Rochdale International Mixed Tag Rugby League Festival
On Saturday the 30th of May 2009 the Rochdale Swarm are hosting an International Mixed Tag Rugby League Festival.
Teams are coming over from Ireland along side a Fijian side drawn from the local Fijian Association, we have had a positive response from The Celtic Crusaders supporters Tag Rugby League side the Celtic Barbarians and we hope to get a side from the South Asia Bulls involved as well. From England as well as the Rochdale Swarm, Oldham and Coventry are already signed up to play, along side the Newmiln Community Group. This is as well as positive enquiries from Loughborough University, Bolton RUFC, The Rochdale Cobras, Wakefield City Webcats Tag Rugby League, York Crusaders Tag Rugby League, Huddersfield Touch Rugby, The RFL Development Staff and The Flying Horse Pub Rochdale all of which we are pretty sure will sign up.
The rules are 7-a-side of which at least 2 must be of the opposite sex i.e. 5 men 2 women or 3 men 4 women etc. Maximum squad size is 12. (but teams can enter more than one side). Players must be 16+ to participate There is no contact allowed, a tackle is made by removing a "Tag" from the waist of an attacker. Other than that the rules are very similar to normal rugby and the ball can be kicked but not above head height.
The event is very much a social affair with the emphasis very much on fun and participation. At the festival there will be entertainment all day and after the tournament and presentation itself there will be a band and a disco. To add to the festival feel teams will able to camp at the venue on both Friday night and Saturday night after the event, there will also be a welcome party for the teams arriving on the Friday (the Irish sides are down to arrive Friday night).
The standard is aimed very much at the social player and we aim to attract new people to the game or those who have stopped playing competitive sport, along side those who just want to try something different.
Cost is £60 per team or you can enter as individuals(£5) and be placed in a team. Price includes entry into the event, a camping pitch and post match refreshments.
