Rugby Team to Face Off With Top-Rated Greenwich

Long Island’s u15 rugby team is off to a good start this season, winning its first two games and showing some exceptional talent from several players, according to the team’s coach.

“We probably have three All-American players on our rugby team,” said John Royal, who coaches the 10-year-old team on several fields in Glen Cove.

Royal mentioned Ralik Jackson, 15, Lalo Montecer, 15, and Josh Martin, 15.

"Ralik has size, speed and power, and he has stiff to fend off anyone who gets too close," said Royal.

He said the team, most of which played together last season, has made significant progress since last year. Glen Cove beat Manhattan’s Xavier High School, considered the nation’s premier rugby school, on March 11. The win came after a 50-12 defeat to Xavier last season.

The second win came on Sunday over Morris, N.J. with a score of 30 to 19.

Royal said Jackson’s performance has been outstanding, having made two 40-yard touchdowns against Xavier and three versus Morris. 

Jackson is the leading scorer in the New York, Connecticut and New Jersey U15 competition, Royal said, which requires that players be 14 years old and entering the eighth grade when they join their team.

“Last year was a learning experience. They were new to the game,” Royal said.

The team’s next game will be held at on Sunday, April 1 at 11:45 a.m., versus Greenwich, Conn., another of the country’s oldest and top-rated teams.

“We play a New Zealand style of running rugby that the spectators enjoy,” said Royal.