Report by Finn Tribe From Kent (in Ghana)
It was an unusual Christmas for Finn Tribe, instead of spending it in chilly England watching the Christmas Doctor Who and overeating

He had contacted TRT and met with Trevor Martingell before the trip, after some useful tips from the Big Man – he took some Tag Rugby equipment to Nkwanta in North East Ghana.

He spent 3 days Teaching Grade 8 School children aged 13 to 14 from Adom High School how to play the game. It was very hot and extremely dusty, very different from the green school playing fields in Kent!

Following Trevor’s advice he had asked for a group of around 20 children, in fact almost double turned up! However they were all energetic and keen to learn. Having never had to teach or manage a group of children alone before, it was initially daunting but by the end their enthusiasm and respect really helped him find his feet.

When he saw the first try scored (legally) and that they had finely grasped the concept of tag he felt like he had achieved something.

He had a great time and a VERY different Christmas experience.

More photos below from Finns time in Ghana …

Young leader Albert Mwakoi put his holiday time to good use honing his coaching skills, providing a great role model for children in the Ndeke area and having a lot of fun with Tag Rugby … the game that introduced him to rugby and now he’s passing it on to others.

Ndeke township which hosts 4 schools (Ndeke, Justin Kabwe, and Wesley Nyirenda & Miseshi) where tag rugby programs started as far back as 2006 has produced close to 100 players playing in various high schools in Kitwe. Most senior kids (ex taggies) in this area are disadvantaged as the only rugby club in the city of Kitwe DIGGERS RFC is very far off. A few that make it have found themselves playing for Diggers ‘B’ Development side.

Kit and equipment recently received, has made it possible for young leaders to carry on with the coaching programs which they are keeping very well. The encouraging factor is that they are doing it for the love of the game.

PART 1. 3rd December, 2011
The first coaching session took place at Wesley Nyirenda Basic School where only boys turned up for the session. Close to 30 boys turned, Most kids that play for the school teams have gone out of town on holiday. But new kids that have come out of other towns got attracted and joined in.

PART 2. 10th December, 2011
The second session at Miseshi Basic School had a hitch, as you must be aware, Zambians are soccer lovers, and the football pitch where tag rugby is played was taken up the time the children arrived.

An open space between Arthur Davies Stadium & a new housing complex was not occupied and Albert took up the session with close to 16 under 10 boys and girls – most of them getting in contact with a rugby ball for the very first time in their lives.

The session also attracted the ones that play at Miseshi & other Ndeke school teams. The next session is the Tournament to be held at Wesley Nyirenda Basic School on the 17th December 2011.involving kids from Miseshi & the ones from Ndeke area.

Look out for more news from Kitwe & Luanshya Holiday project reports

To Rugby and Children
Chris Mwamba

The youngsters interacted with Tag Rugby media before and after the training and revealed their experiences and joy of being ranked as officials in a game they enjoy playing, coaching and officiating. These young leaders who are Rugby players some featuring for the Uganda national teams and are tag Rugby coaches at different clubs thank the Educators who were so helpful and pleased with their high levels of reception.

Asher Nakityo

l never understood law interpretations well enough at local and international games where the referee expects players to know. Many of the laws on passing backwards, running forwards with the ball, stepping in touch, offside, backward support play l had grasped from tag rugby which made the training very easy to understand for me. “Tag Rugby as a game has shaped me into what l am today and l will acknowledge it for paving way for my leadership ability skills which in event exposed me to higher playing ranks” she added.
“My first debut was in 2009 and l have three caps for Uganda. The side stepping skills from tag rugby saw me snatch a place on the Lady Cranes sevens national team at the Re-union 7’s, Botswana CAR 7’s pre-qualifier tournament and Safari 7’s in Nairobi all this year and l have never looked back”. “The IRB course and Tag rugby young leader training is the sweetest cocktail all upcoming players should taste,” the 17 year old player turning 18 next week urged.

Edrin Kayima
“Tag Rugby is a passionate game that has opened other avenues in life for me.” “The course was truly very easy for me to understand as most of the laws run along the tag rugby ones for safe play, fun and continuity. I have grown up playing, officiating and coaching tag rugby and as a young leader, playing for my team tigers.”
“I am happy that penalties are now history with me, with the law at my finger tips the course has given me the ability to handle offside at rucks, mauls and lineouts perfectly.”

Phillip Pariyo

Phillip tries out his attained refereeing abilities on teammates. “Knowing how to ref as a tag rugby official gave me all the basics which apply for me as a player too but today’s IRB course has shown me teams are still lacking when it comes to law application.”

“One captivating moment at the course was the law emphasis on safety to allow fun and continuity for all teams yet it is perceived as a rough game without rules and principles. Like Tag Rugby there is a provision for safety in the senior Rugby and as a player it is very important to understand these laws with the referee’s primary, secondary and tertiary signals which will lift our level of play.” “The opportunity to attend level one was a gift for me l will share with other young leaders at Makerere tag rugby academy and my teammates at the university Rugby club.”

The course was also timely when l have just enrolled at university, we have inter–house rugby games at campus and many are times this league struggles to find referees among the non playing students. It will help me sharpen my accuracy handling these games at a level were risk management and compromise for safety is high. l am privileged to get to the IRB recognised ranks and will soon knock off my idol, Uganda’s top referee, Ramsey Olinga.

Wokorach Phillip

“You will agree with me that playing the game is totally different from refereeing although the two combined qualities promote perfection. As a young leader the course was very enriching although in reality not much different from the tag Rugby principle rules. Senior rugby rules and basics are just the same as Tag Rugby with the offences quite similar. Foul play such as forward pass, offside and others identified and punished will enable clean play and fair contest which makes the game more interesting.”
“The penalty sanction signal quickly drove my mind to the Independence cup when my team did concede many penalties that were accompanied by variation signs of which l could not interpret but during the level one training l could visualize and relate meanings to understand the offences that almost cost us a crucial cup” said Phillip. “The IRB Safety law which caters for Tag Rugby as well is to allow fair contest and promote fun in the sport of Rugby. I would want to take on refereeing to venture the experience at international level when l complete level three training.”

Kevin Kerimundu
I took up the opportunity to attend the course to be able to open up the silent side in me that would make me a better player and referee. I am not a talkative person but Rugby involves a lot of verbal communication. I have heard referees accompany words with signs to explain their calls although their role is not to teach us every detail as we would like. The course did help me interpret a lot l thought was not within game rules but much of what we learned ran along the tag rugby refereeing rules l am set to improve upon. I did not know there were Primary, secondary and tertiary signals commonly interpreted in tag rugby by our trainers’ as blow, show and tell. It was a lovely experience for us as young leaders and rubbing shoulders with senior players like Michael Wokorach at the training made us proud to have been chosen.”

The Zimbabwe Tag Rugby Trust team made certain that 2011 would go out with a bang in Harare with a tournament as well as training for 300 Miracle Missions orphans.

Harare Sports Club also known as the Red Lion’s Den is central in the capital and proved to be an ideal venue for a tournament because of its accessibility and well maintained fields. Eight teams arrived raring to play from five high density Tag Rugby Trust target areas that surround Harare namely Mabvuku, Tafara, Mufakosi, Mbare and Chitungwisa.

Tafara A, Mabvuku, Mufakosi and Mbare Academy A were drawn into Pool A whilst Tafara B, Chinembiri from Chitungwisa, Mbare Bulldogs and Mbare Academy B were drawn into pool B. The pool stages where very competitive producing lots of close scores and sublime expansive Tag Rugby. All teachers and coaches were commended for their hard work with the kids.

At every tournament they are winners and losers but distinctively at Tag Rugby tournaments there are always smiles. In pool A, Mufakosi and Mabvuku qualified into the semi-final whilst in pool B, Mbare Bulldogs and Chinembiri. After breathtaking semi-finals Mufakosi and Mabvuku locked horns in an exhilarating final which was concluded in extra time with Mabvuku deserved winners!!

Of late TRT has been doing research on possible organizations that may help in adding to the good work the Trust already does in Zimbabwe. These involve Aids Awareness, young leader organizations, youth empowerment organizations, street kids and deaf schools just to mention a few.

TRT came across Miracle Missions which works with orphanages throughout Zimbabwe. Tag Rugby Trust Zimbabwe, until Monday 5 December, had not worked with orphanages. However, through Sheree Hobbs who runs Miracle Missions, Tag Rugby Trust Zimbabwe was invited to a Christmas Party for 1000 orphans who come from all over the country.

At the party Tinashe played Tag Rugby games with 300 orphans. The party was a milestone for the Trust as it has created a platform for its aspirations to touch the lives of orphans through Tag Rugby.

TRT Trustee Trevor Martingell (now a TV personality in Romania … read on !) recently returned to Romania for preparations ahead of the Petroc College (Devon, UK) Tour planned for May 2012. He made a follow up on previously introduced Tag programmes that were kick started by the Tag Rugby Trust with Crown Woods School from Eltham SE London.

The Weekend arrival coincided with the Romanian Rugby season climax action as Steua Bucharest played Bara Mari with Bara Mari coming out as Superliga Champions again.

Being the last weekend of Rugby, the U-16’s played for their top spot in Bucharest in which Pantelimon (blue/red jersey) triumphed over Flamingo (Steua Bucharest’s team).

It was great to see Romanian Youth Rugby and the standard being set by the Young people. TRT’s Tag programme is already starting to gather momentum in a country that doesn’t have too much junior Rugby and at this stage very little Girls Rugby.
 
Ramnicu Vâlcea the Central hub for TRT’s Tag Programme and Crown Woods School partnership over the past two years has helped to kick start the programme. However a number of people have been involved in making sure the game is sustained and the process of Building futures through Rugby is developed.

Nicolae Ungureanu is the Romanian federations Development Officer and has devoted both work and personal time to develop Tag Rugby (“S” Rugby as it is Branded in Romania) in the area (and all over his Development Area) that is known for Handball and Volleyball. He has trained a number of Teachers and they in turn seek help and advice from him when developing the game in their Schools.

Two Sports Teachers in Particular have taken on the task of developing local competition and are planning to develop the game even further with the development of a “Town Rugby Sports federation” for Tag Rugby and eventually a Rugby Club in the County.

Catalin Pedescu and Bogdan Matei have become TRT Super Volunteers in the area and are currently organising a follow up Tournament to the one they recently run for 6 Schools at Mircea Del Batran School in Ramnicu Valcea.

From left Catalin, Nicolae & Bogdan

Bogdan and Catalin also arranged for Nicolae and Trevor to appear on two TV stations to promote Tag Rugby, Romanian Rugby federation and the Tag Rugby Trust

Catalin is running Tag all year at Bertran School and has a team called Lupii Negri (Black Wolves)

There are a number of other people that have been very supportive and essential to the development in the area. Tatiana Marandici Teacher at Bertran School and the schools Inspectorate, Madalina Popescu Valcea County Schools Inspectorate, Mariana Georgescu a Schools inspectorate who helped us get Tag going when she was a Teacher at Duca School, Mr Danes (Headmaster at Duca School) Mr Greko (retired Teacher and Sutesti link man) and Mihai Dragomir a Romanian International Rugby Player who lives in Ramnicu Valcea and is keen to help develop a New Rugby club there.

Also Teachers and Heads at all the Schools who have been involved in the Programme and have allowed Tag to be played in a reducing Sports Curriculum in Romania.

Watch the space as TRT return in May 2012 with Petroc College, North Devon, to start a Tag Programme in an area 55km south of Ramnicu Vâlcea. It will be based in Dragasani and Sutesti which is a Rural Area but has good outdoor Sports facilities and the Area and Mayor are very eager to start a Tag Rugby project and possible Rugby Team.

More Shots of the Romania planning trip