***UPDATE: Due to low team registrations, the tournament has been canceled for the time being. We hope to reschedule for later this year. If your team still has interest, please contact nbrooks@rugbyamericasnorth.com.***In conjunction with USA Rugby, DHL and the Florida Sports Foundation, RAN will be assisting with the delivery of an International Beach Rugby tournament on September 30th and October 1st. The RAN/DHL Inflatable Beach Pitch will be in use throughout the event.A wide variety of sports will be on display over the course of the weekend at the Sheraton San Key resort in Clearwater. Teams wishing to sign up for the beach rugby should do so via the official registration portal. The Sheraton Hotel itself is offering great rates and will fill up very quickly, so teams will need to book early.This event is the launch of RANs beach rugby initiative, which in 2018 will be expanded to include more events throughout North America. RAN have already been contacted by a number of Sports Commissions in Florida, all wishing to host similar events similar to the one in Clearwater.RAN encourages as many Unions and Clubs to register for the event in Clearwater. Registration fee is $250 per team with a maximum of 10 per squad.
Further Details:SSG International Beach Games brings Amateur Sports to Clearwater BeachTALLAHASSEE - Now in its 38th year, the Sunshine State Games (SSG) continues to offer Florida’s amateur athletes the latest innovations and trends in the national and international sports arena. Adding to the Games tradition that spans four decades, Florida’s Olympic-style sports festival takes the Games to Clearwater Beach, beginning Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 1.The SSG International Beach Games features competition in Beach Rugby, Beach Tennis, Beach Soccer, Beach Ultimate, Beach Powerlifting, Scottish Heavy Athletics, Ultra Weight Pentathlon and Under 19 Super Weight Throw. The Games are open to athletes throughout the world and presented by St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports & Events, Sheraton Sand Key Resort and the Florida Sports Foundation.Online registration and competition information is currently available at www.ssgbeachgames.com. Entry fees for each sport and registration deadlines vary by sport. Inquiries can also be made by calling toll free 1-866-FLGAMES (354-2637) or by email to games@flasports.com.This is the third year, the FSF has partnered with St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports & Events and the Sheraton Sand Key Resort for the International Beach Games. However, the 2017 Games are presenting the most sports to date with eight.Making their debut in the 2017 Games are Beach Rugby, Beach Soccer, Powerlifting and the Scottish Heavy Athletics. Beach Ultimate and Beach Tennis have been contested in each of the previous two years and Weight Throw events began last year.Four of the sports will follow the rules of its National Governing Bodies with the weight throw events being held under the auspices of USA Track and Field, Beach Ultimate (USA Ultimate), Powerlifting (US Powerlifting Association), Beach Rugby (USA Rugby and Rugby Americas North)The International Beach Games transforms the wide Clearwater Beach between the Sheraton Sand Key Resort and the Gulf of Mexico into an athletic playground. To accommodate the sports involved athletes and spectators will be treated to a variety of multi-purpose field to include four Ultimate fields, two Beach Rugby pitches and three Beach Soccer fields, eight Beach Tennis courts, a 75-yard throwing area for the Weight Throws and Scottish Heavy Athletics and a Powerlifting platform.“The International Beach Games concept is perfect for Clearwater Beach and area around the Sheraton Sand Key Resort,” said Florida Sports Foundation Sr. Vice President, Stephen Rodriguez. “Visitors to the area on perfect late-summer, early fall weekend strolling along the beach will be amazed at what they see. Between the quality of athletes competing on the beach and the setup of the competition areas, this will be quite a spectacle.”Schedule of Events – More info to be added as event approachesFriday, September 299:00 a.m. Beach TennisSaturday, September 309:00 a.m. Beach Tennis9:00 a.m. Beach Powerlifting10:00 a.m. Ultra Weight Pentathlon and Under 19 Super Weight ThrowTBA Beach RugbyTBA Beach UltimateTBA Beach SoccerSunday, October 19:00 a.m. Beach TennisTBA Beach RugbyTBA Beach SoccerTBA Beach UltimateTBA Scottish Heavy AthleticsThe Sunshine State Games are an annual program of the Florida Sports Foundation, the state’s lead sports promotion and development organization. The 2017 International Beach Games are being held in conjunction with St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports and Events and the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. For more information about the Games, the nation’s longest continuously-running State Games in the nation, visit www.sunshinestategames.com.
