Ulster Stars Launch 2015 Wooden Spoon Tag Festival

Representatives from Wooden Spoon, Newforge Taggers, Harberton Special School and Glenveagh Special School teamed up with Ulster players Iain Henderson and Robbie Diack and mascot Sparky to launch this year’s Wooden Spoon Tag Rugby Festival for people with learning disabilities.

The Wooden Spoon Tag Festival will take place on Saturday, May 23 at Belfast Harlequins RFC and is expected to attract teams from schools and clubs across Ulster, building on the success of last season’s Wooden Spoon International Tag Festival which was hosted at Kingspan Stadium.

While not as high profile as last year’s festival, the event will provide the perfect platform for players to show off their skills and make new and renew old friendships, whilst raising the awareness of tag rugby for people with learning disabilities.

Ahead of the event, Ulster Rugby’s Disability & Inclusion Officer Tim Craig said: “Special Needs Tag rugby continues to grow in Ulster. Ulster Rugby has delivered coaching sessions to a number of special educational needs schools and this has played a vital part in the growth of the sport as we can link schools with clubs.

“There are now nine rugby clubs in Ulster with special needs sections and there is potential that more clubs will get involved. The festival promises to be a great event and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Wooden Spoon for their continued support.”

Tom Lyttle OBE, Treasurer of Wooden Spoon’s Ulster Committee, added: “Wooden Spoon’s Ulster Committee are delighted to be able to continue our support for this worthy cause. It fits perfectly with our core aim of supporting disadvantaged children and young people in Northern Ireland.”

The Wooden Spoon Festival at Belfast Harlequins RFC will start at 10am and will finish around 2pm. Why not go along to enjoy the day and support the players.

Tag rugby is a non-contact sport that is an enjoyable, fun and active way, to keep healthy and fit. It can be played by men, women and children of all ages and abilities.

For further information please contact Ulster Rugby’s Tim Craig on 07442490460 or via tim.craig@ulsterrugby.com.