What is there about a can of Pepsi that helped make the Rye boys rugby team one of the top scholastic squads (currently No. 15) in the country?
A job offer from PepsiCo lured Gus Fenton and his family from their home in Doreen, Australia (near Melbourne), to Rye in 2021, bringing with them their oldest son, Archer, who now captains the Garnets in both football and rugby.
His play on the pitch earned him the Garnets’ March Athlete of the Month award, as announced jointly by the school’s athletic department and the Rye Lions Club.
Fenton plays fullback, a position where he can see the field and assess where the ball needs to be going. He’s also an excellent kicker and receiver of kicks, an important element of the game.
The senior played key roles in Rye’s season-opening matches, a 40-17 win against Jesuit High School in New Orleans, and a 51-7 home win against Staples High School (Conn.).
“Archer was the best player on the field for both matches,” said Rye rugby coach Jim O’Hara. “Archer is the most competitive player I have ever coached. If there is anyone who cares more about Rye rugby succeeding than me, it is Archer Fenton. If you are a new fan to the sport, watching Archer play will make you an instant rugby fan.”
Fenton has been a varsity rugby player since his freshman year at Rye. Although he’d never played the sport before coming to the U.S., his athleticism was unmistakable.
“Our program has continued to rise in stature nationally during Archer’s tenure,” O’Hara said. “Simply put, he has been a major reason why our program is a top-20 rugby team nationally and one of the best teams in the northeast.
“He is our on-field captain this year, an important role in rugby. The coach can’t call timeouts, and the only person who can speak to the referee is the captain. Respect on the field is paramount and a trademark in our sport, and Archer is an adult when it comes to speaking with others. He is mature beyond his years.”
In the fall, Fenton was an all-conference standout and captain for coach Dino Garr’s football team, another sport he didn’t play in Australia. He did play Australian Rules football, and was named the best player in the province of Northern Victoria in 2021 before coming to Rye.
Fenton’s mother was a track athlete growing up in Tasmania, starring in the 800-meter run and the long jump. Archer has an 8-year-old sister, Lola, and two brothers. His 16-year-old brother, Jagger, also plays rugby for Rye at fly half. Archer describes his next oldest brother, Hamish, 13, as a “left-footer with a great kick.”
Last year, though, doctors discovered a tumor on Hamish’s kidney, and the Rye community has offered the Fenton family support in a variety of ways. Archer recently coordinated a day-long blood drive at the school with 50 participants throughout the community.
In the classroom, Archer’s favorite class is AP World History, taught by Sean Moody.
“Not only am I a history buff,” Archer said, “but Mr. Moody is one of our coaches.”
Archer will play rugby in the fall at Fairfield University.
“It’s nearby, and it’s in a small community on the water,” he said, “just like Rye and my hometown of Doreen.”
Who does this month’s Lions Club winner wish to thank for this award?
“Definitely my mom and dad,” he said. “They’ve always been in my corner.”
O’Hara had one final thing to say about his senior standout.
“He is the most coach-like player I have ever come across, and our conversations about strategy and team approach are more sophisticated than with most players,” O’Hara said. “Archer is an incredible young man, who also happens to be an incredible rugby player.”
As with the other monthly winners, this victory makes Archer eligible to be named Rye’s Athlete of the Year at the Lions Club’s annual awards luncheon this spring.
