Priory Rugby

Rugby team
country = The Priory Rugby Club

union = Missouri Rugby Football Union
nickname = Kwai Nyu Rugby Club/The Rebel Ruggers
emblem = The Shield
ground = Saint Louis Priory School Pitch
coach = flagicon|United States Fr. Augustine Wetta, O.S.B.
from = 1994
captain = Currently Open
pattern_la1 = _maroonhorizontal
pattern_b1 = _redquarters14
pattern_ra1 = _maroonhorizontal
leftarm1 =1E90FF
body1 = 1E90FF
rightarm1 =1E90FF
shorts1 = 000080
socks1 = 000080

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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".

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

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."

*Craig Boyce, Hooker
*Dan Reitz, Flanker
*Joe Altepeter, Fullback
*Charlie Peterson, Wing
*Max Jones, Wing
*Zach Ross, Second Row
*Zachary Knippel, Flanker
*Paul Monahan, Flanker/Eight Man/Hooker
*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)

Notable Alumni

*Ben Noll (2001), Prop, Currently on practice squad (offensive lineman) for the Detroit Lions

Actively-Playing/Coaching Alumni

*Sean Flachs, Scrum Half, Currently playing for the United States Military Academy
*Bartosz Czernikiewicz (2006), 8-man, currently playing for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
*Andrew Steck (2006), Inside Center, currently playing for Boston College
*Will Moran (2000), Second Row, U.S. Naval Academy
*Phil Kemp (2004), Starting Scrum Half Columbia University
*Pat Human (2001), Trinity College, Toronto "Dogs of War" -- Won the College Club Rugby Ontario Championships--
*Robert J. Ciapciak (2007), Fullback/Wing, Member of USA U-19 Rugby and St. Louis Bombers RFC -- Youngest player (16) to score in a Rugby Super League (US) match; currently only freshman starter for Villanova University
*Joseph Lawrence Buell V (2006), Hooker Denison University
*Paddy Dutton, (2008), Starting B-Side Fly Half for Purdue University
*J. Taylor Streiff, (2008), Assistant Backs Coach, Columbia College Chicago RFC -- Recently stopped playing due to labral tear in right shoulder, moved focus to coaching

External links

* [http://www1.priory.org/ Saint Louis Priory School official site]
* [http://fraugustine.priory.org/Rugby.htm Official Team Site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=KwaiNyu Videos of the Team in Action]
* [http://www.morugby.org/ Missouri Rugby Football Union]
* [http://www.sundaymorningrugby.com/ Sunday Morning Rugby Football Club]
* [http://fraugustine.priory.org/Other%20Rugby%20stuff%20from%20old%20web%20site./DWMX2004_Project/momsguide.htm Rugby Spectators' Guide]
* [http://fraugustine.priory.org/Other%20Rugby%20stuff%20from%20old%20web%20site./DWMX2004_Project/rugbyglossary.htm Rugby Glossary]