‘TAG 3’ shouted the referee, the player holding the ball turned to their left and passed the ball to a team mate who ran towards the line scoring a try by placing the ball on the ground with both hands over the goal line. The referee blows his whistle and awards the try and 1 point is scored by Limassol Crusaders Mini rugby team. The players celebrate but quickly return to the centre of the pitch, ready for the re-start by the opposition.
Tag Rugby is an all-inclusive game, meaning that it is open to anyone who wants to play rugby regardless of gender or ability. It does not discriminate against age, size or experience and it means that girls and boys are able to play the sport together. Tag rugby is a non contact form of the game of rugby. It is fast moving, high scoring and engages players. This is particularly important for beginners as it encourages fun and a sense of achievement at all levels. Possession of the ball and scoring is much higher in Tag Rugby than contact rugby which means new players benefit from more possession, more passes and more scoring.
Limassol Crusaders RFC was formed 11 years ago by a group of like minded individuals who wanted to continue playing rugby as they had done in their home countries and thus the sport of Rugby Union was introduced in to the Cypriot culture. At Senior level the game continues to progress with a senior league being played across the island between October and May each year involving teams from Nicosia and Paphos as well as Limassol together with teams representing the British military.
Limassol Crusaders RFC is a family club from top to bottom and historically had a thriving Junior section which unfortunately dwindled a few years ago meaning that there was no pathway for youngsters to take up the game and progress through to the Senior team. In spring 2016 two of the coaches at Limassol, Rick Wadmore and Dave Lee took the decision, with the help and support of the club Committee, to re-establish the junior section of the club and give children between the ages of 5 and 13 an opportunity to come along on a Sunday morning to try Tag rugby. They were able to put on some sessions in Apr & May attracting around 10 children.
From this humble beginning the Tag rugby sessions at Limassol Crusaders were re-established again in September and by the time of the Christmas break there are 34 children aged between 5 and 13 registered as members of the Limassol Crusaders Mini rugby section.
Due to this popularity and growth, the Club has been able to attract a sponsor for the Mini rugby section who is now proud to be sponsored by The American Academy Private School, Limassol.
As part of a drive across the island to encourage children from a wide range of nationalities and cultures to take up the sport, the Development Officer from the Cyprus Rugby Federation has organised six TAG rugby tournaments to be played during the season. The first three have already taken place in October, November and December. These were a tremendous success which saw in the region of 180 children aged between 5 and 13 playing competitive games in the U7, U9, U11 and U13 age groups. There are three more tournaments scheduled in the New Year, February, March and the final tournament in April being played at Limassol Crusaders RFC home ground.
Tag Rugby is a fantastic way for kids to keep fit in a fun and energetic way. The level of activity in a game promotes bone and muscle strength as well as great body coordination, and it encourages children to be physically fit whilst enjoying themselves too.
Tag Rugby is a team game, players learn how to trust one another, rely on one another and pull together as a team – a trait that can be fostered and used in everyday life.
The game of Tag Rugby instills Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect into players. As with any other sport, there are rules to be followed and adhered to, in order to achieve a fair and positive outcome.
Limassol Crusaders Mini rugby section plays each Sunday morning between 10am and 11:45am at their home ground AEK Katholiki behind B Techniki School, Tagmatarchi Pouliou Str, Agios Antonios, Limassol.
For further information contact Dave Lee on 97773836 or email at [email protected]
Photographs © Stephen Nicolaou
