Pelham, NY -- June 6, 2026
A Xavier Rugby season that started out with several feet of snow on the ground ended in the 90+ degree heat, as the Knights defeated the Rams of Fordham Prep 44-19 to earn the 2026 New York State Championship. The championship win came after Xavier defeated Rye High School 30-10 on May 31st, 2026, to advance to the state finals.
Xavier’s first try came three minutes into the match, as eight-man Owen Madden ‘26 drove one across, with fullback Jack Cross ‘27 adding the conversion points. Cross, who received Man of the Match honors, kicked a penalty goal several minutes later and would go on to kick three more conversions, another penalty goal, and punch in a try of his own before the match was over. Fordham Prep scored a try at the 20-minute mark, only to be answered two minutes later with a try by outside center and team captain James Allison ‘26. Fordham Prep responded with their second try at the 24-minute mark. Keeping up the Xavier momentum, left wing Leo Heyman ‘27 put another Xavier try across in the final minutes of the half after a superb probing kick by Jack Cross, leaving the halftime score at 30-12 in favor of the Knights.
The two teams ground it out in the opening minutes of the second-half with Allison putting another try over, and Fordham Prep answering ten minutes later with their last try and conversion. Number Eight, William Murtagh ‘28 scored in the final two minutes of the match, leaving the final score at 44-19.
📸 Mike LiVigni
“We were just really confident and believed in ourselves,” Jack Cross said. “Once we got on the pitch, we were playing for ourselves, and I thought we played amazing.”
James Allison noted that the win was a bittersweet one for him. “My Xavier rugby career was definitely a great time, and I will remember it for the rest of my life. This is definitely the best way to end it. I'm happy we're bringing the Tolkin Cup back home!”
Openside Flanker Liam Averill ‘26 agreed. “It's a great feeling,” Averill said, “I love this program, and I think a lot of these guys love it as well. We put it all on the line today, and the win really meant a lot to us.”
The Knights end the 2026 season as New York State Champions and a fifth-place finish at the Nationals Tournament in the program’s 50th Anniversary year. With the bulk of seniors opting to play rugby in college, the Xavier rugby tradition will grow as the program looks to an up-and-coming squad of younger players to keep it going.
“All I was looking for was a complete performance. The boys achieved that complete performance, with good defensive work, good set phase work, a solid kicking game, and a chase game; they finished in a place that they can be super proud of.”