Above: Eagles Rugby successfully competing at a tournament last Saturday (contributed photo)
A middle school rugby team started by a Southborough Boy Scout this spring is having an impressive first season. According head coach, Edward Gostick, the team was made up mostly of players who started at the end of April never having touched a rugby ball. They already earned a huge win.
Gostick tells me that 40 kids joined the Northborough Southborough Eagles Middle school rugby team. With just weeks of practice and play under their belts, they entered a tournament at Curry College last Saturday. They knew they were going up against teams from all over the state that had been playing for years. So, the main aim was just for everyone to have fun.
Surprisingly, the Eagles won all six of their matches “and dominated the tournament becoming the overall winners.”
Gostick shared:
We are so proud of all our team who succeeded through pure grit and determination. . . I could not have had the success we have enjoyed without the help of my six adult volunteer coaches and five high school rugby players from both the Algonquin boys and girls team who have volunteered as assistant coaches. The team is also supported by Southborough Recreation so this really is a community effort.
Speaking of Recreation’s support, I just heard back yesterday on the Choate grants awarded this year. One of the two recipients is Southborough Recreation to support the middle school rugby program.
Below are more of the photos Gostic shared. Click thumbnails to open:
According to the original announcement promoting the new team, the kids will continue to play up to the Bay State tournament in July.
