Eagle Impact Rugby Academy’s tour of Ireland sits at 1-1 for both the U16s and U17s with one game for each left to go.

The U16s lost their opener 41-21 to Leinster Schools and then won a tight 19-10 decision over Connacht. The U17s beat Ulster Clubs 29-24 and lost to Connacht 19-7.

“We’re playing against kids with a super high rugby IQ,” said Xavier HS scrumhalf Damian Morley, who has been having a strong season and plays for the EIRA U16s. “It’s hard for us to come together as a squad, and for me as a #9, I have to work hard to make it all work together.”

The U17s scrumhalf, Tiaan Mosconi, of Back Bay Youth Rugby in California, said forming a united team started at camp at West Point.

"This has been a great experience playing high-caliber teams,” Mosconi said. “At West Point, from the very beginning, we worked to get to know everyone. Some of the kids have gone through the EIRA program and know how it works. But not everyone did, and now we’re all working together. The transition has been really smooth.”

There are things to work on as the teams look ahead to rematches with Ulster - rematched Mosconi said will be very difficult.

“We made some not-smart decisions in our last game, like rushing when we should not have rushed on defense,” said Morley. “We know there are things we can do better.”

The days are rugby packed for this EIRA team. They have to surrender their phones, and while the players grumble, they agree it forces them to engage in conversation with their teammates. That habit has been a hallmark of coach Salty Thompson’s teams, and he stands by it.

“What it does,’ said Morley, “is not only force us to talk it forces us to depend on each other more and spend more time with each other. It forces us to trust the process.”