Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

from USA Rugby:

BOULDER, Colo. – The Pittsburgh Harlequins are set to host the top 24 boys’ and girls’ teams in the country for the USA Rugby’s National Guard High School and Under-19 Championships at Founders Field from May 15-17.

The tournament gets underway with a full day of Boys’ Under-19 and High School competition from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday, May 15, leading up to the championship matches at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, on Saturday. The Girls’ Under-19 contest commences early Saturday morning and culminates in the Championship match at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

A highlight show featuring the hard-hitting action from the full weekend of High School and Under-19 competition will be shown on ESPNU on June 8, at 7 PM (ET).

The Boys’ High School division features defending champion Sacramento’s Jesuit High School, which meets Charlotte Catholic High School in its opening match. Also making the return trip to Pittsburgh this year are 2008 third place finishers, Penn High School (Ind.), St. Thomas High School (Texas), Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.) and Xavier High School (N.Y.). The field of eight is rounded out by Brownsburg RFC (Ind.) and Christian Brothers High School (Calif.).

Winners of the inaugural Boy’s Under-19 Championship, in the new competition structure rolled out in 2008, perennial favorites Highland Rugby hope to reclaim their crown in 2009. In the 24-year history of the USA Rugby High School championships, Highland has claimed an impressive 18 titles and meets Highlanders Rugby, Chapel Hill in the first round.

The Westerville Worms (Ohio) return to the competition hoping to best their third place finish in 2008 and start their championship bid versus West Shore United (Pa.) on Friday morning. Also returning to this year’s competition are last year’s seventh place finishers, Union County RFC (N.J.), who meet 2008 runners up United Rugby Club (Utah) on day one. The U-19 Boys’ round one match-ups conclude with a showdown between the L.A. Cougars and the Kansas City Junior Blues RFC.

In the first year of the official USA Rugby National Guard Girls’ U-19 Championships, Milwaukee’s Divine Savior Holy Angels knocked off Ohio’s Lakewood for the 2008 title, and both return to battle for hardware this year. DSHA takes on Colorado’s Summit High School, when the Girls’ U-19 contest kicks off on Saturday, while Lakewood meets Rutland Rugby Club (Vermont).

Rounding out the field of Girls’ U-19 competitors, last year’s fifth place finisher Maryville (Tenn.) takes on the West Carroll Lady Marauders on day one, while 2008’s third place recipients the Sacramento Amazons clash with Fullerton Youth Rugby.

Tickets for the event can be purchased in day or weekend increments, starting at $6 for a youth (12 & Under) and military day pass, up to $50 for a VIP weekend pass, which includes VIP parking and deck seating. General parking is $2/day. Tickets will be sold at the gate on the day of the tournament or via the Pittsburgh Harlequins’ Web site at www.pittsburghharlequins.org.

For more information on the USA Rugby National Guard Boys’ High School and Boys’ and Girls’ Under-19 Championships, visit www.usarugby.org/goto/Championships.