18 South Shore high school rugby players starring this spring
Rugby's first season as an MIAA sport was in 2018.
The sport has continued to grow, especially on the South Shore. There are currently eight high school boys teams in the area and one girls team (Weymouth).
The regular season is winding down and the tournament pairings will be announced Tuesday, May 28. Before we hit the home stretch of the season, let's take a look at some of the area's top rugby players.
Only schools that responded to our inquiries are included here. Coaches, if you have a name we should include: email sports@patriotledger.com.
Boys
Van Tran, Milton
Tran, who is also a stellar student, is a three-year starter at flanker. He boasts a 4.5 GPA.
Zach Stowell, Milton
The first-year player has made an immediate impact for the Wildcats. He leads the team in carries and yards gained.
Lowe twins, Milton
Jimmy and Jack Lowe, who start at scrum half and fly half, have been playing rugby and Gaelic football since their freshman seasons.
Gavin McNicholl, BC High
Coach Paul Carty calls his fly half "lightning on the field." McNicholl leads the Eagles in total points scored.
More: 'Our connection is great': BC High rugby's three Blind brothers have Eagles soaring
Mikey Smith, BC High
Smith tallied 12 tries through BC High's first six games. He also brings leadership to the table.
Charlie Thomison, BC High
The fullback has tallied seven tries, several of which have come on long runs, thanks to his speed and athleticism.
Naheem Ridore, Weymouth
The junior captain has been a starter since his freshman season, meaning he's already a two-time state champion. He's a two-way contributor.
More: Juggernaut: Weymouth boys rugby takes aim at 3rd straight Div. 2 state crown
Will Savage, Weymouth
The two-year captain is a fly half who brings speed and strength to the table. He's also strong in the kicking game.
Cam Aieta, Weymouth
The junior inside center has had a stellar debut season. He scored seven tries in his first four matches.
Michael Farrow, Weymouth
The junior fullback/outside center is Weymouth's last line of defense.
Aidan Boutin and Juneau Moffard, Hanover
The Hawks are approaching 10 years since the program's birth. Hanover has relied on multi-sport athletes like Boutin and Moffard to build up the team.
Caiden Montas, Blue Hills
Montas is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball.
James Bennett, Blue Hills
Bennett is the Warriors' defensive leader from the 8-man position. He "doesn't give an inch," said coach Ryan Kiff.
Khai-Ryn Nance, Blue Hills
Nance got off to a hot start this spring, scoring six tries in his first three games.
GIRLS
Kate Looney, Weymouth
Looney is a three-year starter. The scrum half is the leader of the forward group and is a "tough competitor," according to coach Matt Amonte.
Bella Healy, Weymouth
Amonte brags that Healy "loves to tackle." She has a high rugby IQ to go with endurance.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: South Shore high school rugby players starring
