Tag Rugby Kicking Off at Tallaght RFC

Last years winning tag team at Tallaght RFC ‘Tag R Ducks’. Left to Right: Gerard Kelly, Stephen Heaney, Rory Comerford, Emily Fagan, Kate Langan, Ciara Fogarty, Lianne Comerford, Deirdre Comerford, Lisa Haskins, Luke Coyne Curry, Paul Heaney, Karl Segrave and Raymo Farrell. Center: Gavin Finn

By Lisa Haskins – 04/28/2014

(Please see the Women’s Sports Journal for the original piece: www.womenssportsjournal.com)

Tag season is here again as men and women prepare for another exciting year of Tag Rugby at Tallaght Rugby Football Club (Tallaght RFC). In association with Volkswagen, registrations for Ireland’s only official IRFU Tag Rugby are well and truly underway with many leagues already full.

IRFU Volkswagen Tag is an emerging non-contact form of rugby aimed at players both male and female aged 18 years and above. Its non-contact factor makes it unique and an equal way for men and women to play side by side as a sports team.

IRFU Tag Rugby in association with Volkswagen

IRFU Tag is played at Tallaght RFC on Thursdays when the season kicks off on May the 15th and runs for ten weeks until finals night on July 17th. To enter a team a registration fee of €400 is payable by giving an €80 deposit online at http://www.irishrugby.ie/tagrugby/register/index.php, the remaining balance can be paid to the Venue Manager when the season gets under way.

Newly appointed Tallaght RFC Venue Manager, Stephen Heaney (27) said:

“I’ve been playing tag at Tallaght RFC for the last four summers and enjoy it incredibly. I go back to Tallaght ever year because of the great experiences we have: I have competed at other venues in Dublin however Tallaght offers a better social and laid back atmosphere.”

“The people and the teams are great; Tag is a very social sport which for me is a nice break from the competitive rugby union season. My team, who won last year called ‘Tag r Ducks’ have loads of fun and of course enjoy a celebratory few beers along with all the other teams when the season is over. Tallaght is a very welcoming venue for players of all skill levels and a great way to escape from your usual routine, meet new people or have fun with your friends.”

Getting your company involved is also a tactic emerging by corporations as it is a fun way to advertise while enjoying your free time; it may also bring a working team closer but individuals can just get involved as all teams welcome new players.
Enjoying the excellent facilities that a rugby club provides before and after a weekly tag game, a player pays only what amounts to less than €4 per week for a memorable summer playing one of Ireland’s fastest growing sports.

Tag player Lianne Comerford (26) said:

“I’ve been playing Tag Rugby in Tallaght for two years and I look forward to it this season: getting to play alongside ‘The Boys’ is great for all women, the rules set out for tag mean that if a girl scores a try the team gets more points meaning that men and women work together to create a strategy that helps them win so nobody is left out. It’s a great feeling and I can’t wait to kick off May with everyone again this summer, a fantastic way to stay fit and close friendships have been formed all by just having a bit of fun.”

Registering a team also gives that player the chance to win VIP prizes to an Ireland home international at the Aviva Stadium, namely one of Ireland v South Africa, Georgia or Australia. These prizes are exclusive to IRFU Volkswagen Tag registered players only and will include match tickets and invites to the official post-match team reception in the stadium afterwards.

Olly Hodges, IRFU Leisure Rugby Manager said:

“The choice of host clubs welcoming the numbers through their gates grows as the player base expands further still.

“As each club generally completes their rugby season by April or May, programmes such as IRFU Volkswagen Tag are welcome vehicles for keeping the clubhouse and facilities open and active during this time.”

As summer leagues in the most popular venues tend to fill up by as early as the beginning of April each year, don’t leave registration too late.

All information on registration, competition draws, Volkswagen Tag venues and much more can be found by visiting the website at www.irfutag.ie or by emailing the IRFU at tag@irfu.ie

© Lisa Haskins