When a student is eligible and has approval from his parents and the Treatment Team, he may participate in various sports. Some sports like rugby, basketball, water polo, golf, and ultimate Frisbee (when participation and interest numbers are adequate) are offered through the program. A qualified and approved student may also participate in Box Elder School District interscholastic team sports such as soccer, track, football, baseball, basketball, swimming and wrestling. Triumph’s program also includes required daily recreation activities such as basketball, flag football, softball, soccer, capture the flag, disk golf, swimming, jogging, weightlifting, exercise, and more.
Rugby
The team sport of Rugby has become one of our most popular sports offered here at Triumph. Triumph Rugby is a high school club team in partnership with Utah Youth Rugby and USA Rugby. We play games throughout the state and have the opportunity to play across the United States and even overseas with other countries.
Most of our players are brand new to the sport and have never played
before. Although things seem backwards to them at first, they usually adjust well and end up having a passion and love for the sport even after they are done with high school and graduate from the Triumph program.
Triumph Rugby is not just about learning how to play a new sport, or even how to pass or kick a rugby ball, we teach our players values and beliefs that will extend into their lives years after they have left Triumph. We have had tremendous success with students transitioning out of Triumph and playing in their home cities and counties. Currently we have 7 players from last year’s team that have graduated from Triumph and are now playing on a high school or adult men’s teams in their home cities. The boys take pride in the sport and this opportunity gives our students something to focus on after they leave Triumph.
We contribute countless hours of community service as a Team, and we expect our students and players to give back. Some of the projects range from helping out at the senior center to helping set up fundraisers for the American Red Cross, Race for the Cure, and other foundations. Our boys see the difference they are making in the community and how big of an impact the small acts of service have helped the individuals they work with. As coaches, we are not just coaches or just teaching them a new sport, or how to play the sport. We are instilling values and strengths that they use to help with confidence building, self-esteem, anger management, unity, pride, trust, and many more.
Our coaches have to be certified on many levels and have to pass a background screening as well various training certifications held by USA Rugby. Each coach is trained and certified in concussions training, CPR/First Aid, proper rugby play, and proper safe techniques to help players play the game more safely.
Tom Filipe: picked up the sport after his college football career and played for Southern Utah University and in a Men’s League in Las Vegas and St. George. Tom coaches our Forwards and front row and is also the team’s Head Coach.
Alavini Latu: Was a coach for the Triumph Box Elder Rugby Team and is now a legacy of the Team. He passed away in 2015 but will always be remembered as a great coach and team member. His memory lives on in the sport and students he loved. Vini had played the sport since he was young boy growing up in the Islands and later played on the Utah State University Rugby Team, Weber State University Rugby team and various Men’s League teams across the Wasatch Front. Vini coached our backline, and his family continues to support the team today. Their generous donation in his name supports the teams coaching and competition expenses.
