Tennessee found another way to put Alabama through a rough weekend in Knoxville.
A day after the Volunteers knocked off the Crimson Tide on the football field, Tennessee Rugby delivered an even more lopsided result. On Friday, Oct. 16, at Sutherland RecSports, the Vols crushed Alabama 110-0.
That score is exactly what it looks like: Tennessee ran away with the match and never let up. Vol Rugby shared highlights from the game on Instagram after the win.
The rugby result came on the heels of Tennessee’s football victory in Neyland Stadium, where the Vols won by leaning on physical play at the line of scrimmage. Tennessee’s defensive front controlled the game against Alabama’s offense, and running back DeSean Bishop carried the load for the Volunteers with 159 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries.
The rugby program’s win was backed by a resume that already includes several deep postseason runs. According to Tennessee Rugby’s website, the program has made National Tournament appearances in 2025, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2013, 2012, and 2010.
The Vols won the National Collegiate Rugby D1AA Championship in 2025 and the USA Rugby D1AA Championship in 2021.
Tennessee’s 2025 run included a 21-15 win over Bowling Green in the NCR Championship, a 35-10 semifinal victory over Texas A&M, and a 20-0 quarterfinal win over Sam Houston State. In SCRC play, Tennessee beat Kentucky 39-22 in the championship and LSU 48-38 in the semifinal.
Tennessee Rugby’s next two dates are a road trip to LSU in Baton Rouge on Oct. 24, followed by a home matchup with Kentucky on Nov. 6.
The NCR Tournament is set to begin on Nov. 14.
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