Champions Crowned in Tennessee and Texas: A Weekend of Title Triumphs
Two of America's most passionate youth rugby states settled their seasons this past weekend, with Tennessee and Texas hosting state championship finals that delivered dominant performances, late-game drama, and a fresh class of MVPs ready to carry the sport forward.
Tennessee State Championship Roundup
In Tennessee, finals weekend produced a sweep of memorable performances across boys, girls, and middle school divisions, with several programs adding fresh hardware to their trophy cases.
The marquee Division 1 boys final belonged to the Raptors, who claimed the state title over Christian Brothers High School in a championship match that lived up to its billing. Anchoring the Raptors' victory was Barron Lankford, whose all-around play earned him MVP honors and capped a standout season.
On the Division 1 girls side, Father Ryan continued to assert itself among the elite of Tennessee girls rugby, defeating a determined Columbia Central side to take the championship. Catherine Vance was named MVP after a commanding performance that proved decisive in the title match.
Division 2 produced a pair of compelling finals! 901 boys side stamped their identity on the bracket with a championship win over Spring Hill, with Parker Weatherly earning MVP recognition for his work in the decisive match. In the girls bracket, Soulsville captured the D2 crown by getting the better of Riverdale, while Kamiaya Ryan was named MVP after carrying her team through the weekend.
The youth pipeline showed its strength in the Middle School U14 final, where the Warriors prevailed over a hard-charging 901 squad to claim the age-group title. John Dayton Stachurski was awarded the MVP, signaling a name to watch as Tennessee rugby's next wave moves up the ranks.
Texas State Championships: Super Saturday
In Texas, the championship slate mixed expected results with some hard-earned battles, as familiar contenders reaffirmed their pedigree and a few rising programs pushed the established names.
The headline performance came from The Woodlands D1, who powered past the Katy Barbarians 48–13 to take the High School Boys D1 Club Cup.
The HS Boys D1 Varsity Cup came down to the wire. Celina edged St. Thomas 33–29 in a back-and-forth final that showcased the depth of varsity rugby in the state. With both sides trading scores deep into the match, Celina's ability to close out under pressure ultimately proved the difference.
Woodlands made it a championship double in the Division 2 boys final, where The Woodlands D2 defeated the Cypress Warriors 32–12 to extend the program's strong weekend. The win underscores the depth Woodlands continues to develop across its tiers, a model that has become one of the benchmarks of Texas rugby.
In the High School Girls final, Faith Family Academy held off HEB 22–15 in a tight contest. With both teams trading momentum throughout, Faith Family's discipline at the breakdown and composure in the final quarter sealed the championship.
Looking Ahead
Congratulations to all the participants and winners! The past weekend reinforced just how deep the high school and youth rugby talent pool has become in both states.
SYRO Championships continue this upcoming weekend in:
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Utah
- Colorado
- Idaho
- New Mexico
- NorCal
- SoCal
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