Saint Anthony’s Rugby has had a ‘roller coaster’ of twelve months that a group of players could experience. After a winless 2023 campaign, the Friars have jumped out to a 3-1 start including some serious bouts against star-studded competition.
How did such a turn of events spur up? In short, the Friars found a way to maximize this prior offseason to the best of their ability.
Head coach, Simon Young, retained an experienced and incredibly talented 2024 class, with several of them having played 3-4 seasons in the program.
When asked about the team’s offseason preparation, Coach Young said,
“In January, the seniors met and discussed our goals for the upcoming season. They agreed that effort and accountability to each other needed to be paramount if we wanted to succeed. They followed through with their actions by stepping up and showing up to five-day-a-week outdoor practices in January and February.”
This accountability was apparently more than anything in their opening games of the season, despite a 13 point loss to an excellent Xavier side, the Friars picked up a much needed 19-7 win against Union. With this being the first win for rugby in over a full season, it was a much needed breath of fresh air, and set the standard for how this program could perform with so many games left to play.
In the following match, the boys made a day out of their game against Saint Joseph’s By The Sea, earning a 60-5 victory over the Vikings in their home opener, with several highlight plays to boot.
This win was a perfect setup for their next match, with the Friars needing all the momentum they could possibly get for their April 10th matchup against the nations 48th ranked team, the Fordham Prep Rams.
On that breezy Wednesday night, the Friars had their backs to the wall by default, but the start of the game did not go their way, with the Rams holding a 21-0 lead after only 10 minutes. Going into the half, the Friars faced a 28-point deficit, with Fordham Prep displaying exactly why they were so highly touted. But, as coach Young put it, “The team could have started pointing fingers but they didn’t. They trusted each other.”
Over the next hour or so, the Friars would look the best they had all season, and to say they came out swinging would be a massive understatement. Jack Groeneveld had 3 tries, Sebastian Kleczkowski was exceptional on line-outs, Daniel Vanarsdale’s kicking was incredible, and Nathan Saintvill led the entire unit’s ability to execute on both sides of the ball.
Up 47-42 in the closing moments, a goal line stand by the Friars enabled time to expire, and as the ref blew for full time, emotions came pouring out from both the fans and the players. Wins like these are what the leaders on this team lead for, and what every other player aspires to continue – making Saint Anthony’s Rugby, the team to beat.
Coach Kennedy sent a message to the team after the match ‘What you all accomplished should show you that you cannot only compete with any other team but you can WIN. Tonight was an example of hard work, determination, and the desire to work for each other.”
Rugby is a physical, tough sport, one that draws and desires the utmost sacrifice by the player and coach when it comes to getting wins like these. Several more challenges await the Friars, and Coach Young provides a perspective on the remainder of the season after such a momentous win in saying…
“The outlook for the season is more hard work. There are no easy matches. We preach that what you put into any endeavor is what you will get out of it. The team works hard and cares for each other, the output of that effort is great human beings. As a staff that is our goal and our objective. Winning a match is a by-product of that.”
With Xavier, Rye, Pelham, and Chaminade set to step up to the plate, this remainder of the 2024 season has every reason to be a handful of months to remember for parents, coaches, and players alike.
Eamon Bevan is a Senior writer and lead broadcaster in his fourth year working for Scoreboard. He is also involved in several clubs and ministries at St. Anthony’s.
