Historic Rugby reopens for 2024 with a special day of activities including a Road Bowling Tournament (sign-in Noon-12:30 Eastern at the Visitor Centre and event starting 1 p.m. Eastern: Register HERE) and guided hike starting 10 a.m. Eastern at the Visitor Centre (no registration required), led by Holly Taylor, assistant state naturalist for TDEC, with early spring wildflowers in evidence. Tours of the historic buildings will be offered. Join in the fun and bring the family!
Gather your team of 2, 3, or 4 and show your stuff. Sign in at the Visitor Centre noon-12:30 Eastern then the tournament starts at 1 pm Eastern at the Clear Fork Area Volunteer Fire Department on the west end of Rugby near RM Brooks Store. Wind your way along Rugby Parkway to the finish line at the sign in front of the Harrow Road Canteen. Winners are determined by the fewest number of throws to complete the course. Participants get a 2024 tournament wrist band at check-in as well as a cannon ball to roll and a score card. Rugby Irish Road Bowling t-shirts are available to purchase in advance and at registration.
Learn more and register for the Third Annual Rugby Irish Road Bowling Tournament.
End the day (or start it onsite) by staying in Historic Rugby’s unique lodgings. Check availability HERE.
Come for the day or stay for the weekend in one of our cozy historic lodging options.
All proceeds help support the year-round preservation and educational efforts of Historic Rugby.
Special thanks to our tournament sponsor, the Morgan County Tourism Alliance (MCTA).
Irish Road Bowling is simple: Teams compete to throw a small cannonball along a predetermined course in the fewest number of throws. The game is always full of surprises (and searches for lost balls in the brambles!) and is a great way to make new friends.
Here’s a rundown of tournament events for Saturday, March 16th. Do note all events are on Eastern time.
-11:00 AM – Noon: Meet in front of the Harrow Road Cafe for a demonstration and practice for those new to Irish Road Bowling or looking for a refresher.
-Noon – 12:30 PM: Head over to the Visitor Centre to register if you haven’t already and pick up your t-shirt (available for purchase online or when you arrive), score card and cannon ball.
-1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: The tournament begins at the Clear Fork Area Volunteer Fire Department (near RM Brooks Store) and winds its way back to the Harrow Road Canteen.
-3:30 PM (approx.): Award winners announced. The winning team is determined by the fewest number of throws to complete the course. The divisions are as follows (one winner per division):
Men, Women, Co-ed, Youth – all members ages 13-17, Family – at least 1 player must be 12 or under, 70-plus (all team members are ages 70-plus), also a couple of fun surprise divisions
St. Patrick’s Day attire is invited and encouraged for the tournament. You can register your team and order your Rugby Irish Road Bowling T-shirt at the link above.
Adding to the festivities, The Canteen and MoCo Brewing Project will be serving fish and chips and beer, the fire department will be cooking up burgers & hotdogs, and Lucas McCoy & Gerald Hanwright of Rugby will be performing live music. Lucas is a member of Southern Sunrise, a southern rock band based out of Cookeville. Some of his favorite songs are from artists like Steely Dan, Pink Floyd and John Prine.
Holly Taylor
