We realise that every enquiry wont turn into a fully signed up team, but after the response we have had and the size of the venue and with over 4 months still to go we will have to limit the festival to 32 teams.

We will have 8 pitches on the day and teams will be split into groups of 4, with (ideally) one of the "International" teams in each group.

Each group will play a league system, after which the 8 League winners will progress into a Cup knock out, 2nd 8 placed into a Shield, 3rd Plate, 4th into a vase competition.

Each team gets a minimum 4 games, up to a maximum 6 games.

During last week the application forms went out to the TML sides that had expressed an interest and this weekend all other sides will have had the form. We are operating a first returned policy i.e. whoever sends back the forms first gets a spot. I think we are up to 14+ confirmed already, which has surprised us how quick they have been returned. We thought people might hold onto them until nearer the time or might not even pick up the email till Monday at the earliest.

Latest

Hull University (even older!!) Old Boys

Liverpool Uni

Its been an interesting week!! A couple more enquiries, a group who play Touch Rugby in Manchester and Staffordshire Uni about a second team.

But probably the most exciting contact came from the CEO of OzTag in Australia who asked coming to our event and [i" viewing the festival and creating links for the future with you or your sporting body."[/i

How good is that??

Theres a feature on the Festival and Tag Rugby League in general in the latest edtition of TGG (The Great Game), the magazine/fanzine of the Rugby League Supporters Association.

[iIssue 56 of the RLSA magazine TGG is now out.
In "Expansion is a Good Thing' Karl Spracklen notes that the issue for Rugby League today is not one of Expansion OR Consolidation and Preservation. We have to do both at the same time.
Gaz Shaw makes a case for the rebranding of Super League and considers what to change at a time when the competition is moving into a radically different new phase.
New editor Mark Pintar returns from Australia with thoughts about what happened down under while Cliff Spracklen states "What's Toulouse and Everything to Gain" in his Notes from the RLSA chair.
Geoff Lee reviews Rugby League Review Number 2 which has contributions by 25 writers covering a wide range of topics including one by Swansea based Phil Melling on the potential for the game in Cuba.
Graham Williams reviews the novel 'One Autumn' with its background of 'Work, Family Life and Rugby League' and there's news from Rochdale about an International Mixed Tag Rugby League Festival to be held in May.
Michael O'Hare has his regular South of Sheffield slot, Maurice Boule has sent a Letter From Deepest France and Lord Billinge dictates his thoughts about the World Cup to his long suffering man servant Harry Waller.
To get a copy send a cheque for £2-50 made payable to RLSA at 67 Manor Lane Shipley Bradford BD18 3EB.[/i

instead of keeping all your attention on this event why dont you plan some fixtures with other team for the league this season

have a look on the leythers site and pick a date from the many that are free

We have already arranged several fixtures for the coming season.

Tomorrows WCC Festival will see the Swarm enter two teams, and we believe we are the only team doing this.

We start off our TML Campaign with York Crusaders away in April in which we hope to repeat our trip of last year which saw us play the Crusaders in the morning, watch York V Hornets in the afternoon and then return to the York Tag clubhouse for a BBQ.

Next up we have already agreed with Tom Allen of the RFL to take part in the Murrayfield Magic weekend at the beginning of May and we will also try and fit in a game against one of the Scottish teams that are coming to the Swarm`s Festival while we are up there.

On the 17th of May we play hosts to York Crusaders in a fixture that will form part of a mini Festival involving The Swarm, The Rochdale Fijian Association, a Rochdale Asian Team and obviously the York Crusaders. These fixtures will be played at Spotland Stadium home of Hornets Rugby League Club before the Hornets V York fixture.

At the end of May it is the Swarms Mixed Tag Festival and on the Sunday morning of the Festival weekend we will play the Celtic Barbarians in a TML League fixture.

During the month of May we are running a small Spring time League on a Thursday night in Rochdale as part of the build up to our Festival. Played over four weeks we hope to get four sides to play a series of fixtures resulting in a Grand Final.

In June we are travelling down to South Wales for the return fixture against the Celtic Barbarians.

July sees us cross the Irish sea again for our now annual visit to Bruff, Limerick for the Tag Festival over there.

Also outside of the TML and various Festivals we have agreed to play the Oldham Supporters side and the Leeds based Rawden Rhinos.

The Swarm will also be entering in some Touch Rugby and Masters festivals over the Summer.

To be fair to Mark they have got most things in order.

However noone has responded to our calls for fixtures with rochdale and ive sent 3 PM's on here.

Im also still waiting for a reply from halifax.

So i expect these fixtures to be sorted when i see you at the game on sunday.

We also could of entered 2 teams on sunday but thought it wise to give another team a chance rather then take 2 teams worth of tickets up.

League for all i think is the saying is.

Anyway we will look forward to a great day which im sure everyone will.

Latest enquires have come from a group of friends in Chorley and Rochdale Council Sports department want to put a team in.

This Saturday is the Rochdale Swarm International Mixed Tag Rugby League Festival at Rakewood, Littleborough, Rochdale. There are teams flying in from Cork and Limerick in Ireland, Loch Lomond in Scotland, Bridgend in Wales along side a Fijian Rep side drawn from the local Fijian Association. We also have the head of Tag Rugby(OzTag) in Australia, Kurt Wrigley flying over for the event. This to complement sides from across England inc. Huddersfield, Bradford, Coventry, Leeds, Widnes, Manchester as well as several sides from Rochdale itself. Its a 7-a-side event were at least 2 of the 7 must be of the opposite sex, i.e. 2 women 5 men or 4 women 3 men etc. Its free entry for spectators, also if you fancy a game we are having a Troubadours team made up of individual players who aren't from any specific team. So if you fancy a go at Tag Rugby League get down to Littleborough for 1pm SATURDAY. Its an Open Age event with a minimum age of 16. Littleborough Sports Club(Rakewood) Street: Rakewood Road, Littleborough. OL15 0AP www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-fe ... g-festival

This Saturday is the Rochdale Swarm International Mixed Tag Rugby League Festival at Rakewood, Littleborough, Rochdale. There are teams flying in from Cork and Limerick in Ireland, Loch Lomond in Scotland, Bridgend in Wales along side a Fijian Rep side drawn from the local Fijian Association. We also have the head of Tag Rugby(OzTag) in Australia, Kurt Wrigley flying over for the event. This to complement sides from across England inc. Huddersfield, Bradford, Coventry, Leeds, Widnes, Manchester as well as several sides from Rochdale itself. Its a 7-a-side event were at least 2 of the 7 must be of the opposite sex, i.e. 2 women 5 men or 4 women 3 men etc. Its free entry for spectators, also if you fancy a game we are having a Troubadours team made up of individual players who aren't from any specific team. So if you fancy a go at Tag Rugby League get down to Littleborough for 1pm SATURDAY. Its an Open Age event with a minimum age of 16. Littleborough Sports Club(Rakewood) Street: Rakewood Road, Littleborough. OL15 0AP www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-fe ... g-festival

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Fax are unable to raise a team.

Just want to say a big thanks to all who organised this, it was a great tournament and an even better day.

Aye agreed!!

Been to many of the Tag tournaments in previous years and this has set a very high standard to follow!! great set up, they even supplied the weather!!

Thanks for that guys, will post some photos and a review shortly

As promised a review and some pictures www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-fe ... rugby-fest

As promised a review and some pictures www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-fe ... rugby-fest

Also the RFL`s take on the Festival www.therfl.co.uk/community/news_ ... p?id=14302 and the local newspaper www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/sport ... _champions

Also the RFL`s take on the Festival www.therfl.co.uk/community/news_ ... p?id=14302 and the local newspaper www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/sport ... _champions