“To play Division 1 rugby [at Laughlin’s age], it’s pretty unusual,” Green said. “There’s not many high school kids that are doing that, and certainly not for a team as high-caliber as ours and not in as important a role as Chris has played.”
Laughlin took no slight at the timing of the invitation.
“It was a huge honor being invited,’’ he said, “because they’re very selective as to who they invite. It was a camp of [about] 70 from across the country.’’
The camp, which consisted of drills, seminars, and games, is one of several selection steps that will provide the players for the High School All American team that will tour internationally this summer.
The staff, according to head coach Salty Thompson, was seeking players who would be committed to the program, and capable of performing at an elite level.
“We are looking for the fundamental skills at each position, but also certain physical components like size and speed,’’ Thompson told rugbymag.com.
“We will [also] try to identify the pillars of character that separate successful athletes from unsuccessful ones, such as discipline, trust, and responsibility.’’
At 6 feet, 220 pounds, Laughlin was a latecomer to the sport.
He had played soccer in his youth, but as a freshman at St. John’s Prep, he was looking for a change.
“I was kind of drawn to rugby in the spring [of my freshman year] after kind of taking the fall off,’’ he said. “I just decided that I wanted to be involved in a team sport again.
“I like how it has the contact of football but it has the flow of a game like soccer. There aren’t any starts and stops, which I like. It’s very challenging, too, which I enjoy.’’
It can also be a challenge to explain the sport to the uninitiated. Among the most common questions he hears: What is it?
