The Rugby King

    By Kyle Byrne

    The Rugby King cover image

    15 May, 2024

    a group of people walking down a hallway together in a hallway with a man in a grey shirt and a backpack, northwest school, a stock photo, Ben Zoeller, promotional image

    Max, the muscular rugby boy, was the king of his high school. He was respected and feared by students and teachers alike, thanks to his formidable rugby skills and commanding presence.

    a man standing on a field with a bunch of other men in the background wearing uniforms and holding a ball, superflat, a bronze sculpture, Andrew Bell, muscular

    Max's coach, Coach Thompson, was a strict disciplinarian but had a soft spot for Max. He saw the potential in Max not just to be a great rugby player, but a great leader as well.

    two men standing on a soccer field in front of a crowd of people in a stadium with a green and white uniform, arts and crafts movement, a poster, Andrew Bell, promotional image

    Under Coach Thompson's guidance, Max led his team to victory in countless matches, further solidifying his status as the king of the school.

    a group of men standing on top of a soccer field next to each other on a field of grass, superflat, a stock photo, Evan Charlton, kai carpenter

    However, a new challenge presented itself in the form of Mike, a transfer student with exceptional rugby skills. Mike was quickly making a name for himself in the school.

    two men in a gym with a racket in hand and a ball in the other hand, standing in front of a row of gym equipment, institutional critique, a digital rendering, Andor Basch, athletic

    Max felt threatened by Mike's rising popularity. He decided to challenge Mike to a one-on-one match, hoping to reclaim his dominance.

    a man standing in a locker room next to another man in a locker room with lockers behind him, brutalism, a photocopy, Andor Basch, muscular

    Mike accepted the challenge without hesitation. He respected Max's skills but was not afraid to compete against him.

    a group of men running across a field holding a soccer ball in their hands and a referee watching them, cubo-futurism, a poster, Baiōken Eishun, kai carpenter

    The match began with both Max and Mike displaying their skills. They matched each other in speed, strength, and strategy, much to the delight of the spectators.

    two men in rugby uniforms holding a ball in a stadium full of people in the stands watching the game, heidelberg school, a renaissance painting, Evan Charlton, promotional image

    As the match progressed, Max realized that Mike was not just a worthy opponent but also a potential ally. He saw the same passion for rugby in Mike that he had.

    two men shaking hands on a field with a crowd in the background at a rugby game in australia,, regionalism, a poster, Adam Bruce Thomson, promotional image

    In a surprising turn of events, Max offered Mike a handshake in the middle of the match, conceding defeat gracefully and acknowledging Mike's skills.

    a man in a black jersey is standing in front of a crowd of people in a stadium with a soccer ball, superflat, a tilt shift photo, Evan Charlton, muscular

    The spectators and even Coach Thompson were shocked by Max's gesture. But they soon realized that Max was demonstrating a lesson in humility and sportsmanship.

    a group of young men walking down a hallway together in a hallway with a wall of lockers behind them, heidelberg school, a character portrait, Ben Zoeller, mitchell mohrhauser

    Max might have lost the match, but he won the respect of his peers, including Mike. They realized that being a king was not just about winning, but about leadership, humility, and respect for others.

    a group of young men standing next to each other in a hallway with a wall behind them and a hallway leading to the hallway, heidelberg school, a poster, Ben Zoeller, movie still

    Max and Mike eventually became good friends and formidable teammates. They led their school to numerous victories, proving that together, they were a force to be reckoned with.