"Tag Rugby"

School Benefits from High School Sports College Status "Tag Rugby" will now be a feature of extra curricular activities

Cheslyn Hay Pupils and "link staff (Miss Ward and Mr Tibbetts) join Whitgreave Primary School Pupils at Whitgreave Primary School for a coaching session organised by Steve Knellor (High School Director of Sport) and watch a video about the rules of "Tag Rugby.

Mr Knellor, from the High School, front both the video and training for the staff and pupils of two schools.

There is to be a "Tag Rugby" competition between all the Primary Schools involved in the project, (St John's C.E Primary School, Essington; Glenthorne Primary School,; Cheslyn Hay Primary School; Whitgreave Primary School , Featherstone, and Havergal Primary School. later this month.

The finalists will play out the final in a national/ local rugby stadium.

The difference between "Tag Rugby" and "Rugby Union" is that "Tag Rugby" is a non contact sport. Most of the Union Rugby rules apply except that you can't kick the ball or tackle. There are no scrums or risk of injury to Tag Rugby players , unlike the Rugby Union equivalent.

Instead, all players wear a belt with two "velcro" attached tags. Instead of tackling , players have to remove the tag from a player they would normally physically tackle in Rugby Union. Removing the tag represents a "tackle".

The "Velcro tackled" player then has to pass the ball to a team mate after having stopped within two strides.

The Rugby Union rules about forward passing apply. Points are scored by touching the ball physically over the line.

As a former "Rugby Union" player (my Primary School and Secondary School played Rugby Union and not football as their main sport) , I think it is a harder game to referee. (At my secondary school I then went on switch sports to fencing in the 6th form -foil, epee and sabre and managed to gain a silver award in that sport)

The Cheslyn Hay pupils loved the Tag Rugby experience. They will have "full contact" Rugby Union opportunities when they move on to the High School. "Tag Rugby" is an excellent induction to those interested in pursuing Rugby Union in KS3/4. There is more to life than football!!

The High School Sports College agenda is well timed given current national concerns about the life-style and levels of fitness/diet etc regarding both Primary School and High School pupils.

Miss Ward has been ahead of the game and deliberately set up so many "extra curricular" clubs where sport, fitness and lifestyle is concerned, having run these clubs since the day she was appointed to Cheslyn Hay Primary School.

Mr Knellor has offered a special 2 hour coaching opportunity after school for Cheslyn Hay Primary School pupils interested in "Tag Rugby", to be arranged within the next two weeks.

Whitgreave and CHPS pupils in the warm up exercises

Action begins

Aaron doesn't pass forward

Chris ready to restart the game.
Not a kick- a pass.

Martin Tibbetts 1-May-04