Chiefs get behind new Tag Tournament

By Mark Stevens

International rugby stars from the Exeter Chiefs have given their backing to the new City of Exeter Rugby World Cup Tag Tournament, which was unveiled at a special launch ceremony held at Sandy Park.

England's Tom Johnson, Craig Mitchell (Wales), Sireli Naqelevuki (Fiji) and Fetu'u Vainikolo (Tonga) lined-up alongside Exeter Rugby Club chief executive Tony Rowe OBE and the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Rachel Lyons to help promote the new tournament, which will see 20 primary schools in and around the city take part in a five-week programme highlighting Rugby World Cup 2015 coming to this country.

With delivery set to start during Summer Term 2015, schoolchildren in Year 5 going into that of Year 6 will not only adopt one of the 20 competing countries, but at the same time embark on a programme that allows them to carry out projects and school work about their adopted country, as well as learning all the fundamentals of Tag Rugby.

Delivered by the Chiefs' Community department in association with the Exeter City Council, the schools will get to learn about culture, history and sporting achievement of their chosen countries, whilst at the same time readying themselves for a specific Tag Rugby tournament that will take place at Sandy Park, which is one of the 12 chosen rugby venues for next year's tournament.

Community Development Manager, Marc Dibble said: "There is already huge excitement surrounding the Rugby World Cup 2015 coming to Exeter, so we want to harness that excitement by launching a tournament that will not help add to the buzz of next year's event, but at the same time create a lasting legacy for many years to come.

"The enthusiasm shown by all the schools involved has been outstanding and that will only get bigger and better as we draw ever closer towards the tournament. Not only will the City of Exeter tag tournament allow the children to be active and learn more about rugby itself, but the programme has been designed with a real educational feel to it as well. That means all the children involved will get to learn about different countries, their customs and their cultures, and then transform all they have learnt into notable learning projects."