(Tempe, Arizona) Rugby Arizona, Arizona’s state board governing youth and high school rugby, will be hosting its annual High School Girls’ Rugby Championships for bothU16 and U18 divisions tomorrow, April 24, at Tempe Sports Complex, 8401 S. Hardy Dr., Tempe, AZ, 85284. There will also be several high school boys matches as well.
The day will kick off at 4:00 p.m. with the Tucson Blackbirds playing against Tempe in the U18Division on field 1. Also at 4:30 p.m., Phoenix U16 boys will play against Scottsdale on field 2.At 6:00 p.m., Sahuarita Spartan boys U18 will take on the Phoenix Firebirds on field 2.
At 6:30 p.m., the Sahuarita High School Spartans U16 girls will kick off against the Scottsdale Wolves on field 1 for the last U16 girl’s semifinal to determine who will play for the state championship title against the Big Dogs, a conglomerate team of the East Valley Eagles, North Valley Scorpions, Eclipse, Tucson Thunderbirds, and Cienega High School. The U14 girls from Scottsdale will play against a state-wide motley on field 1 at 6:50 p.m. as a friendly match.
That match is followed by a game between the Phoenix Firebirds U16 girls and the third place team TBD in the aforementioned 6:30 p.m. match. These two teams will vie for third and fourth place standings at the state level.
The Rugby Arizona Girls’ State Championships match will follow at 7:30 p.m. on field 1between the Big Dogs, and the winner of the earlier 6:30 p.m. match between the Spartans and Wolves. An award presentation at the Rugby Arizona tent will follow the U16 Girls Championship match.
That presentation will be followed by another U14 match before the Scottsdale Wolves U18 girls will take on the Sahuarita U18 girls for the Rugby Arizona High School Girls’ State Championship title at 8:20 p.m. on field 1. That match will also be followed by an award presentation at the Rugby Arizona tent. There may be additional girls’ pickup matches to finish off the season as well.
The final boys match of the day will be held on field 2 at 7:30 p.m. between Brophy and Glendale boys in a league match for the U18 boys’ high school division. The U16 and U18 Boys’ Division Championships will also take place May 15 at Quail Run Soccer Complex, 4155 E. Virginia Street, Mesa.
“After much recent uncertainty, as an organization we at Rugby Arizona were thrilled to be able to offer youth and high school players around Arizona a season of rugby this year, particularly given that last year’s spring season was cut short due to COVID-19,” said Rugby Arizona President Taylor Miller. “It’s been exciting to watch the kids play this year and highly rewarding to see how happy the players are to be back on the rugby pitch. To see the culmination of hard work by the players, coaches, and volunteers this year to return to play has been inspiring, and we look forward to continuing to the growth of the great sport of rugby in our state.”
For more information about the Rugby Arizona U16 and U18 Girls’ Championships or the impending U16 and U18 Boys’ High School Championships, please contact Rugby ArizonaSecretary Angela Wagner-Gabbard at (806) 220-5272.
Press Release courtesy of Rugby Arizona
