters in the U12 and U16 teams that really caught my attention,” Lockwood reflected. “’The future is bright’ is an overused term these days in the rugby world, but when you get to walk around and see 11-year-old girls making tackles, scoring tries, building confidence and having fun, you can’t help but be overjoyed.
“Southern California produces some of the top high school girls’ rugby players in the country and seeing what was displayed this weekend at the California State Games by some of the athletes in the younger divisions, I don’t believe that trend will end anytime soon.”
U16 Girls
Aztecs 19-5 Fallbrook
Aztecs 32-7 Poway
Aztecs 24-19 Coastal Dragons
Fallbrook 24-22 Coastal Dragons
Fallbrook 42-5 Poway
Coastal Dragons 43-5 Poway
3rd: Coastal Dragons 38-5 Poway
Final: Aztecs def Fallbrook based on pool result
U18 Girls
South Bay Spartans 45-0 AZ Bobcats
South Bay Spartans 31-0 Coastal Dragons
Coastal Dragons 10-10 AZ Bobcats
Fallbrook 46-0 Poway
Fallbrook 17-12 South Bay Princess
South Bay Princess 44-0 Poway
5th: AZ Bobcats 30-0 Poway
SF: South Bay Spartans 31-10 South Bay Princess
SF: Fallbrook 43-0 Coastal Dragons
3rd: South Bay Princess 41-0 Coastal Dragons
Final
South Bay Spartans 28-14 Fallbrook
#CalStateGames