Staples rugby has become one of the school’s top-tier teams. After going undefeated in the preseason, they started their season 3-0, including a close win over Aspetuck and a dominant 54-0 win over Darien. But this is not their first year of high- caliber play. “We have been pretty good the past few seasons,” team captain Mike Jennings ’17 said. “We beat Fairfield Prep for the first time ever, and we are undefeated so far this season.”

After losing a number of seniors last year, this year’s team will rely a lot more on its younger players. Even with an unusually young team dominated by sophomores and juniors, expectations are still high. “After a great start to the season, we have four really tough games this year, including Fairfield Ludlowe, who is ranked 10th in the country,” Ben Van Der Merwe ’18 said. “However, I think we can win at least three of our four remaining games this year and make a splash in the playoffs.”

The increasing popularity of the sport has also had a significant impact on the Staples team. “It is bringing a new caliber of talent to the team” Van Der Merwe said. “If we continue to win, we could bring in some legitimate athletes onto the team”. While having more athletes is always helpful, the team already has a few high quality players. According to head coach David Lyme, some players to watch include Tom Jones ’16, Mike Jennings ’17, Michael Overton ’17, and Ben Van Der Merwe ’18.

Even though it is a varsity sport, Staples rugby may not receive the same attention of other spring sports like baseball or lacrosse. But with a high-powered offense and sturdy defense, this year’s Wreckers are looking to turn a few heads on their run to the state championship.