Thursday 12 April 2012 7pm Kick-off.
North West Presidents XV V Xavier HS New York
City of Derry Rugby Club and Lumen Christi College welcome Xavier High School from Manhattan, New York to Derry on Thursday for a prestigious fixture against a North West Presidents Under 17 team for a 7pm Kick-off. Xavier HS School are on a tour of Wales and Ireland and played Blackrock College and Clongowes Wood College in Dublin over the last weekend.
Xavier HS are coached by Mike Tolkin who has been confirmed recently as the American Eagles National Coach and this tour will be he last assignment with them for the time being as he takes over his new post next week. Mike has been teaching English at Xavier for the last 15 years and he was defensive Coach under Eddie O’Sullivan as the last Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. He has made Xavier HS one of the most successful Schools in American Rugby.
The North West Presidents XV will be a composite side including players from, Coleraine Ins, Limavady Grammar, Foyle College, St Columbs College, Lumen Christi and City of Derry Rugby Club. The Presidents team will be coached by James Doherty, Nathan Deeney and Malcolm Burns all from City of Derry Rugby Club and it should be a showcase for Youth Rugby in the North West. The North West Team is Captained by Jason Young from Lumen Christi College.
Xavier HS – Background
Xavier High School is an independent Jesuit university-preparatory secondary school for young men located at 30 West 16th Street, in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1847, as the College of St. Francis Xavier (also known as St. Francis Xavier’s College[3]) by Father John Larkin, S.J.
The school draws a select student body from all five boroughs of New York City, as well as New Jersey, Nassau County, Westchester County, Rockland County and Orange County. Xavier is widely considered a brother school to The Notre Dame School, The Marymount School and Convent of the Sacred Heart.
Rugby @ Xavier HS
Xavier has fielded one of the top rugby teams in the United States since the club’s founding in 1976.[4] The team capped an undefeated season in 2007 by winning the Tier B National Championship Tournament. The Xavier Rugby Team also won National Championship Tournaments in 1985 and 1993 and has won the East Coast/Northeast US Championship Tournament every year from 2000 to 2009.[citation needed] The team won their 4th National Championship on May 22, 2010. They defeated Gonzaga 32-10 to win the Boy’s National High School Championship.
NB. Mike Tolkin is an English Teacher at Xavier HS and their Coach, he has been for many years. Mike was appointed National Coach to the American Eagles Rugby Team recently and this is his last assignment with the school. Mike takes over from former Irish Coach Eddie O’Sullivan.
North West Presidents XV – Is made up of Students from Coleraine Inst, Limavady Grammar, Foyle College, St Columbs, City of Derry Rugby Club and Hosts for the Game Lumen Christi College. The team is Coached by James Doherty and Natham Deeney and Malcolm Burns of City of Derry RFC. Thanks to Pat O’Doherty Lumen Christi for hosting this prestigious fixture. We want to send Xavier High School away as Ambassadors for Derry City and its People.
Xavier HS – Derry Itinerary, April 2012
Wednesday 11th April 2012
9am Coach Derry – Belfast, City Hall, Titanic, Giants Causeway, Antrim Coast
6.30pm Training @ City of Derry RFC
8.30pm Dinner @ City Hotel
Thursday 12th April 2012
10am Guided Tour of Walled City, Bogside, Amelia Earhart with Lumen Christi Students
1pm Civic Reception with Mayor of Derry @ Council Offices Strand Road + Lumen Christi Students
2pm Lunch
5pm Transfer to City of Derry Rugby Club to prepare for game
7pm North West Presidents XV V Xavier HS, New York
9pm After Match Function @ CDRFC for both teams and Coaches, Hosted by Pat O’Doherty, Principal
Lumen Christi College, Derry. In attendance Mr Seamus Logue, President, City of Derry RFC.
