Scottsdale Stadium is home to the San Francisco Giants for spring training, but a different type of sporting event will be hosted at the venue April 18.
The 2nd annual Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale Beauty and the Beast Rugby Bowl offers spectators a chance to experience three rugby games in addition to a fashion show and arm wrestling championship.
Founder Jason Rose started the Rugby Bowl after he had much success with the Bentley Polo Championship.
“People encouraged us to do a second Polo event, but Rugby is actually a lot more popular,” Rose said.
The all-day event starts at 11 a.m. with the Arizona high school rugby championship game. After that, matchups between Grand Canyon and USC as well as Arizona State and Ohio State will fill the rest of the day.
For those who have never seen rugby, it’s a combination of hockey, soccer, and American football without the pads.
“Fans should expect an action packed game that doesn’t stop for eighty minutes with lots of hard hitting,” ASU Head Coach Gary Lane said.
The Grand Canyon and USC scrum will start at 1 p.m.
This season is GCU’s inaugural year for rugby.
“This is very exciting for the team,” GCU Head Coach Ryan Kelly said. “We’re getting there in terms of playing. We’re predominately freshmen. We only have two seniors out of 50 players.”
The last matchup of the day will feature ASU and Ohio State. ASU is nationally ranked team and one the premiere programs in the country while Ohio State is a former Big 10 champion.
“There’s a lot of lessons to be learned from playing in front of a crowd,” Lane said. “Last year we didn’t know what to expect, so we’re more prepared this year.”
Although this is a rugby game, the Arizona State and Ohio State game is essentially a repeat of the 1997 Rose Bowl where Ohio State football triumphed 20-17. The ASU rugby team is aiming to extract revenge from the loss 18 years ago.
In addition to the excitement of rugby, there will be events inside of the main event.
World Arm Wrestling champion Travis Bagent will be on hand to challenge opponents.
“I wouldn’t focus so much on winning if I was them,” Bagent said in regards to those looking to take him on.
Before the Arizona State, Ohio State matchup, the “Warning Track” Fashion Show will take place. Presented by Phoenix Fashion Week, the event brings with beauty to the beast aspect of the day.
The venue offers a unique experience for spectators. The Rugby Bowl will be the first rugby event played inside of Scottsdale Stadium. In addition, the location offers a number of bars and restaurants for guests to enjoy before or after the event.
The event will offer a variety of seating options for fans. From on field to grandstand seating, the venue will be utilized to maximum capacity to give fans the best views for the action.
Tickets for the event are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Fans can upgrade to Premium Grand Stand Seating and Field Passes for just a few bucks more. Current ASU, Ohio State, GCU, and USC students receive discounted tickets. VIP Tickets and experiences are available as well.
Ticket info is available at therugbybowl.com.
