Wiregrass Rugby to Play Season Opener Saturday, Sept. 13
By: Jeff Devine
If you like rugby or just want to learn more about the sport, Fort Rucker will be the place to be this Saturday as the Wiregrass Flyers will take on several teams at Wiregrass Rugby Flyers Rugby Field.
The action starts as Wiregrass Flyers take on the Yellowhammers at 10:00 a.m. Panama City Beach will then match off against Battleship at 11:00 p.m.; Wiregrass will take the field once again at 12:30 p.m. as they take on Panama City Beach.
The Yellowhammers will then face off against Battleship at 1:30 p.m. before taking on the Wiregrass Flyers at 3:00 p.m. The event will conclude with a match between the Yellowhammers and Panama City Beach at 4:00 p.m.
After the matches, there will be a social held at Folklore Brewing in Enterprise at 6:00 p.m.
Wiregrass Rugby Football Club was founded in July of 2024 by SFC Alexis Lewis, who currently serves as the club’s president. Other club leaders include SSG Theodore Wright, Vice President, and Col. Keith Benoit, Former Head Coach.
“The original reason for starting the club was to fulfill the founders’ needs of wanting to play the game in an area where there was no team,” Club President Alexis Lewis said.
“Before long, many people, both civilian and military alike, had taken an interest in the club, whether as players or as volunteers. With there now being more interest than anticipated, the admin had to get to work on getting everything in order for the players to actually experience the game outside of practice. This included sourcing homemade jerseys (kits), finding equipment to aid with practice, and finding a league to join,” she added.
By November 2, the club had officially joined the True South Rugby Union and participated in its first event, the Battleship Rugby Invitational Tournament. Although many players were still beginners, the men’s team (the Flyers) managed to win their first two matches and ultimately secured 3rd place overall.
Since then, the club has competed in two additional tournaments—one in Nashville, TN, and another in Columbus, GA. Meanwhile, individual players have taken part in several other tournaments on their own, both to sharpen their skills and to enjoy the game.
While the men’s squad has shown strong progress, the women’s side is still working to gain momentum. The Lady Flyers have been joining with other nearby sister clubs to get playing time, with the aim of building enough numbers to form their own full team in the coming year.
Now outfitted with professional-grade uniforms, upgraded practice gear, and home match essentials—thanks to sponsorship from the Fort Rucker Thrift Shop—the men’s team is prepared for its first competitive season. On Saturday, September 13, the club will host its first exhibition matches to kick off the season. Three visiting teams will be attending: one from Panama City Beach, FL, and two others from Montgomery and Mobile.
The current goal of the club is to spread the sport of rugby throughout the Wiregrass region, with the hopes of giving people both an outlet of another sport to play, as well another event in the area for spectators. Eventually we would like to have a youth team as well to help provide another sport for students to pursue for college and professionally.
“Soon the club will begin to host more community outreach programs in addition to the routine events hosted by Fort Rucker,” Lewis said.
If you are curious to learn more about rugby, be sure to attend Saturday’s opener. There will be seating, but guests are also encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. MWR food trucks will also be on-site to sell food and refreshments. Below is a little information about the sport:
Rugby, also referred to as rugby union, is a contact team sport originating in England in the early 19th century. The game is played between two teams of 15 players with an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field. Each side of the field also has an H-shaped goalpost. The objective of rugby is to score more points than the other team. Players in rugby are allowed to run with the ball, kick the ball, and pass the ball (only backwards). Players with possession of the ball can be tackled by players on the opposing team to try to gain possession of the ball. Rugby is one of the most popular sports in the world, with over 18 million registered players. The governing body of rugby union, World Rugby, was established in 1886 and organizes the Rugby World Cup every four years. World Rugby comprises over 120 national unions, and the span of the organization is divided into six regions: Africa, Americas North, Asia, Europe, South America, and Oceana.
Rugby has become popular in the United States with Major League Rugby starting its first season in the spring of 2018. Now 12 teams from across the country compete in the league. Rugby sevens has also been introduced as an alternative to the traditional 15-person style. Over 900 colleges now compete in rugby.
According to information obtained by the club, “Wiregrass Rugby Club is a non-profit sports club dedicated to building community, unity, and individual development through the sport of rugby. The club encourages individuals to reach their utmost potential both on and off the field, while emphasizing inclusivity, teamwork, and respect. Donations support uniform expenses, transportation to games, tournament entry fees, field maintenance, referee fees, and administrative costs. Furthermore, contributions assist with fundraising events for Wiregrass Community charities. The club, situated in Novosel [now renamed Ft. Rucker], aims to maintain a strong relationship between the wiregrass community and [Fort Rucker], enhancing morale and camaraderie for soldiers and civilians. Additionally, the club strives to raise awareness of rugby in the United States, offering another athletic opportunity for young adults. As a traveling D3 competitive club, Wiregrass Rugby Club covers the southeastern region of the United States
