Rugby Union: Tag rugby fun day proves big success at Sefton Park

Sep 19 2007 by Tony Simpson, Liverpool Daily Post

A LITTLE bit of rain never hurt anyone or so potential new recruits discovered at Liverpool Collegiate RUFC’s first “Tag Rugby” taster session, held at Sefton Park last Sunday.

The un-seasonal British weather didn’t seem to dampen enthusiasm as a number of newcomers to the club joined players from its senior men’s, ladies and junior sections for a wet, but enjoyable, afternoon of “Tag”.

The event was the first in a series of taster-sessions to be held by the Aigburth-based club as part of the RFU’s national “Go Play Rugby” initiative, aimed at attracting ex-players back to the game.

“We’re delighted that so many people came down to join in,” said club secretary Frank Carroll.

“Hopefully, people will be inspired to come down to the club and get back into the game properly.”

Chris Smail, the Lancashire County RFU community rugby co-ordinator, said: “It’s wonderful to see such a wide variety of people of differing ages and rugby experience coming together and enjoying throwing a ball around.”

Collegiate, whose senior men’s first XV and ladies teams both secured promotion last season, hope that they can continue to build on that success this year and, with three senior men’s teams, a veterans team and active junior section, can welcome new members of all ages and playing standards.

Go Play Rugby is thought to be the largest sporting recruitment drive ever mounted by a single sports governing body in the United Kingdom.

It will involve more than 600 clubs and 130 universities and colleges in an ambitious effort to bring players back to the game and win new converts.

It is a £1million campaign, supported through a generous £500,000 grant from the National Sports Foundation that backs up investment of £300,000 from the Rugby Football Foundation and £200,000 from Go Play Rugby sponsors the Chelsea Building Society.

England rugby sponsors O2 are also supporting the project.

FOR details of future “Tag” sessions or club training times, please contact Frank Carroll on 07876048801.