HILO — The theme of the day was fun and mud — a combination that increased the entertainment value — at the Hawaii Youth Rugby state championships on Saturday at Hilo Bayfront. HILO — The theme of the day was
HILO — The theme of the day was fun and mud — a combination that increased the entertainment value — at the Hawaii Youth Rugby state championships on Saturday at Hilo Bayfront.
In the under-19 boys championship, the Kona Bulls completed an undefeated season, beating the Waimea Bulls 10-0 behind a pair of first-half scores by Jordan Cristobal and Giuseppi Zapataoliva.
A score — getting the ball over the goal line, much like football — is called a try and worth five points. A conversion, or kick over the crossbar, is two points.
In the inaugural under-19 girls championship, the Hilo Reign defeated the Kona Bulls 10-5.
In the under-15 boys title match, the Kona Bulls topped the Hilo Reign 10-5.
The field resembled the perfect setting for a laundry detergent commercial.
There are 15 players on a side, and once someone stepped onto the field it was only a matter of time before mud became a part of the uniform.
“The field was beautiful until the rain came down,” league president David Wendt said. “But that’s what rugby was like when it first started in England. It was wet and cold. In New Zealand, they play in the winter when it’s wet and muddy. It was perfect rugby weather today.”
Like most rugby proponents, Wendt, who’s from Oahu, appreciates the sport’s growth, especially in Hilo.
And the state tournament attracted a sizable crowd, more than 200 people ringing the field for the last match of the day.
In 2004, Kona and Waimea were the only clubs on the Big Island with about 50 players. Now there are three clubs in Hilo — the Hilo Reign, Keaukaha Sharks and Puna Chiefs. There are 500 youth players in the state, including 400 on the Big Island.
“There’s a growing interest in the country, and Hawaii is moving up. In the next five years, women’s rugby will be really big in the state,” Wendt said. “There’s football for boys, but no sport for girls.”
Wendt said the league is not some passing fancy and is already a national hit. There are four players from Hawaii on the USA All-American High School team, a junior version of the national squad. Nuu Aiava, a Keaukaha Shark, and Tama Paogofie, a Kona Bull, are on the team.
“Rugby is going to be huge. The 2015 World Cup will be in England. The 2019 Cup will be in Japan,” Wendt said. “The U.S. is bidding for the 2023 Cup.
“I’m hoping some of the pool games will be played in Hawaii. There are four different pools spread over the country, like soccer.”
Rugby will also be at the Olympics in 2016 in Brazil, and the USA women’s national team doesn’t want to be some tomato can on the international stage.
For the first time, women’s rugby players are being paid, trained and housed at the rugby Olympic Training Center in San Diego.
