CINCINNATI — An inner-city school in Cincinnati has won a state rugby title.

What You Need To Know

• Withrow defeated defending champs Watkins, 36-34


• Withrow's program is 7 years old, started by teacher and coach Nathan Myers


• None of Withrow's had any rugby experience until they joined the Tigers in high school


• It's the first state final for any Withrow team in nearly 30 years

The Withrow Tigers defeated the defending champions, Watkins Warriors, to win the Single School Division II Championships in a tight game: 36 to 34.  They played Saturday morning at Fortress Obetz outside Columbus.

Spectrum News first featured Withrow last year, a program where most students live below the poverty line and where none have come to high school with any rugby experience until they joined the Tigers. 

In comparison, many of their competitors have been playing rugby since they were kids.

Coach and teacher Nathan Myers created the program and a culture of excellence that has led to college scholarships for his players and now a state title.

Senior starter Ja’Mez Early believes bringing home the trophy will help attract more players to the team.

“It’s amazing because rugby isn’t a popular sport at Withrow I think being able to be at state will get a lot of spotlight that we need to give more guys that one to play the confidence to come out here with Coach Myers and the team,” Early said.

“We came through on a promise we made to each other at the start of the season, Myers said. “We pledged to be excellent and to support ourselves in that pursuit.”

It’s the first championship in the seven-year history of the program and only the second time in nearly 30 years that a Withrow boy's team in any sport made it to a state final.

Correction: This story has been changed to clarify Withrow High School's boy's teams in any sport have made it to a state final two times in nearly 30 years. (June 6, 2023)