The 2024 season began in perfect style for the Greenwich High School Varsity A boys rugby team on Thursday.

Impressive from the outset, the Cardinals earned a dominant 34-5 victory over rival Staples High School at rainy Cardinal Stadium. Thursday’s season-opening game was a rematch of the semifinal-round of the 2023 Connecticut State Boys Rugby Tournament, which was won by Greenwich, 45-14, at Staples in Westport.

Coached by Mike Fina, the Cardinals are coming off a 12-4 season in which it advanced to the championship game of the Connecticut State Tournament, where they were edged by Fairfield Prep, 33-28, in the title game. The Cardinals have won a state-high 11 Connecticut State Tournament championships.

Greenwich’s captains this spring are Gaston Gomez, Brian Nova-Acosta and Ignacio Piccione. In Greenwich’s game against Staples in Thursday’s season-opener, the hosts scored the first try of the matchup to take a 5-0 lead. Eric Fischer and Kini Piccione added one try apiece, extending the Cardinals’ advantage to 17-0.

The score would remain the same until halftime. Staples scored a try to start the second half, cutting Greenwich’s lead to 17-5, but Julen Guazo-Badiola reached the try zone for the Cards, making it 22-5.

Sebastian Parra added on to Greenwich’s lead, registering a try and putting the home team on top, 29-5. Tischler sealed the scoring and the win with another try for Greenwich’s 34th point. Greenwich’s Varsity B team was also victorious, edging Staples, 13-10. Last season, Greenwich also finished a strong fifth at the Boys Rugby National Championships in Elkert, Indiana.

Up next for Greenwich is a game against Simsbury on April 3 at 6 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium.