Though not yet a sanctioned sport by the Colorado High School Activities Association, prep rugby is flourishing in Aurora, as both teams that include city athletes have advanced to the state semifinals of the High School Boys League.
Regis Jesuit and the Aurora Saracens — a mix of players from a variety of Aurora high schools — face off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday on the turf field outside Infinity Park in Glendale, seeking a spot in the May 21 championship game.
The Colorado Springs Grizzlies and Denver East Angels meet in the other semifinal at 11 a.m.
Regis Jesuit — coached by Zach Fenoglio, a member of the Glendale Raptors and part of Team USA — owns an 10-0-1 mark on the season, best among the nine teams in Division I, which includes a 69-7 steamrolling of Arapahoe in its previous playoff game May 16. The Raiders’ lone tie came back on Feb. 27, a 17-17 deadlock against the same Aurora Saracens squad they will face in the semifinals.
The Saracens hammered Fort Collins 58-14 in their postseason contest to improve to 8-2-1 on the season. Both of the Aurora team’s losses came to the teams in the other semifinal, Denver East and Colorado Springs.
Head on out and see Aurora’s best rugby players square off, including a number of them who will play together with Rugby Colorado this summer at the Rocky Mountain Challenge in June at the Aurora Sports Park.
— Sports Editor Courtney Oakes
