The Battle Resumes at the 37th Annual Battleship Invitational Rugby Tournament

Nov 2nd, 2015

MOBILE, Ala. – The Mobile Sports Authority is proud to present the 37th annual Battleship Invitational Rugby Tournament which will be held this weekend, November 7th and 8th, at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. The premier two-day rugby tournament kicks off at 9 am on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Admission is free and open to the public. There will be a $2/day per vehicle parking charge.   

Set against a backdrop of the historic USS Alabama Battleship and serene Mobile Bay, each contest will take place on one of five regulation-sized “pitches” located adjacent to the historic USS Alabama. During the two-day tournament, matches will consist of two 20-minute halves with teams using a 15-a-side line-up. Each team is guaranteed three games during the weekend.  

With over 30 teams expected, the competitors have been divided into six brackets including the Senior Men and Senior Women, the Collegiate Men and Collegiate Women, and the Youth as well as the Old Boys Club. The weekend’s line-up boasts teams such as the Memphis Blues, the Atlanta Renegades, and the Baton Rouge Rugby Football Club. The tournament will host its first Flag Rugby bracket for co-ed teams, ages 7-12, on Saturday as well.  

“Teams come from across the U.S. to compete for the Trophy Bell, which is unique to the Battleship Tournament,” stated Taylor McElroy, Executive Director of the Battleship Rugby Club. “We anticipate previous winners like New Orleans, the Birmingham Vulcans, and Spring Hill College to be well represented and favored to win this year’s tournament.”  

McElroy added, “great competition, comradery, the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, and Mobile’s hotel and local establishments are what makes our tournament a big success each year and keeps the teams coming back.”  

For more information on the Battleship Rugby Invitational Tournament, visit www.battleshiprugby.com.