Knightly News

The Knights begin the 2026 season with several road contests before the first home kickoff on September 18th. However, this year’s travel distance doesn’t compare to what’s in store for the team next year, as the Knights will journey to Dublin, Ireland, to play the first game of the 2027 season!

While the exact schedule is still being worked out, Episcopal football players, cheerleaders, dance team members, drum corps members and spirit groups will spend the last week of August 2027 abroad. The team will face off against another American team in a Friday night game in a 6,000-seat Irish rugby stadium, much larger than Episcopal’s Memorial Stadium. The experience will coincide with a college game scheduled for that Saturday night and will include parades and festivities celebrating American football.

A first for Louisiana

Bringing American high school teams to Ireland has been a tradition since 2012, when the first college game was played in Dublin between Navy and Notre Dame. However, this is a first for a Louisiana high school program and a first for longtime Head Coach Travis Bourgeois. “After 30 years of coaching, opportunities to do something out of the norm are exciting,” he says. “This will give our kids the chance to do something no other Episcopal team has ever done before. Our athletes will be ambassadors for the sport, our state and our school."

Like proud parents wanting the best for their kids, the Episcopal coaches truly are excited to offer this experience to students. Athletic Director Brent Broussard says experiencing this as a team will be something that connects this group of students for the rest of their lives. He points out that the experience will also foster independence and develop leadership skills among participating students. Head Girls Soccer Coach and Irish native Lynn Bradley can’t wait to show off her homeland and see students and coaches enjoying themselves on her turf. She feels like the experience offers the team a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

With enthusiasm building, the coaches quickly become nostalgic when discussing the international game. Coach Bourgeois remembers well Episcopal legend Jimmy Williams ’97 sharing stories of his own international football experience. Williams, who studied Japanese as a student, traveled with the San Francisco 49ers to play in Japan for one of the NFL’s global contests. Thanks to his Japanese language skills, Williams became the NFL spokesperson for the game and was treated like a celebrity. Coach Bourgeois is thrilled that his Episcopal players will have a similar experience and feels like Jimmy would be happy, too. 

A community effort for a cultural experience

Episcopal’s path to Ireland was paved by the diversity of the school community. Alumni parent Brian Rigby works with USA Football and initially proposed the idea. Coach Bourgeois polled student athletes, and there was strong interest in the opportunity. Denzil and Shirley Moraes, both originally from Ireland, are especially interested in the opportunity to bring their son Emmet and his teammates to their home country. It is also a tremendous benefit to have Coach Bradley involved in planning. These connections and the school’s focus on fostering a globally connected and inclusive community make the adventure an ideal fit.

The Episcopal global and domestic travel program prioritizes travel experiences as an extension of the classroom and an opportunity to encourage students to engage with the world, develop global leadership skills and deepen cultural understanding. The Irish football trip will be infused with cultural and learning experiences similar to other travel opportunities. For example, student athletes will learn to play Gaelic football, Ireland’s most popular sport. Coach Bradley, who previously played the sport, says it’s a combination of rugby and soccer. The team will also visit the Cliffs of Moher for a practice session in a setting unlike anything back home in Louisiana. In addition, they’ll tour the Belfast Titanic Museum and the city of Dublin, try local foods, and watch traditional Irish dancing. As the agenda develops, additional learning experiences are sure to be added. Broussard says if this international experience is successful, they hope to offer similar experiences for additional sports in the future.

As the 2026 season gets underway, the Knights will no doubt focus on the games immediately ahead; however, there is certainly excitement about the future of Episcopal athletics and the places sports can take students.

Don’t miss Episcopal’s first home game, which is also the 2026 Homecoming game!

Friday, September 18th
7 pm – Memorial Stadium
Episcopal takes on Catholic Point Coupee
In addition to the game, a Squires tailgate and alumni gathering is also planned. Look for more information on those events soon.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.