The Montgomery Yellowhammers Rugby Football Club (R.F.C.) was founded in 1984, comprised primarily of military personnel, but through the years it has become comprised mainly of civilians. Presently it appears to be comprised equally between civilians and military personnel.

The club was originally named the Montgomery R.F.C., but changed to the Capital City R.F.C. In the Spring of 1990, the named was changed to the Montgomery Yellowhammers R.F.C.

Our club decided to use a name which was indicative of where we were located in this country. During the Civil War, Alabama was known as the Yellowhammer State. The history of the name "Yellowhammers" started back in the civil war. The name was applied to Confederate soldiers from Alabama when a company of cavalry known as Kelly's Troops from Huntsville arrived at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, headquarters of general Nathan Bedford Forrest. The Madison county company wore new uniforms whereas the soldiers who had long been on the battlefield were dressed in faded, worn uniforms. The sleeves, collars and coattails of the new cavalry troops were trimmed with brilliant yellow cloth. As the company rode past Company A of Forrests's own regiment, a soldier named Will Arnett who was considered a great humorist, cried out, "Yallerhammer, Yallerhammer, flicker, flicker, flicker!" The colors of the uniform looked similar to that of a Yellowhammer bird. The Huntsville soldiers were spoken as the Yellowhammer Company. The term quickly spread through the Confederate Army and all Alabama troops then were referred to unofficially as the "Yellowhammers".

Confederate veterans in Alabama wore yellowhammer feathers in their caps or on lapels during their reunions, and were very pleased when a bill was introduced by Representative Thomas E. Martin of Montgomery County and was passed by the Legislature, September 6, 1927.

The Montgomery Yellowhammers R.F.C. has always believed in helping the local community and the country as well. The club has donated money, clothes, food, time, and effort to local and national agencies and charitable organizations. Some of the groups we have assisted are the Public Television Pledge events, the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, and the American Red Cross.

The information on this page was compiled and edited by Elliot Cohen.