Club Schedule/News
Big week as the spring season heads into the “postseason” for the boys. Huge thanks to all of the families involved with the plate lunch effort Maine-Molifua and Barringtons at the head of the effort, with plenty of others heavily involved. When you see them, thank them.
But it can’t stop there. National championships are happening for the U18 boys…but not free. So big step up for the boys and families to raise the necessary funds. Work is happening, please ask the group how you can help!
As many of you may be aware, there is an ongoing effort to support rugby becoming a full CIF (“varsity”) sport through the high schools. This would obviously help with funding, field access, and school support but doesn’t come without challenges for our players at schools that don’t offer a team…for those that want to support the Oceanside petition is here: https://c.org/HVbgPs6pyY Meetings going with athletic directors this week, so act quickly if you want to support!
And great news for our future Thunder alumni…Patrick Knight, our favorite Australian rugby league convert, is off to join fellow Thunder alumni Zavier Leatherman, Damien Ramirez, and Reyzah Teale at Davenport University…can’t wait to see where this takes you “Patty”.
U18 Boys
Thunder U18s played Belmont Shore in a match that would determine the 2nd SoCal representative at Nationals. Coming off a bye week the boys were ready to prove themselves. With a few players out this week, a few boys got the opportunity to step in. Belmont came out strong, throwing the kitchen sink on both attack and defense but Thunder held strong for the 70 minutes allowing 2 tries and 1 penalty. Thunder’s attack was relentless though, led by a monster performance from center Ryan Scully finding the try zone 4 times and setting up another. One of his best moments though was chasing down a Belmont line break and laying out for a try saving ankle tap tackle then another chaser finishing it off with a turnover. Huge effort from the boys on Saturday. Final 45-15. Thunder on to nationals!!
This weekend both U18 Premier and Gold head into playoff matchups against solid opposition.
U16 Boys
Thunder Rugby’s U16 side delivered their most complete performance of the season in a thrilling 28–24 win over Belmont Shore. In a tightly contested match, Belmont controlled much of the first half, keeping Thunder on the back foot early.
The turning point came when Kobeeh Faatili stepped in front of a pass for a clutch intercept try, swinging momentum firmly in Thunder’s favor. From there, the attack came alive, orchestrated by fly-half Klahsyk Taele and fullback Jayden Vertongen, who consistently put Belmont under pressure.
Vertongen had a standout performance, scoring a try and converting all four of his kicks, proving to be the difference in a game decided by just four points. Thunder also showed tremendous resilience on defense, shutting down a powerful Belmont attack with physical, disciplined tackling.
With this statement win, Thunder Rugby is hitting form at the perfect time as they head into the playoffs. A likely matchup against the OC Raptors awaits, where the team will be eager to avenge an earlier loss and carry this momentum forward.
U18/15 Girls
The U18 squad put together a strong performance this weekend, finishing 2–0 and showing growth, composure, and teamwork throughout their games.
In their first matchup against the Mustangs, the team played calm and controlled on both offense and defense. They made smart decisions with the ball, stayed disciplined defensively, and maintained their structure from start to finish, setting the tone for a confident win.
Their second game against Try Time highlighted their ability to move the ball effectively and create space. The U18s worked well together, communicating and supporting each other to take advantage of openings and keep the game flowing in their favor.
Their final scheduled game against the Mustangs ended in a forfeit, as the Mustangs were unable to play due to injuries. While it wasn’t the way the U18s wanted to finish, player safety remained the priority. The team is already looking forward to a rematch and building on the momentum from a successful weekend.
U15 girls
U15 girls had a solid weekend, taking on the challenge of playing four games and showing resilience from start to finish. While they aren’t used to that many games in a short period, they pushed through and finished strong—a testament to their determination and team spirit.
The first game didn’t go as planned, but the girls stayed positive, supporting and encouraging each other until the final whistle. In the second game, they stepped up defensively, maintaining a strong line and applying consistent pressure on their opponents.
The third game proved to be a tough battle, with a few injuries along the way, but the team showed grit and managed to see it through. By the final game, the girls looked calm, confident, and focused on enjoying the moment. They displayed great ball movement on offense, applied strong defensive pressure, and showed impressive line speed.
Overall, it was a weekend full of growth and perseverance, and the team should be proud of the effort they put in across all four games.
Links:
Thunder/Oceanside HS Youth Rugby - https://www.thunderrugbyclub.com/ @thunderrugbyclub @osiderugby @osidegirlsrugby
(newsletter subscribe: https://thunder-youth-rugby.beehiiv.com/)