The IRFU are pleased to confirm that a new and exciting Tag Rugby programme will be beginning in the summer of 2007 at venues across Ireland.

This will be the only official IRFU Tag Rugby programme in Ireland and registration of teams will commence next month (January 2007), with the Leagues running from May to August.

The new IRFU Tag Rugby programme is aimed at injecting further activity into the rugby clubs of Ireland during the traditionally quiet summer months, and will allow them to participate and benefit from the increasing popularity of TAG Rugby.

The new programme will see the IRFU working with each club that is selected as a venue in a profit sharing arrangement, outside and including the normal benefits that a club has previously enjoyed by hosting TAG leagues, such as the use of its bar and restaurant facilities.

This arrangement will see the venues share in the revenue generated by the number of teams that take part during the IRFU TAG Leagues. The IRFU TAG venues for this season will be confirmed by mid December.

The Tag Rugby phenomenon has seen huge growth in the non-contact version of Rugby Union over the last five years, with over 11,500 participating in venues all over Ireland last year in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Sligo and Belfast.

The growth of TAG rugby has been successful in spreading the popularity of the game of rugby during a traditionally quiet time of the year for clubs. Its non-contact nature and social aspect have made it accessible to both men and women in the specially graded levels.

Commenting on the announcement, Kevin Potts, the IRFU's Domestic Game Manager, said: "Tag Rugby is an important part of the recreational game during the summer months, in the new segment of Leisure Rugby that has developed over the last five years. TAG has introduced huge numbers to rugby, many of which may never have had any connection to the game.

"The new IRFU TAG Rugby Programme will have a similar format to other TAG leagues run in recent years with graded structures allowing each team to register at the level of competition/participation they feel suits them.

"The added incentive to each of the venue clubs is to make it as popular and successful as possible, allowing them to benefit financially by bringing more people through their gates during the summer and hopefully increasing membership of the club," he added.

All teams looking to register for IRFU Tag Rugby 2007 should contact the IRFU Leisure Rugby Department on tag@irfu.ie