The tournament will run for 10 sessions from 13th June 2013, each Thursday with the Finals Night taking place on Saturday 10th August.

There will be a TWO FREE TRIAL NIGHTS on Thurs 30th May & 6th June, so please come along and give it a try!

Matches will take place in Gorey RFC from 7:00pm to 9:30pm each Thursday.

Each evening there will be a BBQ and music along with the bar being open to enjoy a well earned drink after the game.

Teams consist of a maximum of 13 players, both male and female, of all standards. No more than three Rugby Players from the one Club Rugby Team can be on a Tag Team.

If you don't have a team but still want to play, just let us know as we will be putting together teams for individual players. 

You don't have to have played rugby in order to take part!

There are seven players on the pitch at any one time and you must have a minimum of three females on the pitch at any one time.

All games last for 40 minutes, 20 minutes each half.

For mini leagues, games will last for 20 minutes in total, with no half time break.

It is compulsory that you turn up a minimum of 10 minutes before your allocated match time. This will allow you to register, find your pitch, and stretch properly before your game commences. All games will kick off exactly on time and if you are not there on time, the opposing team will be awarded points for every minute you are late.

See below for all of the rules. It is advised that you read these in advance of playing as there are a few different rules in effect across the country. 

TEAM REGISTRATION

To register your own team you must have a minimum of seven players, and a maximum of 13 players.

If you fall short of the required seven players, you can still register your details and your team will be paired with other registrations falling short of the seven players.

Click Here to Register Online.

If you want any more information please email: goreytagrugby@gmail.com or call 087 950 7999 and let us know of your intention to enter a team. This way we can schedule your league games in advance.

All registrations must be entered and paid IN FULL by Sunday 9th June 2013.

PAYMENT

Each adult team costs €250 and each Mini team costs €200 for the duration of the tournament. Based on teams averaging between 10 and 13 players, this would work out between €20 to €25 per adult player for the ten weeks (or €2.00 to €2.50 per week!)

It is the responsibility of the team captain to collect monies from the rest of the players and have it paid in full by Sunday 9th June. Payment can be made and Registration Forms completed on either of the Trail Nights.

GEAR REQUIRED

Rugby / Soccer boots are recommended but not mandatory, you can play in runners.

To assist the referees it is advised that your team wear the same colour top, again this is not mandatory.

Tag shorts are mandatory and can be purchased at in any Elvery's sports shops. Elverys will also be at the Clubhouse on the two trial nights (30th May and 6th June) and also on the first Tag night (13th June) with Tag Shorts for sale. Referees will check all players before each game to ensure that adequate shorts are satisfactory.

THE BASICS

PLAYERS

• A team must have no more than 7 players on the field at anytime. There can be any number of authorised replacements. The maximum number of players per squad for any given match is 13. Any players not playing in at least 3 matches prior to the playoffs/semi-final/finals may not play in those matches.
• In the case of social/mixed league games, the maximum number of male players on the field at anytime is 4.
• If a player has an open or bleeding wound he/she must leave the playing area immediately. The player may not return until the bleeding has been controlled and the wound has been covered. A player may not wear any item that is contaminated by blood.
• A player must not wear any item that is sharp or abrasive. A player must not wear jewellery or glasses. A player must not wear gloves.
• All players must wear approved Tag shorts when participating in matches and if a player is not wearing approved Tag shorts the player shall not be permitted to play in the match.

SCORING

• A try scored by a female player shall be worth 3 points and a try scored by a male player shall be worth 1 point. Except in the Veterans League, where females under the age of 35 years will only score 1 point.
• Veteran players i.e. players over the age of 50 will be awarded 3 points for each try that they score.
• A player may not dive to score a try unless there is no defender within 10 metres.
• In order to score a try after a ball has been kicked a player must regain possession of the ball prior to carrying it over the try line.
• A male player cannot pass the ball to a female player after crossing the tryline nor can he run back into the field of play to pass the ball to a female player.
• When a try is scored the scoring team shall restart play with a drop-kick from the halfway line.

DEFENCE

• When a tag is removed, the defender must hold it in the air where the tag was made,drop it at that point and assume a marker position (i.e. a position 1 metre directly in front of the player who has been tagged), or return to the defensive line.
• At a ruck ball all defenders must be at least 7 metres from the ruck ball and there may only be one marker.
• A player may defend with 1 or no tags, however if he/she receives the ball he/she must play the ball immediately i.e. pass or kick it taking not more than 1 step.
• A defender must not deliberately obstruct a ball carrier or a member of the other team who does not have the ball.
• At ruck ball situations the defensive line (except the marker) must be at least 7 metres back from the ruck ball. The defensive line must be at least 10 metres back at all penalty and kick-off situations.
• If a defender makes a tag after the tagged player has passed or kicked the ball, the referee may call "Late Tag, Play On" and allow the attacker to progress with only one or no tags until the next tag is made by the defending team or the ball goes out of the Field of Play. An attacker with one or no tags shall be deemed to have been tagged if a defender comes within tagging distance.
• If it is a simultaneous tag and off load, no action is taken and the attacker must replace the tag before being able to attack again. The referee will call "Ball away".
• If an attacker not in possession is tagged before receiving the ball the referee will call "Early tag". The referee may then play the advantage and penalise the defender if necessary.
• Under no circumstances can the marker run around and retrieve the ball from the scrum half position.

ATTACKING

• A player may pass the ball to a team mate by throwing the ball to another player or handing the ball to another player without throwing it. A pass must be lateral or backwards, but not forwards in which case a turnover will be awarded.
• If a player in possession of the ball falls or dives to the ground and a defender is within tagging distance, a tag shall be counted. A Try will not be awarded if the attacker in possession of the ball falls or dives over the tryline and in doing so prevents a tagging.
• If an attacker in possession of the ball is tagged in the in-goal area before he/she scores a try, he/she shall be asked to conduct a ruck ball five (5) metres out from the tryline.
• If a player in possession is tagged behind their own tryline, his/her team will restart play with a drop-kick from the centre of their tryline.
• The scrum half can pass or kick the ball with only one tag on as long as they do so immediately (one step).
• If the scrum half is not in position within 3 seconds of the ball being played at a ruckball, a turnover will be awarded to the defending team.
• A player in possession must not attempt to bump or fend off a defender in their attempts to remove a tag nor whilst chasing the ball.

KICKING

• Kicking is only allowed in limited circumstances in Tag compared to other forms of rugby.
• Drop-kicks will be used to restart play after scores and at the commencement of each half.
• A tap-kick is used to restart play after a penalty is awarded.
• A grubber-kick (i.e. a kick no higher than 1.5 metres) is permitted in general play.
• Chip-kicks (i.e. kicks that go a maximum of 15 metres and no higher than 5 metres above an opponent's head) are only allowed in the men's' and veterans' games. No up and under kicks/"garryowens" are allowed.
• A defender may call a mark from a chip-kick in the field of play and the game shall restart with a tap-kick by the player who caught the ball.
• The players from the kicking team must be behind the ball when it is kicked
• All restart/drop-kicks must go at least 10 metres and the kicking team must stay at least 2 metres back from the receiving team while the ball is in the air.
• If a ball bounces in the field of play from a kick and then rolls over the touchline (without being touched) a ruck ball will be awarded to the non-kicking team 5 metres in-field from where the ball crossed the touchline.
• If a ball is kicked, in general play, and a member of the kicking team re-gathers a ball that has not touched a member of the opposing team, play shall continue and the tag count shall continue. If a member of the kicking team gathers or re-gathers a ball that has struck and been played at by a member of the opposing team, play shall continue and the tag count shall be restarted.
• If the ball is kicked and it crosses the receiving team's tryline after it strikes a player from the receiving team who has deliberately played at the ball, a drop-kick from the centre of the receiving team's tryline will restart play.

KNOCK-ONS

• A turnover will be awarded to the non offending team in the case of a knock-on. A player may not knock-on deliberately and a penalty may be awarded if he/she does so.
• If a player propels the ball in a backward direction play will continue.

PENALTIES

• Penalties are taken by way of a tap-kick in any direction. If a player chooses to use he ruck ball action instead of taking the tap-kick it is still deemed to be a tap-kick.
• The offending team must retire 10 metres from where the penalty is to be taken.
• Further misconduct by the offending team shall allow the referee to advance the mark of the penalty once only, by ten 10 metres.

FOUL PLAY

• In the event of misconduct by a player, the referee shall, at his/her discretion, caution, sin-bin (for 5 minutes) or dismiss the player.
• If a player is sent off he/she shall receive a one week suspension. If the offence is deemed serious enough by the senior referee and the relevant venue manager the matter may be reported to a disciplinary panel established by the IRFU and the player may face such further suspension as that disciplinary panel sees fit.

GOREY TAG RUGBY TERMS AND CONDITIONS