Worcester Warriors travelled across the Irish Sea to help run the latest ‘International Tag Inclusive Festival’ with this year’s successful event staged in Belfast.
Warriors and the ‘Shropshire Rugby Rebels’ organised the inaugural ‘International Tag Inclusive Festival’ in 2007 to complement the work that had been carried out with children in the schools.
The purpose of the programme was to give children who had previously not had the chance to play because of their ability an opportunity to take part in tag rugby.
The event was hugely enjoyable and proved successful to such an extent that it was decided to make it an annual event.
The ‘New Forge Taggers’ from Belfast offered to host the 2008 event and pulled out all the stops to make sure they delivered a festival to be really proud of.
Sixteen teams from four different countries made the trip to the picturesque grounds at New Forge. The English also travelled across with local side Vale of Evesham representing Warriors.
The international festival was split into two age groups with 15-years-old being the dividing line.
White Spires from Milton Keynes won the junior age group, playing a flowing brand of rugby although they were made to battle hard by local Belfast outfit Killard House in the final. In the older age group Sandelford School from Coleraine took top honours.
After the presentation ceremony a disco was put on for all the children and proceedings finished up with a good old fashioned sing song in the best traditions of rugby comradeship.
The 2009 event will look to build on this latest successful event as Warriors have taken on the enormous responsibility of hosting the event.
For more information on the Tag Inclusive programme or if you have any ideas for the 2009 event email steve@wrfc.co.uk