GLENDALE, Colo. — Valor Rugby’s championship moment came against Regis Jesuit, and it came with the kind of performance that made the program’s rapid rise feel complete.

Valor defeated Regis Jesuit 29–15 on Saturday in the Rugby Colorado Tier I boys championship, closing out a playoff run that included an upset of top-seeded Denver East in the semifinals.

For Valor, the title was more than a single result. It was the latest step in a program that has grown quickly since being established in spring 2021 by head coach Guy Mumford and club director Jim Boyle. Valor now fields players from 22 schools across Metro Denver and competes in 7s in the fall and 15s in the spring.

The path was not easy. Valor entered the postseason after a difficult regular season, while Denver East had dominated league play. But Valor saved its best rugby for the moment that mattered, beating East in the semifinal on what Goff Rugby Report described as an athletic play from lock and vice captain Pierce Bell.

Regis Jesuit earned its place in the final the hard way, too, knocking off Monarch 22–20 in the other semifinal. That set up a championship between two teams that had already proved they could handle pressure.

On Saturday, Valor finished the job.

The Eagles’ 29–15 win reflected the balance that has defined their growth: physical forward play, improved composure, and a deeper roster than the program had in its early years. Players such as Jake Pizzi, Boston Bellamy, Landon Jones, and Bell had all been part of the story during the spring, giving Valor leadership across key positions.

Regis deserves credit for its run. The Raiders were not a passive finalist; they had already taken down Monarch and brought enough structure and toughness to test Valor. Their season ended one game short, but their postseason proved they belonged on the championship stage.

For Valor, though, Saturday was the payoff.

The club’s stated mission has always gone beyond simply winning games. Valor describes its vision around supporting youth rugby, giving players a premium experience, and helping athletes pursue opportunities at the next level. The program already lists alumni at schools such as Kansas, Colorado State, Virginia Tech, Colorado, BYU, and Grand Canyon.

Now, it has another championship to point to.

Valor is no longer just a rising program in Colorado high school rugby.

It is a state champion.