Priory Rugby

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The Priory Rugby Club
Union Missouri Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s) Kwai Nyu Rugby Club/The Rebel Ruggers
Emblem(s) The Shield
Ground(s) Saint Louis Priory School Pitch
Coach Flag of the United States Fr. Augustine Wetta, O.S.B.
Captain Flag of England Bradley Taylor
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
Team colours

The Priory Rugby Club (also known as Kwai Nyu and The Rebel Ruggers) is the rugby club of Saint Louis Priory School, and the oldest high school rugby team in Missouri. For years, they went undefeated, beating local colleges Washington University and Saint Louis University to win seventeen state championships.

The Kwai Nyu Ruggers--then known simply as "The Rebels"--started out under the direction of Fr. Timothy Horner, O.S.B. Having come over to America to found a preparatory school, the British monk-teachers were utterly unfamiliar with United States sports, and so started a rugby union team. For seventeen years, the Rebel Ruggers went undefeated. In the 1970's, rugby was removed from the school's athletic curriculum. In 1994, following the arrival of Fr. Augustine Wetta, rugby was put back on the curriculum, but this time as a club sport. The team has had five winning seasons since their re-establishment. Today, under the inspired coaching of Fr. Augustine, Andy Wenger, and Paul Wood, the team continues to build on its noble heritage.

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[edit] Kwai Nyu

The name, Kwai Nyu is simply, the name Rebel in Ibo, the dialect of a small, warlike tribe from northern Nigeria. The Ibo are one of the few Catholic tribes in Nigeria. One of the club's early coaches from this tribe, and the Kwai Nyu chant is sung in his honor.

[edit] The Tin Can Rugby Tournament

According to local history, the Tin Can Tournament is the oldest and most renowned high school rugby tournament in Saint Louis, Missouri. "Founded in 1502, in what was then known simply as "Cahokia," two Native American sons of the Cahokia Indian tribes fought bitterly over a bloated pig heart, then used as a "ball" of sorts for indigenous games. The argument spiraled out of control, culminating in the brutal dismemberment and death of one of these brave warriors. Every year thereafter, the event was commemorated by a gathering and athletic games, eventually resulting in the area being named Creve Cour (or Broken Heart) by the French settlers who carried on the tradition. Pig hearts being unavailable, French children settled for reenacting these events with a tin can. For hundreds of years, the athletic event went uncommemorated until, in 2003, it was resurrected by the Kwai Nyu Rugby Club, and quickly evolved into a Pan-State event, attracting teams from as far away as Jefferson City and Kirkwood."

Whether or not this historical anecdote contains any historical veracity, it does in fact convey the spirit of the tournament, which is informal, but always energetic and exciting. Priory hosts this tournament, and usually invites five other teams to play. The matches are usually only twenty to thirty minutes in length, due to the number of matches that need to be played throughout the day. Priory has never won the tournament, but they have finished second twice in the past three years. Jefferson City won the 2008 Tin Can Tournament.

[edit] The Coat of Arms

The coat of arms is based on the Coat of Arms of Saint Louis Priory School. Certain elements of the original coat of arms have been modified: a rugby ball for the white rose, a set of rugby posts in place of the fleur de lies. But the original colors, and the blue "river," representing the Mississippi River, have remained the same.

Image:Small Rugby Shield copy.jpg

[edit] Team Chants and Songs

In 1995, a dark and mysterious stranger came out to guest coach the Priory Rebel Rugby Team. He was as black as the night, as large as a mountain, and as fast as lightening. His name was Edu, and he had newly immigrated to the United States from Nigeria, where he had played rugby from the earliest age. His leadership was an inspiration, and his guidance came at a time when the team was looking for someone with great leadership qualities. Before he departed for the seminary, he taught Kwai Nyu this song, an untranslatable Ebo war chant known simply as "The Elephant Song." He revealed the meanings of the words to the team on the condition that they not be repeated to anyone who was not a member. Thus, the true meaning remains shrouded in the mists of secrecy.

ENNE MBA ENNE!
TZABUA!
ENNE MBA ENNE!
TZABUA!
ENNE MBA ENNE!
NWAKEI!
ENNE MBA ENNE!
NWAKEI!
ENNE MBA ENNE!
TI!
YA!
TI!
YA!
TI!
YA!!
KWAI NYU!
YA!!!

The team has two unofficial songs. They are considered unofficial because they are never sung at the matches, but they are inspirational for the team. One is the school's anthem, God of Great, and God of Small, and the other is O God, Beyond All Praising, which uses the tune Thaxted. Thaxted is also used in the Rugby World Cup song "World in Union".

[edit] Current Season

The upcoming season will be the team's 29th. On October 25, 2007, senior Bradley "BT" Taylor, Paddy Dutton, and Taylor Streiff (who all three started as sophomores) were named captains of the team for the 2007-2008 season. BT and Dutton were also members of the Missouri U-19 Rugby Team. The season looks bright for the team, with thirteen of their fifteen starters in the senior class. On November 24th, backs coach Paul Wood announced to the captains that he would not be returning to coach the team, due to his commitment to coach Washington University. Priory alumnus Matt Arackal will be taking over Wood's coaching duties.

[edit] Current Opponents of Kwai Nyu

  • DeSmet Jesuit High School
  • Kirkwood Rugby Football Club
  • Francis Howell Central High School
  • Jefferson City Nightmare (Combined Team) http://www.jcrfc.org/
  • St. Louis University High (SLUH)/Christian Brothers College (CBC) Druids
  • Eureka High School

[edit] Current Members of Kwai Nyu

Players are listed with their full name, their current position, their alternate club (if available), and any awards they have obtained.

  • Bradley "BT" Taylor (Captain), Prop, Andrew Wenger Award (Most Outstanding Member of Scrum), Missouri U-20 Rugby, Sunday Morning Rugby Club
  • Patrick Dutton (Captain), Fly Half, Missouri U-20 Rugby, Sunday Morning Rugby Club
  • J. Taylor Streiff (Captain), Weak Side Wing, Sunday Morning Rugby Club
  • Mark Haar, Scrum Half/Flanker, 2006-2007 Rookie of the Year (Coach's Award)
  • Anthony Savio, Fullback, 2006-2007 Rookie of the Year (Player's Award)
  • Joseph Jordan, Wing/Scrum Half, 2005-2006 Rookie of the Year (Player's Award)
  • Stephen Pennington, Center/Wing
  • Alexander Kluesner, Inside Center, Missouri U-19 Rugby, 2006-2007 Paul Wood Award (Most Outstanding Member of Backfield)
  • Adam Czernikiewicz, Wing
  • Nicolas Gysling, Inside Center
  • Craig Boyce, Hooker
  • Dan Reitz, Flanker
  • Joe Altepeter, Fullback
  • Charlie Peterson, Wing
  • Max Jones, Wing
  • Zach Ross, Second Row
  • Edward Pennington, Hooker/Flanker, Missouri U-19 Rugby
  • Lee Aguera, Flanker
  • Isaac Wooley, Second Row, 2006-2007 Most Valuable Player (Player's Award)
  • Gabriel Lee, Second Row
  • Zachary Knippel, Flanker
  • Paul Monahan, Flanker/Eight Man/Hooker (Injured)
  • Matthew J. Schulz, Outside Center
  • Alex Todorov, Hooker
  • Quinn Underriner, Flanker
  • Sam Tankersley, Scrum Half/Wing
  • William Busch, Flanker
  • Matt Meglan, 8-man
  • Chris Mulaney, Flanker

Coaches:

  • Fr. Augustine Wetta, O.S.B. Head Coach
  • Andrew Wenger, Forwards Coach/Assistant Coach
  • Matt Arackal, Backs Coach/Assistant Coach
  • Terry Dudley, Assistant Coach
  • Paul Wood, Former Backs Coach (Current head rugby coach of Washington University, and head official of the Missouri Rugby Football Union)

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] Actively-Playing Alumni

[edit] External links