Worcester Public Schools HS Boys Rugby Team: From Vision to Reality
Upon fielding their first Boys HS XVs rugby team in Spring 2022, the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) took an initial step to become a full varsity rugby program and began fulfilling the dream of four youth rugby visionaries. In recognition of this milestone, the nascent WPS rugby program earned a U.S. Rugby Foundation grant to support establishing public high school rugby programs across the Commonwealth. The core team of Jeff Turgeon, Chris Monaghan, Tony Poti, and Bruce Mendelsohn - well known names in the youth, Worcester, and MA rugby scenes - overcame COVID-related challenges, and communicated and coordinated with WPS administrators, faculty, and staff to plan and execute thrice-weekly practices and several scrimmages/matches. Reflecting The Rugby Way, the planning team drew upon their respective skills: They informed and engaged their local connections, involved current and former rugby players from Worcester’s robust rugby scene, and promoted the progra...