The Carolina Ruggerfest kicks off for its 13th incarnation this weekend, with almost 70 teams entered.

In past years, a 40-team tournament would have been considered a success, but this year brackets from Elementary School up to High School have seen an explosion of participants.

In the middle and elementary school brackets alone, there are 21 teams coming to play.  But the star attraction of this tournament really has to be the elite high school varsity boys division.  It is packed with 12 top-tier club and school teams, including several ranked teams and the rest right on the cusp and hoping to move up. It is likely that several undefeated teams will square off in each division of Carolina Ruggerfest – including in the elite division.

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Piedmont Division (Elite Varsity HS Boys)

Alpharetta Phoenix(GA)

Union County Lions (NC)

Unionville (PA)

Charlotte Catholic (NC)

Moon Area (PA)

Wando (SC)

Hudson (OH)

St. John’s College HS (MD)

Charlotte Tigers (NC)

Myers Park HS (NC)

Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC)

South Doyle (TN)

The tournament has another 16 varsity HS boys sides playing in advanced and competitive divisions – teams pick their level of play when they register for this tourney to keep each division very competitive.

HS girls and JV boys are also well represented at Carolina Ruggerfest.  Two girls teams from PA are making the trip (Moon Area & Unionville), along with Lexington (SC), Sebastian River (FL), Warsaw (IN), and the Drop Kick Divas (NC).  JV Boys are even more flush in their division.  In all 10 pure JV boys sides will be playing at Carolina Ruggerfest.

The 21 under HS sides mentioned earlier is a component of the Carolina tournament that really sets this tourney apart.  Many of the HS sides choseRuggerfest over other tournaments as it offers competition at the highest level for their feeder programs.  Three grade/ age brackets are offered – making room for 7th/8th grade teams – 5th 6th grade teams and even a 3rd/ 4th grade division for the youngest tackle rugby players.  Each of these brackets is filled with 6-8 teams.

Carolina Ruggerfest will be played on five premium field turf fields at the Mecklenburg County SportsPlex, located just outside of Charlotte, NC (Matthews).  Scheduling three matches a piece for this many sides over the course of a weekend was an unexpected and happy challenge for event organizers.  CarolinaRuggerfest is ready for even more growth though-next year the SportsPlex will open another 5 fields and ultimately will end up with 12 total fields including a stadium field for main events that will hold 3,000 fans. 

Also at the Ruggerfest will be a college showcase match, with UNC-Chapel Hill taking on the UNC-Charlotte 49ers. 

Carolina Ruggerfest 2016 will be played this coming weekend, March 5th & 6th.