In a milestone moment for rugby in Louisiana, three Jesuit rugby standouts became part of history as they signed to become the first-ever scholarship athletes for the inaugural Loyola University New Orleans men’s rugby team. They were among five local student-athletes welcomed by Loyola in a signing ceremony in the school’s Hall of Fame Room. The backbone of that founding class hails from Carrollton & Banks Street.

Earlier this year, Loyola Assistant Vice President of Athletics Brett Simpson announced the addition of men’s and women’s rugby as varsity programs — the 21st and 22nd sports for the Wolf Pack — with competition scheduled to begin in fall 2026. To launch the initiative, Loyola hired longtime local rugby builder Ryan Fitzgerald as Director of Rugby.

“It’s a historic day at Loyola University New Orleans with our first group of student-athletes joining the Wolf Pack with a rugby scholarship,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s a breakthrough for the sport of rugby and an amazing opportunity for these young men.”

While Loyola’s first kickoff is not until the fall of 2026, the scene on Wednesday signaled the program’s future. Surrounded by plaques of Hall of Fame athletes, Fitzgerald signed the first rugby scholarships in university history, three of whom played under head coach Adam Massey and were members of Jesuit’s Class of 2025: Frank Finicle, Ian Miranda, and Giovanni Matranga. All three will transfer to Loyola for the spring semester to begin the early build of the varsity era.

For a sport that has long lived on the fringe of mainstream athletics in Louisiana, the moment sounded like a declaration: rugby here is no longer a hobby. It is a pathway.

Frank Finicle — The Standard-Setter

The 2025 Louisiana High School Player of the Year has anchored Jesuit’s dominance for three seasons. A three-time state champion, three-time All-State selection, and 2025 captain, Finicle arrives with a résumé fit for a first cornerstone.

“Frank has been one of the best players in Louisiana since he was an underclassman,” Fitzgerald said. “He will be one of the backbones of this team.”

Ian Miranda — The Tone-Setter

A two-time state champion, two-time All-State selection, and two-time U-18 Academy pick, Miranda brings physicality and acceleration to the class.

“Ian is a tough, physical player who will help set the tone for our team,” Fitzgerald said. “He keeps getting better every year — that’s exactly the profile you build around.”

Giovanni Matranga — The Surge

A former Jesuit linebacker who moved to rugby late and ascended rapidly, Matranga became an All-State forward and U-18 Academy selection as a senior — a late riser with no ceiling.

“He came out and took off tremendously,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s passionate, he lives in the weight room, and his work rate is second to none.”

Bigger Than One Signing Day

Loyola has not positioned rugby as an experiment but as a varsity flagship backed by scholarships, strategy, and time. By enrolling athletes a year and a half before the first match, Fitzgerald is building what American college rugby has rarely enjoyed: a runway.

“These are the first pages of the book,” Fitzgerald said. “Years from now, when Loyola rugby is competing for championships, it’s these guys — and this day — people will point to.”

For Jesuit and for New Orleans rugby, the event was not symbolic — it was structural. A bridge now exists from championships on Carrollton & Banks to scholarships on St. Charles Avenue, and three Blue Jays are the first to walk across.