Gallery: Staples Rugby Places 4th in the Nation in Kansas City; Arrives Home to a Hero’s Welcome

Jun 20

The Staples Rugby Team arrived home to a Hero’s Welcome, complete with an escort by the Westport Police Department. The high school rugby team made it to the Rugby National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri this weekend - taking home fourth place for the Country.

The team placed better than expected - as they were ranked as the #5 seed ahead of the match, with the Goff report saying “The best-kept secret of the tournament, Staples has compiled one heck of a season up in Connecticut. Winners over big dogs Xavier, Greenwich, and Fairfield, these boys are battle-tested and battle-accomplished. Jot them down as your dark horse now.“

Although champions on the pitch, it was the team’s good sportsmanship that made its way back to Westport as parents eagerly awaited their sons’ arrival. The team joined fellow Connecticut team Greenwich at the nationals, cheering on the usual Staples rival - with Greenwich cheering on Westport’s boys. Parents were quick to mention “they not only have a good coach, but a good role model as men” when speaking about head coach Dave Lyme. Lyme and his assistant coaches Neal Seideman and Jack Corcoran lead the team to victory this year after only starting the team a few years ago, with one team member saying that “they coached a team that hasn’t even been in consideration of being ranked to becoming 4th in the nation in the span of months.”

With graduation on Thursday, the senior members of the team were given a special graduation ceremony by Staples High School - allowing them to enjoy the celebration of finishing high school, and still being able to play at nationals.

The boys played on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in temperatures soaring about 100 degrees on the Missouri field. Today they’re home, enjoying the cool Westport temperatures and relaxing after a victorious three days.