The Secret of LSU Rugby Success- Two Guys From England and a Bunch of New Orleans Catholic School Boys

The LSU Rugby team has a huge important game today. I think the nationwide success of this team has caught some folks by surprise. Here is a story on today's game and our opponent.

I note the New Orelans Catholic League is a huge part of the team. See this recent story Local flavor leads LSU Rugby to Sweet 16


What makes the LSU roster intriguing is the fact that 20 of the 25 players are from metro New Orleans. The team is dominated by the presence of 12 former players from Jesuit High School. There are five former Brother Martin team members and two former Rummel players on the squad with one from Fontainebleau High School. The others include two players from England, one from North Carolina, one from Catholic High (Baton Rouge) and another from Teurlings Catholic (Lafayette).

The Jesuit players include Brenden Batt, Michael Bilalis, Michael Bordes, Saade Bou-Mikael, Lee Farrell, Michael Heier, Eric Johns, Robert Johns, James Rehkopf, Robert Speyrer, Eric West and Ian Wisecarver.

Former Brother Martin stars include Jayson DeLeaumont, Adam Ducoing, Cullen Glennon, Brent Jeansonne and Andrew Larkin.

Former Rummel players on the team are Nick Raziano and Cody Cadella.

Tyler Ammerman prepped at Fontainebleau.

Cody Cadella is a junior hooker from Rummel. He also serves as Club President. Growing up in Metairie, Cadella began playing rugby as a sophomore at Rummel. "I fell in love with the game. We had a good team and there were very good teams in our Catholic league. All of us were competitive but became friends," said Cadella.

Cadella says that the proliferation of the LSU rugby program is largely due to the excellence of rugby in the New Orleans area: "New Orleans is well ahead of the curve in rugby nationally, in the development of the sport. The U-19 New Orleans Rugby Club team has won the equivalent of three consecutive national championships," said Cadella..................