Men's Rugby Travels to Boston for Teddy Smith Classic
By: Isabella Buoncristiani '28
Honoring Teddy Smith
Over the weekend of September 6th, our Men's Rugby team traveled to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts to take on the Eagles of Boston College. This annual match is put on in honor of Teddy Smith, a former Boston College rugby player and team MVP. Teddy forged positive impacts on fellow teammates, fans, and the community at Boston College. Teddy has familial ties to Saint Mary's, as to why this game is held every year. It is more than just a game, it is the forging of two schools to honor Teddy Smith and the monumental legacy he left behind. In addition to this, the Smith family started The Teddy Fund in order to raise capital and awareness for a multitude of organizations that specialize in mental health. Be sure to check this out!
Gaels vs. Eagles
The match began, and the tensions were high as both teams were accurately scoring back and forth. Saint Mary's was trailing behind the Eagles 10-7. Soon after, the Gaels picked up their pace and began to bring that Gael rugby fire that we know and love.
One real standout player was Ethan Younger '27. Younger is no stranger to being a standout player, so this may not come as a surprise to most. He actually changed positions this year, and he is now a Lock. In his new positional debut, Younger scored a try that helped to advance Saint Mary's further ahead on the scoreboard.
Another player that deserves recognition is Matthew Abbes '26. "One standout player was Matthew Abbes, who had played a key leadership role on the field" says team Captain Mario Storti '25 MA '26. Abbes no doubt had an influential presence on the field.
Aside from the game of rugby, the team went on a tour of Boston city. They were able to walk along the Freedom Trail and take in the sights of our U.S. history. The men were also able to meet up with Gael rugby alumni and former captain Kaipono Kayoshi '23, MA '24 who is currently a player in the professional ranks for the New England Freejacks of the MLR (Major League Rugby).
Although the game started off a bit rocky, the Gaels were able to pull themselves together and finish off the match with full force. The final score was 63-10, a paramount victory for our Gaels. This win is a great start to yet another Saint Mary's Men's Rugby season that begins with big goals and high expectations!