Volkswagen Tag Host Clubs for 2016 Announced

In its tenth year, Volkswagen Tag sees its leagues expand again around Ireland with new host clubs, nights and grades all available for players of all ability and even more locations

New Spring, Summer, and Autumn leagues are on offer to Volkswagen Tag teams around Ireland this year with registrations opening online (on www.irfutag.ie) on Wednesday morning at 11am.

The new additions include Spring Leagues at the ALSAA grounds with Swords RFC and two Summer leagues with Railway Union RFC. Following this will be some very exciting news indeed on Volkswagen Tag in Munster region. Watch this space or follow the Facebook page to be in the know once news is released!

Volkswagen Tag is a form of social, NON-contact rugby, played by mixed teams, men’s teams or women’s teams. It is Ireland’s only IRFU-run tag rugby programme and is hosted solely at rugby clubs. The season takes place during a time when the regular rugby season quietens down and a busy clubhouse is still desired.

In Connacht, Spring gets going at the fantastic setting of NUI Galway with 24 teams blowing the dust and cobwebs away and hitting the tag field. Sligo and Galway Corinthians then lead the way into Summer. Sligo is a vibrant club with the emphasis on the fun side of the game and is growing still, while Galway Corinthians is the largest tag venue ANYWHERE, seeing over 1,100 players each Thursday turn up to play and then enjoy the busy social calendar the club puts on for them.

In Leinster, the Northside of Dublin has grown exponentially with Suttonians RFC, Clontarf FC, Malahide RFC and Swords RFC all hosting leagues this year. Never before has tag been this big on this side of the city. Meanwhile, on the South Side, accommodating the growth in number of teams, we welcome Railway Union RFC to the Volkswagen Tag family. The club are ready to get this Summer going already and will complement very well the already well-established, quality host clubs Old Belvedere RFC and Lansdowne FC, as will Donnybrook Stadium, where hosts Old Wesley RFC are set to build even bigger on their first season in 2015.
Tallaght RFC have moved grounds to Firhouse Community School and promise an enjoyable 10 weeks with them. Tullamore RFC, the home of Midnight Sevens, look set to grow again in tag numbers, with Martin & Co lighting up midlands tag showing how it should be done.

In Munster, players in Cork will see Tuesdays and Thursdays hopping weekly with host Venue Managers, Joerg and Fiona looking to continue the success of the previous seasons. Spring Leagues will fill up before you know it too. Watch out for more Munster news very shortly.

Last but most certainly NOT least, in Ulster, Queen’s University Belfast has had to expand in order to cater for the teams who did not make it on time last year. Gets better and better at this venue.
Belfast Harlequins RFC will build even more on the two nights per week and we will most likely see even more than last year’s record number of 72 teams signing up to play this Summer.

After ten years of Volkswagen Tag, we see an impressive list of host clubs open to registrations, as you will no doubt agree, and all for a registration fee that will not be beaten anywhere else. Teams signing up automatically enter draws for exclusive competitions which include tickets to see Ireland play at the Aviva Stadium and Ireland shirts signed by the squad.

Beach Tag dates will be announced in due course as will details of this year’s All-Ireland Championships.

To sign up to play Volkswagen Tag, just go to www.irfutag.ie anytime after Wednesday morning at 11am. Be warned however, leagues DO fill up by the middle of February at various host clubs. Don’t waste any time in getting organised. Ensure a happy team by signing up promptly. This is not ‘sales talk’ either.

For queries, please email tag@irfu.ie.