Today saw the newly-named Kingspan Stadium play host to Ireland’s biggest ever display of Tag rugby for people with learning disabilities as over 400 players attended the eighth annual Wooden Spoon International Tag Rugby Festival.
Despite the poor weather for most of the day, 26 schools and clubs from around the UK and Ireland played at the revamped stadium, including 13 teams from Ulster, and really enjoyed the occasion.
The local teams were: Ballymena Bears, Cedar Lodge (Belfast), Clare Hares (Ballyclare), Coleraine Chargers, Errigle Eagles (Letterkenny), Glenveagh School (Belfast), Harberton Seahorses (Belfast), Killard Cougars (Donaghadee), Newforge Taggers (Belfast), Now Project (Belfast), Portadown Panthers, Seaside Sharkies (Donaghadee) and Stevenson Sharks (Dungannon).
Spectators were entertained throughout the day with live music and dancing, face painters and circus acts.
The RBS 6 Nations trophy, won by Ireland in March, was at Kingspan Stadium all day, allowing fans to pose for photos with the historic piece of silverware.
The Wooden Spoon International Tag Rugby Festival represented another significant investment from children’s charity Wooden Spoon, which has contributed over £600,000 to projects that have benefited disadvantaged or disabled children in Ulster – Wooden Spoon Ambassador Willie John McBride is pictured below at today’s event.
Wooden Spoon is one of the largest funders of respite and medical treatment centres, sensory enhancement therapeutic facilities, specialist playgrounds, sports activity areas, and community-based programmes in the UK.
So far they have granted over £20 million to these fantastic projects. Inspired by their rugby heritage, their values of passion, integrity, teamwork, and fun have so far helped over 1 million young people and children in need.
The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), Belfast City Council and a number of local businesses also gave their backing to the event.
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