The Liberty Rugby Football Club is scrumming, rucking and mauling its way straight to the top.

The Patriots haven’t lost an in-state game in more than two years and, after recent games against East Coast powerhouses, it has solidified a spot among the nation’s best.

“We’re on the map,” said Liberty coach Jeff Candler. “They know who we are and we have their respect.”

Liberty’s U14, U16 and U19 teams faced the Xavier (New York) and Union (New Jersey) rugby clubs on a trip last week.

Against Union, Liberty’s U14 won, while the U16 and U19 lost by a combined three points.

Candler said the highlight of the trip was facing Xavier. Liberty has struggled to find equivalent competition in Washington recently and Candler was excited to test Liberty’s mettle against some of the nation’s best.

“They’re (Xavier) the powerhouse of the East Coast,” he said. “We went over there expecting they would be able to beat us. … But they had nothing on us.”

Liberty’s physical style bothered Xavier, a team not used to being pushed around.

“Those Xavier teams aren’t used to losing,” Candler said. “The bottom line is we handed it to them. We were bigger and stronger than they anticipated we would be.”

The Liberty U16 team beat Xavier and the U19 match ended in a draw as Xavier came back to tie it. The Patriots’ energy level thinned as the game went on due to injuries and playing a second game in two days.

Key players for Liberty against Xavier included Tony Tischer, Donnie Chrommy and Jacob Daniels. Candler said Ian Adams, Geovanni Trujillo and Jacob Hill all stepped in and played key roles due to injuries. He added Chandler Jenkins, who is new to rugby, had a breakout game.

On the U16 team, Scott Dean, Colton Jensen and David Black all played two strong days of rugby.

“It was a very successful trip for us,” Candler said. “We travel to seek higher level of competition and we measure ourselves against those types of teams. It was definitely a winning trip.”

Candler is in his 19th year coaching the booming club. The Patriots have 82 players and are the reigning Washington state champions. The club is made up of younger than 19 from all around Renton and is not associated with Liberty High School.

Last year the Patriots traveled to play Jesuit High School in northern California, the reigning national champions. And even though the Patriots lost, the games were close and for Candler it’s clear Liberty is one of the best clubs nationwide.

“We’re right there, our size and strength and speed matches up with anybody in the nation,” he said. “We’re definitely in the Top 10, maybe even Top 5.”

Liberty starts the defense of its state title May 1. State title games are May 22 at Magnuson Park in Seattle.