Tag Rugby Club runs on Wednesdays from 3.30-4.45pm, for Years 3-4 and Years 5-6.

• What do you need? Lots of energy and enthusiasm... and a pair of rugby or football studs for the field!
• Why play Tag Rugby? Most importantly because… Tag Rugby is fun and exciting, and both boys and girls, of all abilities, can play ! (Oh, and also because we play with a funny, egg-shaped ball, which can be highly amusing, though sometimes frustrating!)

At Broadclyst, boys and girls in Tag Rugby Club practice the basic skills of teamwork, defending, handling and passing, to more specific drill training and games. We play lots of fun games and activities to put the skills necessary to Tag Rugby into practice, and in the wet winter months, children and teachers, both, have lots of outdoor fun getting muddy on the field!

Over the past few years the school has competed consistently in the annual Exeter Chiefs local schools Tag Rugby tournament at Sandy Park, which we aim to take part in again this year. With a keenly competitive spirit, the Tag Rugby teams at Broadclyst have always shown great sportsmanship and been equally popular with both boys and girls. Last year Year 4 pupils at Broadclyst also participated in the MBNA Tackling Numbers Tag Rugby Festival 2011 at Sandy Park. Further into the year, we hope to arrange some friendlies with other local schools too!

Check out these links:

• Tackling Numbers Tournament 2011
• Tag Rugby Rules
• Warm Up Videos

The History… Tag Rugby was pioneered by PE Teacher Nick Leonard in England in 1990 following an idea given to him by an ex service man called Barry Johns. He described to Nick how navy servicemen on board ship or whilst playing on hard grounds overseas used the removal by defenders of bits of cord tucked down players shorts to simulate a tackle in rugby. Nick Leonard then devised a set of rules suitable for children using belts and coloured ribbons attached by Velcro and organised the first ever schools Tag Rugby festival at UCP Marjons, Plymouth in 1991. This annual event celebrated its 20th festival in 2011.

Why not traditional ‘Touch Rugby’? Because Tag Rugby:

• shows clearly when a tackle is made and prevents arguments!
• takes the 'tackler' out of the game (momentarily) as would happen in full contact rugby, allowing more
• time and space for the attacking team.
• encourages the correct lines of running required for success in the full 15-a-side game.
• is non-contact.