March 28 sees a 7s tournament and a 15s exhibition at Bolden Stadium in Columbia, SC to celebrate a former USC Gamecock rugby player.
Erik "Big E" Elken was a beloved teammate and an intense competitor for University of South Carolina. Last year he was dealing with a hip injury and eventually got an MRI to look at the cause.
What was expected to be a fairly run-of-the-mill injury turned out to be a rare and aggressive cancer of the femur. The cancer had already spread to his lymph nodes,
Erik remained positive, upbeat, and dedicated to his faith. He was an inspiration to his friends, family, and his teammates even as the cancer spread.
Sadly, Erik passed away on November 18, 2025.
He remains an inspiration to his teammates, and his memory will be celebrated March 28 at the Big E Memorial Invitational.
