Loudoun (LoCo) youth rugby U14 team wins

The Loudoun U14, under 14 years old, Youth Rugby (LoCo Rugby) won the Virginia State Rugby Championship in “Fifteens” – 15 players per side – at the state final competition on May 13, in Culpeper, VA. 

LoCo Rugby was able to pull away in the final 20 minutes of the match to beat a previously undefeated West End team, 36-13. LoCo was the number 2 seed heading into the playoffs and handled a talented Richmond team in the semi-finals before facing West End (Springfield, VA) in the final. LoCo was able to avenge their previous loss to West End during the regular season. 

In the summer season, teams play an abbreviated version of the game that uses only 7 players per team that is known as “Rugby 7s.” The LoCo 7’s team travelled to Cleveland, Ohio on June 9-11 placing 3rd in the nation at the National 7s Youth Championships. 

The team went 4-1 at the tournament with the only loss to the eventual champion LA Tribe out of Los Alamitos, CA. The Tribe has now won two-straight national titles. The LoCo team regrouped after the semi-final loss to take down the Cleveland Cats in the third-place game, 43-10. Team captain, Tyler Gilbert said, “It was fun to represent northern Virginia and get a chance to play so many big, fast, and experienced teams at nationals. The level of competition really made us better.” In both tournaments, the team relied on several veteran players and some athletes new to rugby to create a dynamic, fast, attacking style that is fan friendly with lots of action. 

Loudoun and Western Loudoun Youth rugby clubs have been active for several years and offer a fun, safe and competitive atmosphere to learn the game and develop young athletes’ confidence and skills. Rugby offers players, of all shapes and sizes, an opportunity to improve their fitness, agility, and confidence. The clubs welcome athletes from all sports and no rugby experience is necessary.