The 12th March sees Bournemouth Rugby host the first day of annual Dorset Schools Tag Rugby Festival. Thursday see’s year 5 and 6 pupils from across Dorset competing at Chapel Gate, whilst on the 30th April year 3 and 4 take up the mantle

This is the third year the festival that has been run by Bournemouth Rugby and their Community Team in partnership with Rippa Rugby. The festival has gone from strength to strength with the first year only a handful of teams taking part with this year over 80 teams from schools across Dorset taking part over the two days.

With around 1,000 players taking part in the biggest school’s tag festival on the south coast. The festival will be held at Chapel Gate by Bournemouth Airport with action starting from 10am.

Tag rugby is a perfect introduction to Rugby, it’s is a non-contact team game in which each player wears a belt that has two Velcro tags attached to it. Attacking players attempt to dodge, evade and pass a rugby ball while defenders attempt to prevent them scoring by "tagging" – pulling a Velcro attached tag from the ball carrier, rather than a full contact tackle.

Bournemouth Rugby community apprentice Rosie Burrell said “This is a fantastic opportunity for the children from across Dorset to get an introduction to rugby in a competitive but fun environment. I’ve been a rugby apprentice working at Bournemouth Rugby for two years, we go into schools daily delivering coaching sessions as part of the community team. This festival is perfect for the children to put the skills that we have taught them into practice.”

Bournemouth Rugby community team continue to grow and develop, we are delighted that we now working in a number of schools and nursery’s across Dorset. Stuart Gallacher Community Coach & Rippa Rugby said “It is interesting observing the skill of catching within the schools that we coach in, we observe many children who struggle to catch whatever the size and shape of ball. Rest assured, in the schools we are coaching in, children leave with the ability to pass and catch! It will be a busy week leading into 12.3.2020 and our Pan Dorset Year 5/6 Tag rugby Festival. Teams travelling from Wiltshire, Hampshire, West, East, North Dorset, Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. This is one of the biggest schools’ festivals in the South of England, this is our community and grass roots rugby is safe within Dorset!”

We look forward to welcoming 80 teams to Bournemouth Rugby Schools Festival which is this year been supported by Matthew & Matthew solicitors.