Maggotfest sure to promise a party

Rugby clubs from near and far away lands will descend on Missoula this weekend to bang heads on the pitch, all the while continuing a 30-year old party.

The Missoula Maggots rugby club will host the 32nd annual Maggotfest this weekend at the Missoula Fairgrounds, and, in doing so, will fashion in yet another year of one of Missoula’s renown social events, a festivity that cannot be described in words according to Maggots captain Pat Ryerson.

“You can’t really describe it with words,” says a chuckling Ryerson, who has been a part of the festive weekend every year since 2000. “It’s a good time, and it’s a positive atmosphere. Everyone is happy-go-lucky, enjoying themselves, just living in the moment. It’s an experience all in it’s own.”

Defined as a social tournament, Maggotfest carries traditional rituals dating back to 1977. With the tournament always being held in the last week of April, the field accumulates a diverse pool of teams, ranging from London to Calgary to Seattle. And while the matches become virtual scraps, there is no bracket to decide a champion; all teams are guaranteed three games against clubs they wouldn’t usually face in the regular season. A key element of the tournament puts emphasis on the scene off the field, including a traditional costume party on Saturday night at the Fairgrounds, which is regarded as one of Missoula’s main attractions during the calendar year. The festivities make the tournament one of the most unique in the country.

“The social tournament is a dying breed,” Ryerson said. “The Maggots are going on 32 years holding a tournament that’s been very successful, and it’s a wonderful time.”

The tournament will feature 36 teams this year, including 28 men’s and eight women’s teams filling out the field. The Maggots will kick off the weekend tonight with a traditional Thursday night friendly against the Outback Barbarians, a club who hails from Queensland, Australia and is the tournament’s foreign gem.

Aussie all stars from five different provinces in the Land Down Under comprise the club, and are making Missoula one of four stops in their US tournament tour, aimed at raising money and awareness for prostate and breast cancer. Also appearing in the tournament will be teams from Pennsylvania and Arizona, as well as the Highwaymen, a contingent of 25 players who live along the I-5 conglomerate, from Eugene to Santa Barbara. The coveted treasures of the weekend include the Best Play on the Pitch Trophy, which honors the team that exudes the best performance and skills over the three games, and more notably, The Most Honored Side Trophy, which celebrates the team with the best rugby persona on and off the field.

Alongside the national and international intrigue, UM clubs will also have their usual stake in the festivities this weekend. The Jesters and Betterside are both looking forward to their most important weekend of the season.

“It’s a whole new experience every year,“ said Jesters’ team president Trent Drinkwalter. “The social aspect is the best part of this tournament.  Everyone is there for the same reason - to play rugby and have a good time.”

Drinkwalter also noted that while the tournament offers a unique atmosphere, the three games allows the club to make necessary adjustments heading into next weekend’s Montana Rugby Union Cup in Bozeman. 

“Maggotfest is a great social event, but it’s also a chance to see who is playing well at each position, so you can prepare for state. Hopefully we can make a run at the tournament this year,“ Drinkwalter said.

Betterside is coming off a convincing shutout win over Gonzaga at Dornblaser Field last weekend, and already boasts a win over Washington State earlier this season. But for Betterside captain Susie Polasky, Maggotfest is a season all in its own.

“I’m so excited,” said Polasky, who will make her third appearance in the tournament this weekend. While Polasky acknowledged the significance in being honored for the “Best Play on the Pitch” trophy, which the team won in 2005, she believes that at Maggotfest, nothing would top The Most Honored Side Trophy, an honor the club hasn’t captured since 1997. 

“I think the trophy really shows your support for rugby and the team spirit you have. It means people see you, recognize you,” Polasky said, than added with a laugh, “We’re going to try our best to win them both.”

And in the mean time, while bleeding and clawing for those awards, she and hundreds of players alike hope to have the times of their lives.

“You’re not going to go to another tournament and have the time of your life. Rugby players in general come to this because there is no other tournament like it,” said Ryerson. “This is their social event that they can look forward to year in and year out.”