Pitch-A-Tent Rugby Tournament brings the battle to LaFayette

The 2016 Pitch-A-Tent Rugby Tournament was in full swing at Cherokee Farms in LaFayette on Saturday, July 30.

Teams from around the country were present as 32 men’s teams and 25 women’s teams, aged 18-62, faced off for the seventh annual event, Chattanooga Rugby player and event organizer Doug Casey said shortly before his team met the Memphis Squad in a scrum.

Teams came from all over, including Arizona, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Louisiana, Alabama, just to name a few.

The teams met up at the Ocoee River on Thursday, July 28, for some whitewater rafting, then kicked off the event with a large party at Cherokee Farms the night before the tournament and ended the all-day tournament with celebratory party Saturday evening, Casey said.

The first game kicked off on Saturday at 9 a.m. and went throughout the day playing on five separate fields.

Organizers included Casey — who has been involved in the local rugby scene since 1978 — Jack Head, and Casey’s wife, Angie, who handles concessions and referees.

Casey said the event first started off at East Ridge (Tenn.) High School and then onto Flintstone, Ga., until encouraged to move to Cherokee Farms after speaking with Walker County attorney Don Oliver, who also plays for Chattanooga Rugby. This marks the 12th year the event has been held at Smokey Caldwell’s Cherokee Farms.

The teams worked to advance towards the playoffs until an championship team was ultimately crowned victorious.

Chattanooga Rugby sponsored this year’s event.

Puckett EMS was on hand as well and staying rather busy as rugby players gave it their all on the field.

“They have been very good to us,” Casey said about Puckett EMS and Walker County Emergency Services. “We could not ask for any better. We keep them busy.”