The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
LEVEL One Tag Rugby workshop was held on Wednesday at Mutare Sports Club for the first time with a total of 24 participants in attendance. Manicaland Rugby Board chair Josiah Borerwe said the introductory course was meant for teachers.
“The sport was first introduced in Manicaland last month. The level one course that we did on Wednesday was meant to equip the teachers with full knowledge on how the sport is played so that they will train the children. “This is a new form of rugby where there is no conduct. We are very grateful to Tag Rugby Trust, who helped us introduce the sport in our province,” he said.
Addressing the participants, Tag Rugby Trust manager Tinashe Shamu said the main objectives of the project were to develop the sport throughout the entire country. “Our main aim is to develop tag rugby throughout the whole country. It is also aimed at developing coaches, girls and boys in primary schools. As Tag Rugby Trust, we have worked with over 25 000 children from schools around the world.
In Zimbabwe we have so far reached more than 8000 children in Marondera, Wedza , Masvingo, Hwange, Victoria Falls just to mention but a few,” he said.
Tag rugby which is on the growth part in the country is spearheading Zimbabwe’s grassroots rugby development. Shamu said the sport is being met with enthusiasm even in the areas where rugby was previously unheard of. He also added that it is well received. Tag rugby is a non contact version of the sport which girls and boys can play together on equal basis .
The game follows the rules of the full contact version of rugby but instead of tackling each other players grab a fabric tag that is attached to the body of their opponents. It is made up of 10 players, five boys and five girls
