About Savannah Shamrocks Rugby

We introduce ourselves as the Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club, formed in 1978 in Savannah by Tom Nelson and Carl Shoemaker, who were looking for something "Different," and now the team has up to 50 members, plays around the region, belongs to the Georgia Rugby Union, and host the popular annual St. Patrick's Day Tournament. Every year the tournament has over 75 teams from Michigan, Maryland, Florida, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Canada. 2007 will be the 29th year of the St. Patrick's Day Tournament which is held in Daffin Park. The team colors are Kelly green and gold. Our home field is Forsyth Park, Drayton and Park St.

While there are many variations of the sport, the game of Rugby is generally played as a combination of football and soccer, 15 players on opposing teams fight for the custody of an oval-shaped ball on a field and must attempt to score in the opposing team's end zone. The ball must be kicked, carried, or thrown between players (though it may not be passed forward) until the other team takes possession by force or by error.

Play is continuous, no blocking is allowed, additional points can be scored with a field goal. Any player can be expected to carry the ball and run with it. We have doctors, lawyers, teachers, business men, and Military personnel on the team. Big or small, they just have desire to play hard and have fun.

Rugby is named for the district and borough in the County of Warwickshire, England. It was created when, in a school for boys there in England, a football player named William Webb Ellis ran with the ball instead of kicking it in 1823. Throughout the United States, teams have been formed and remember it started with the English - it is still considered a "Gentlemen's Game."

The Savannah Shamrocks have given a portion of the proceeds from the annual event to local charities and individuals in the Savannah and Rugby communities for the past 15 years and will continue to do so. We also host our own float in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, The nations 2nd largest St Patrick Day celebration.

Grand Champions are : 1979-University of Georgia: 1980-Atlanta High Country; 1981-Jacksonville; 1982-Mystic River Club University of Maryland (college); 1983-Xavier Old Boys; 1984-Life College; 1985-Augusta; 1986-Cincinnati Marmots; 1987-Pelicans (St. Petersburg); 1988-Augusta; 1989-Old White (Atlanta); 1990-Life College; 1991-Bergan; 1992-3-Rock'n'Roll Rebels Ottawa, Canada; 1994-Maryland Exiles; 1995 New York City Rugby Club; 1996-BAT'S Boston Area Touring Side; 1997-1998-Northern Virginia; 1999-2000-New York Athletic Club; 2001-White Plains New York; 2002-Unpossiable XV; 2003-Atlanta Renegades; 2004-Cincinnati Wolfhounds, 2005-Worchester RFC, 2006-Air Force, 2007-The Willing