‘The Burbarians’ Challenge Donncha And Win!

Two-time ERC winner and Ireland international Donncha O’Callaghan closed off his season in unusual fashion on Wednesday night when he lined out with his own Select 7 Tag team at the Budweiser Tag League at Old Belvedere RFC in Dublin.

Sutton-based Tag team, ‘The Burbarians’, won the chance to play against the Munster lock and his side as part of the IRFU’s Budweiser Tag Rugby ‘Challenge Donncha’ promotion.

Rugby World Cup final referee Alain Rolland returned from his duties in Argentina to officiate at the game.

The Burbarians won the tightly-contested game against the cream of Irish rugby (administration!), 12-11, thanks to some deftly taken three-point tries by female scorers.

One of the fastest growing sports in Ireland, Tag rugby offers the unique mix of active competition and a whole new social scene which caters for people of all abilities from club level to those looking increase activity levels in an enjoyable and semi-competitive manner.

In addition to the weekly fixtures, there are three remaining Beach Tag Festivals this year which are sure to mirror the success of the first ever Beach Tag tournament in Dingle on June 7.

There are three Provincial Festivals still to take place at venues around the country during the season.

The competition will culminate in the first Budweiser Tag All-Ireland Open Championship where Tag rugby teams from venues all over the country join in the battle for the crown of ‘champions of Ireland’ in a one-day blitz of Tag action to be held in Galway’s Corinthians club on July 19.

Commenting on Wednesday’s big game, Donncha said: “It’s certainly a change of scene after the intensity of Southern Hemisphere Test match rugby, although having watched a few Tag rugby games there are a few that take it just as seriously!

“It was great craic to get involved and a nice way for me to close out the season before I head off on my summer break.”

Colin Donnelly, Budweiser Brand Manager, said: “Having pros of Donncha and Alain’s calibre offers a new and exciting edge to Budweiser Tag.

“We are delighted that so many thousands of people across Ireland are taking part in the leagues and making the most of the one-day Beach Tag and Provincial festivals.

“Budweiser Tag is a great way to get out on the summer evenings and weekends, test your skills and enjoy a bottle of Bud with your mates after the game,” he added.

Enquiries about the IRFU’s Tag rugby programme and events may be directed via email to tag@irishrugby.ie or by phoning 01-6473800 between 9am and 4pm (Monday-Friday).

Details on festival accommodation, locations and schedules are on http://www.irfutag.ie/ . Budweiser Tag, the official IRFU Tag rugby league, is a strictly an 18 years or over event.

To view a gallery of photos from the ‘Challenge Donncha’ evening at Old Belvedere RFC, please click here.

For higher resolution photos of the teamshots, right click on photo of your choice below and choose ‘Save Target As’ to a location on your computer 

The Burbarians