Feb 16, 2026 Newsletter

Club Schedule/News 

Heading into the playoffs! Oceanside HS boys enter playoffs as #1 see against Rancho Cucamonga up in San Clemente on Saturday. HS Girls have their championship day on Saturday Feb 21 at Del Norte HS. HS Boys JV is also scheduling a final friendly or two to round out game time for the season. For the U8-U14, everyone is prepping for the end-of-season tournament up in Temecula at Galway Downs on Feb 28. Note that the rain may impact schedules this week…

U16/U18 - get registered for Spring if you haven’t already!

Quick shout-out to Thunder boys alumni (and current Mira Costa players) for supporting last Friday vs. Rancho Cucamonga…

U8 

Thunder U8 had blast this weekend competing against South OC Raptors and the Back Bay Sharks. It was a great day of rugby where the focus was on learning and having fun…and clearly the hard work at practice is paying off! We saw a hug improvement in teamwork, specifically with the players looking to pass the ball more and find their teammates in space. Every game is a new chance to grow, and the progress we’re seeing in their fundamentals is awesome to watch.

Player of the week: Julian Perez. A big shout out to Julian for his incredible effort this week! Julian plays with a ton of heart and has a motor that simply doesn’t stop from first whistle to last. He was a force on the field using his speed to break open long runs and showing up everywhere on defense. Julian always gives his absolute best and his passion for the game is a total spark for the rest of the team. Keep up the great work Julian!

U14 

U14 Thunder – Another Big Win!
Another great victory for our U14 Thunder! Our boys and girls did an outstanding job. It was a battle against the Raptors, but we ultimately came out on top with a 31–29 win. This was probably one of the toughest games we’ve had all season. The coaches are incredibly proud of this team. They felt the pressure of a close game but never broke down. They stayed composed, worked together, and trusted each other until the final whistle.
We have a very diverse and young group this season, with players ranging from 12 to 14 years old. We’re especially proud of our young ladies stepping up: Raya – starting scrum-half, Merseus – starting hooker, Lanna – second-year wing, Susan – first-year fullback.

We also have approximately six young men who have never played rugby before, around seven players who recently moved up from U12, and only a handful of senior U14 players. Despite that, they showed respect, supported one another on the field, and played as one unit. A special congratulations to Xavier Costa, our youngest player captain for this game. The older boys were genuinely excited for him, showing their support and celebrating his leadership. He led by example and played an amazing game.
Tries were scored by Nathaniel, Cruz, Ricardo, and Jackson.

Proud of this team — Thunder Strong! 

HS Boys 

This week O’Side travelled to Murrieta. We looked to repeat last year’s regular season battle that came down to the wire with our boys coming out on top. The first 10 minutes had Oceanside playing mostly defense, committing some mistakes that kept the ball out of their hands. Once we got possession though we scored quickly outside. Murrieta answered shortly after, converting their try and took the lead 7-5. That would be the lone blemish on the night as Oceanside found rhythm mixing hard carries with flowing rugby with both forwards and backs finding the try zone. The boys stayed consistent and aggressive all night defensively with excellent line speed and counter rucks making it hard on Murrieta to find any time and space. Final score 41-10. Standout players included Thomas Reynoso, Patty Knight, Exzodus Taele, Deacon Maeva and Kingston Garrison

The Oside JV boys made it an official streak this weekend defeating Murrieta Rugby Club 34-12.  The last time they faced this team was a pre-season friendly and it was a very different outcome.  The team has grown to play much better together both physically and technically since then. The team hit their highest point total in this match, scoring 6 tries and 2 conversions.  Jaysun Afasene has scored a try in the last three matches now but ran hard and fast enough to score two this match.  The team worked together to make this possible for Jaysun and the other scorers by improving their game at the breakdown.  With more support in the ruck and better ball protection these boys continue to improve their rugby IQ.  

It was also a special night for Malachi Toluao who scored his first try.  After showing some hard running and quick speed at wing the last few matches, Malachi tooks some reps at fullback and broke through the Murrieta backline to score.  Another standout back was newcomer Kobeeh Faatili.  This was only his second rugby match and he's picking up the game well with solid tackling and great ball carrying.  

In the forward pack Jasiah Simenta put on quite a display with a one handed catch and carry that would eventually set the team up for another try.  Similarly, Jason Dunlap who had to miss the last few games, jumped in at lock despite his usual position at prop and carried the ball powerfully into the opposition.  Needless to say we're proud of the awesome progress these boys have made as a team.  Though the season is officially over for the JV team we hope to see many of these players continue to play this spring with Thunder Rugby!

 HS Girls 

This weekend was a great one for our team. We came away with two strong wins against San Marcos (36-0) and another against Murrieta (22-5)and although we fell short against LCC (22-28), the effort and heart our girls showed all day long was something to be proud of.

It was also Senior Night, and that part especially went incredibly well. Being able to celebrate our seniors, recognize their hard work and dedication, and honor everything they’ve given to this program made the night even more meaningful.

Now, we’re looking ahead to our final games this Saturday. We’re excited for one last opportunity to compete together, keep growing, and finish the season strong. It was a special weekend, and we’re ready to carry that energy into the end of our season.

U10 

U10 faced off against South OC Raptors and Back Bay Sharks in an exceptional day of rugby. The team demonstrated remarkable improvement, showcasing their growing communication and leadership skills on the field. Coaches are particularly proud of their perseverance, as they committed to playing hard until the final whistle. Standout players included Florentina and Lola Thurman, who both shone through the matches. Overall it was a fantastic day for our young athletes as they learned, developed, and exhibited unwavering determination.

U12 

For the U12 Thunder, this weekend marked meaningful growth for our U12 squad, especially in the backs. While the scoreboard didn’t swing our way, the backline showed real progress- getting set quickly, finding space, and confidently executing the plays we’ve been practicing. It was great to see things “click”, with multiple moments breaking into space and moving ball forward with purpose. As a group, the team continues building toward playing a complete game, connecting backs and forwards in attack and defense. This developmental crew is trending in the right direction, and their commitment to growth and progress continues to show each week.