Auks Win Rugby State Championship!

On Saturday, May 9th, the Archmere Rugby team defeated reigning champions Salesianum in the Delaware High School Sevens State Championship match at Neumann University. This is the first state title for the Auks, and the third time playing in the Championship game. Archmere played a tough schedule all season, including a 12-25 loss to Sallies on April 26. However, they were determined not to lose to Salesianum again. In an exciting first half push in the championship match, Archmere was up 12-5. Working on that momentum, they scored another 14 points in the second half and were able to keep Sallies at bay, resulting in a final score of 26-5 and setting off a wild championship celebration. The league’s commissioner awarded MVP of the entire tournament to Archmere freshman Danny Bark. The Auks are now ranked among the top 50 teams in the United States. 

 

This weekend Archmere will field two teams in Subaru Sevens, a regional tournament played at Alapocas Run State Park, featuring some of the top ranked rugby teams from along the Eastern seaboard. At the end of the month they will compete in the High School Rugby Championship, a national tournament hosted in the Philadelphia area. 

 

Associate Director of Admissions and English Teacher Andrew Cocco founded the Archmere Rugby program in 2013, along with current parent David Niumataiwalu and with help from science teacher and football coach John Bellace. The Rugby program has grown from 14 players in its first year to now 26 on the active roster.