Rye High School Rugby Player Competes in USA Rugby Winter Camp
A Rye High School two-sport athlete recently attended USA Rugby’s annual U18 Winter ID Camp training event in Chula Vista, California. The high-performance event took place from December 26-31, 2024, and Rye junior Gavin Fitzpatrick was one of the 46 Americans age 18 or younger to earn an invitation to the camp.
Fitzpatrick, RHS Class of 2026, is both a football and rugby player for the Garnets. Standing at 6’5″ and weighing in at 210 pounds, Fitzpatrick plays on the offensive and defensive lines for football and as a lock for rugby. He often wears #4, but will occasionally slide into the #5 position in the middle of the pitch.
An exceptional performance at the winter camp could give Fitzpatrick the chance to play for the US National Team.
Brendan Keane, USA Rugby High Performance Men’s Manager, described the camps as “The first time we get to see many of the players in person and work with them. That time is invaluable as we endeavor to make connections, set standards and expectations. It is also a critical evaluation period. Each player will depart camp with a clear idea of where they stand and what they need to do to continue to improve.”
Prior to the camp this holiday season, Fitzpatrick travelled to Ireland this past July to compete overseas. He still has two more seasons of rugby eligibility for Rye as their primary lock.
