The TAG Rugby™ Association

The TAG Rugby™ Association has evolved over a number of years, with consultation with the various stakeholders of the game in South Africa. The Association is a non-profit organisation registered with the Department of Social Development in South Africa.

TAG Rugby™ an Associate Member of SA Rugby

At the last AGM of SA Rugby, TAG Rugby™ became an Associate member of SA Rugby.  This is a huge milestone for TAG Rugby™ and shows that the seed planted just before the 1995 Rugby World Cup has matured into a tree that is now starting to bear fruit. Since 1992 TAG Rugby™ has been a self funded development organisation that has raised funds by exporting TAG Rugby™ equipment to the United Kingdom market and then using these proceeds to develop the game in South Africa. This was a painstaking process.

In 2006 the work that TAG Rugby™ has been doing was endorsed by SARU and the game endorsed as a grassroots development tool to be used as such in South Africa. TAG Rugby™ equipment is a SARU Licensed product. TAG Rugby™ is used as a means to introduce children (boys and girls) to rugby in a fun and safe manner. TAG Rugby™ is not seen as a replacement to mini rugby in any way. The game is seen as a means to improve handling skills and increase the numbers of children playing rugby. TAG Rugby™ can also be used as a training aid for schools and clubs already playing contact rugby.

The game can also be used to introduce teenagers and adults of both sexes to the game of rugby in High Schools that have not played rugby.

The Association is a non-profit organisation that will serve the sporting communities within South Africa.

We will
• Govern the rules of the game and run SARU accredited 3 hr coaching courses for coaches and parents. No rugby experience necessary.
• Set up a data base of accredited coaches and referees in all provinces that will be able to be contacted to coach TAG Rugby™.
• Create a set of standards for all equipment that is to be used in games, festivals and tournaments. We have seen from our experience in the UK that this is a necessity as unfortunately people do try to take advantage by using different equipment.
• Provide a user friendly website that can be used by all South Africans wanting to promote the game.
• Provide a mechanism on the website where adult leagues can be run and administered by clubs and institutions.

TAG Rugby™ and SA Rugby

TAG Rugby™ is going to work strategically with SARU to use TAG Rugby™ as a means to increase the number of players as well as grow the supporter base for Rugby in South Africa. We are going to attempt to attract new sponsors to the game that will provide rugby with an opportunity to attract a new exciting supporter base. We also have a few of the current Springbok players that have decided that they would like to become TAG Rugby™ ambassadors and are going to be donating their time (for free) to promote the game in areas where Rugby is not being played in their Unions. Our relationship with SARU is vital and we do not see ourselves working independently of the governing body.
 
TAG Rugby™ and the Provincial Unions

 TAG Rugby™ realizes that we will not be able to do work all by ourselves. It is with this in mind that we are working very hard to forge relationships with the provincial unions. We currently are busy with activities in the Golden Lions Rugby Union, Blue Bulls Rugby Union with the HSBC Rugby Festivals. The Golden Lions have gone so far as to invite us to set-up a TAG Rugby™ “satellite office” at the Union to answer any TAG Rugby™ related queries from the public, and to work alongside their Development Officers.

Our activities with the upcoming British and Irish Lions Tour will take us around the country to run clinics in the Western Province, Eastern Province, Sharks and Border regions. Many of the remaining Unions not involved in the Tour Clinics have already purchased TAG Rugby™ and know about the work that we are currently doing. We are now going to actively try to improve and strengthen these relationships now that we are part of the same family. We must emphasize that we would gladly train all Provincial Development officers to assist in getting the game played in all unions. We are at this time talking to Hilton Adonis regarding these coaching courses.

TAG Rugby™ and National / Provincial Governments

Tag Rugby™ has developed excellent relationships with both Provincial and National Governments Departments. Now that we are an Associate member of SARU we are going to attempt to promote the game in all the Unions by utilizing the Government resources to activate our TAG Rugby™ Programmes in Schools. We will train the teachers/ community sports officers, monitor the programmes and work alongside the Unions and their Development Officers to spot talent. The idea is to provide exit routes for talented individuals to become part of the formal rugby community through coaching academies, clubs etc.   

Data collection and recording

We have given SARU the undertaking that we will keep stringent records of the young children that are introduced and play TAG Rugby™ as well as all persons that attend our coaching courses and talks. This data will be processed and available to all SARU Affiliates and Unions on request.

 Trademarks and Manufacturing
 
TAG Rugby™ is a registered trademark and the association has sort and been granted the permission to use such trademarks by TAG Rugby Promotions (Pty) Ltd. All TAG Rugby™ equipment is manufactured by an NPO called Learn to Earn that provide training for unemployed individuals in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.  All people trained at Learn to Earn then become economically active either employed by supporters of the organisation or as entrepreneurs starting their own businesses.

This is a long term relationship as Learn to Earn has been manufacturing TAG Rugby™ equipment for the last 5 years. For more information on Learn to Earn please visit www.learntoearn.org.za