In preparation for the Volvo Ocean Race Stopover in early May, Fort Adams Trust announced in a press release today that local Newport, RI entities are launching a series of events starting on April 8th with Countdown to Volvo Pep Rally which includes the Rhode Island Cup rugby match at 2 o’clock at Fort Adams State Park in Newport.
For over 25 years, in-state rivals Newport Rugby Football Club and Providence Rugby Football Club have squared off on the rugby pitch, with the winner claiming rights to the Rhode Island Cup. This annual rugby match is always a fierce contest between Rhode Island’s two top-level men’s rugby programs for bragging rights of the best rugby team in Rhode Island. Newport RFC has claimed the RI Cup for the last five contests and on April 8th they will not only be looking to “Defend the Fort”, but to also “Defend the Cup”. A resurging Providence RFC team, undefeated in this year’s league play, will surely be looking to upset the home team and take the Cup with them back to Providence.
Also as part of the weekend’s festivities, Clean Ocean Access will be hosting a grounds clearing and overall clean-up of the park’s landscape to ensure the most presentable stopover for the Volvo sailors and the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover Race Village opening on May 8th. The shore clean-up will start at 12 noon on April 8th and will be followed by kid’s activities, a parade of Volvo Team flags and RI Cup Rugby. Food and drink will be available through Fork in the Road Food Truck, McGrath’s Clambakes and Heineken.
“This is all part of a spring celebration for Fort Adams and the community at large,” cited Joe Dias, Executive Director for the Fort Adams Trust in a prepared statement. “It is a great way to launch the beginning of our busy season and will help put Newport on the map as a point of destination for many,” Dias added.
“The fact that Newport is the only North American stopover for this year’s Volvo Ocean Race emphasizes the importance that Newport has in the worldwide sailing community,” stated Brad Read, Executive Director, Sail Newport, host of the Volvo Ocean Race Stopover in the prepared statement. “Newport’s significance to the international sailing community goes way back to the original America’s Cup Regattas and has continued through a variety of competitive events including this year’s Stopover that has made the town the Sailing Capital of the World,” Read further stated.
The Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover will be open from May 8th – 20th at Fort Adams State Park.