Holiday Rugby Festival
December 10, 2011
Tennessee Rugby Park
A rugby festival was held at the Tennessee Rugby Park on December 10 with area high school rugby teams playing exhibition matches in preparation for the 2012 conference season and over $470 was raised for a very worthy cause.The event was sponsored and hosted by the Knoxville Rugby Club with help from the entire rugby community. The $1 voluntary admission charge was dedicated to Project 20/20 and the American Parkinson Disease Association National Young Onset Center. Project 20/20 was founded by former Knoxville Rugby Club player Pat Dorwin. Pat is also a founding member of SMAC having coached the Sevier County High School Rugby Team and Carter High School Rugby Team for several years. Pat was diagnosed with Early-onset Parkinson's Disease in 2003 at the age of 38. Today Pat runs Project 20/20, is an assistant coach of the Knoxville Women's Rugby Club and a very proud stay at home dad.
Games were played as full scrimmages with no scoreboard and unlimited substitutions. The day kicked off with a spirited rematch of the 2011 conference finals - Farragut boys v South Doyle boys. Both South Doyle and Farragut again appear to be the teams to beat in 2012. Next up was a series of games between Maryville, McMinn County and Bearden. Maryville boys and girls again look mature and well organized and will again contend for the top of the conference standings. McMinn County continues their impressive rise with over 100 kids now playing rugby in McMinn County even after the announced forming of a team at neighboring Polk County High School. Bearden's resurgence seems to be continuing with improved performances by both the girls and boys teams. In addition to a full slate of high school scrimmage games, there was an Olympic Sevens scrimmage between UT and Knoxville in an effort to further prepare UT for the upcoming national tournament.
Special Thanks to:
Knoxville Rugby Club
Knoxvlle Minx Rugby Club
MidSouth Referee Society
Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics
Smoky Mountain Athletic Club
University of Tennessee Men's Rugby
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