The 14th annual War at the Shore rugby tournament will take place Saturday, July 30 at Dealy Field in Sea Isle.

Rugby teams from around the country will compete in the 14th annual War at the Shore rugby tournament Saturday in Sea Isle City, an event sponsored by the American National Rugby League.

The tournament will begin 9 a.m. at Dealy Field, 59th Street and Central Avenue.

“Our goal has been to present an event that is fun and entertaining for the whole family,” said David Niu, president of the American National Rugby League.

Rugby is a full-contact variation on football that is typically played by teams of 13 for about 80 minutes. At the tournament, teams of seven will play 15-minute mini-games so that more games can be played.

As in football, the primary goal in rugby is to carry or kick the ball to the opponent’s goal line and score a try, which is like a touchdown. To prevent this, the defending team tackles opposing players.

However, in rugby, unlike football, little padding is worn.

At War at the Shore, about 250 players will compete for the AMNRL Challenge Cup, an annual competition involving the league’s clubs and any team interested in competing in the tournament.

In addition to the Challenge Cup, women, boys and girls in teams of 10 can compete in Eagletag, which is the rugby version of flag football.

Makeup games between Atlantic Conference league teams, the Connecticut Wildcats and the Ashton, Pa., Bulls, as well as the New York Knights and the Delaware Vipers, will be held during War at the Shore.

While the games are being played, the annual family friendly Party in the Park will feature music, food and giveaways all day. Both the games and the party are free to spectators.

Niu said that War at the Shore was started in 1998 to introduce rugby to vacationers at the shore, which is why Sea Isle was chosen as the location.

“We have a great working relationship with the city, the local families and community,” said Niu, who was a rugby player before he helped form the AMNRL. “It has grown into an annual event that is well-supported by big crowds who pass throughout the day.”

He estimated that about a thousand spectators would come out to see the games.

For information see www.amnrl.com.

Rugby teams will compete for the Challenge Cup and play Eagletag, the American National Rugby League version of flag football, at the 14th annual War at the Shore.