📣 Showdown in SoCal on Saturday🔥

Hike up those short-shorts and brace yourself for a blood-pumper. Because we have a matchup loaded to the brim with intrigue: two powerhouse California schools on a mission to crush each other on the rugby pitch. Both have talent-laden squads, and both have excellent coaching staffs.

They won’t meet in the state playoffs (different leagues).

They won’t meet at Nationals (school season is over by then).

But word on the street is they may be the two best school teams in California, and they meet this Saturday to duke it out. 

Let’s take a look.

Torrey Pines and Cathedral Catholic are neighbors—of the 1.7-miles-apart variety. Yep, that’s all that separates these two schools in SoCal: Less than two miles by automobile. (or about 19 rugby fields, if you were wondering)

The close proximity has certainly played a part in this rugby rivalry, with one instagram user this week calling it “The battle of Del Mar Heights Rd and the dueling 9s” (shout-out to @dollypool for that one).

The “dueling 9s” are Spencer Huntley (Cathedral Catholic) and James Curtis (Torrey Pines). Both show exceptional skill at the scrum-half position, and both will play a huge role in how their teams fare this Saturday.

Interestingly, these teams have a common bond. That bond is the San Diego Mustangs, the high school club team that many of the players from these teams will be playing for during the spring season. Torrey Pines head coach Matty Sandoval also coaches the Mustangs, and he noted that this Saturday’s match is much like “a glorified inter-squad scrimmage.”

But that doesn’t mean the brotherly love will translate to a docile snoozer this weekend. Hoo boy, not even close! There is a LOT of pride on the line in this match—just take a look at last year’s showdown, a very tight and sometimes fiery game that ended with Torrey Pines on top 15-13.

In that game, Torrey Pines showed their speed-of-play and a certain type of “rugby grit” that is hard to put into words. Cathedral Catholic, on the other hand, has one of the most athletic and skilled bunch of kids you’ll find on any rugby pitch in the US, and they constantly tested Torrey Pines with their physical prowess all game.

Spencer Huntley, a USA U20 standout, is dangerous both with his boot and running skills. He’s flanked by several other All-American athletes that will make you pay on defense and offense, including Kingston Hawkins (center/fly-half) and Reese Reiter (wing/fullback).

For Torrey Pines, the aforementioned James Curtis leads the squad from the scrum-half position while Reese Curtis commandeers the back line at fly-half. He wields a crafty boot and a smooth delivery to his playmakers, which include the talented Sam Violet (13) and speedy wingers Gabe Gonzalez and Gunnar Paul. And just when you think you’ve met all the badasses, you might get straight-up run over by Will Barrett, Torrey Pines’ bruising 8-man.

Defensively, both Torrey Pines and Cathedral Catholic leave little room for running the ball. There are zero holes in their lines. This is a game that you cannot simply run over your opponent. It ain’t happening, my dude. These guys all tackle insanely well.

In a match that came down to the wire last year, not much separated these two groups. It was a battle of the minutia of the game—and Torrey Pines came out on top, just barely.

There might not be a trophy at stake in this one, but bragging rights are worth a hell of a lot—especially when you can almost hit the other guy’s practice field with a paper airplane.

We’ll follow up after the game.

Cheers!

Coaches’ Quotes:

Key Points

• The Cathedral Catholic boys have ball skillzzz. They look like street ballers when you give them space—flipping offloads, attacking creases at full speed, and making defenders look silly.

• The Torrey Pines boys are a pack of wild dogs around the breakdown; rucking, counter-rucking, poaching the ball—they’re relentless.

• The kicking game could have a huge impact on this game. With both teams owning incredible defensive skills and tactics, look for some clever kicking to shift the tide at some point.

• Both coaches have emphasized the importance of keeping cool heads in this one. TBD if that message holds true. 🤞

• The “dueling 9s” may be the headline, but don’t sleep on either of these teams’ 10s. Dylan Trower (Cathedral Catholic) is an experienced junior who has great ball skills and awareness. Reese Curtis (Torrey Pines) is the younger brother of James Curtis (#9). He’s only a freshman, but he has impressed the coaching staff so much that they can’t afford to keep him off the field.