Rugby
What Is Tag Rugby? Rules and Basics Explained!
Tag rugby is a simplified, safer form of rugby. Instead of physical tackles, players “tag” opponents by removing a flag, or “tag,” attached to their belt.
Teams from Try Tag Rugby playing a match outside Anfield//Getty Images
What Is Tag Rugby?
Tag rugby is a simplified, safer form of rugby. Instead of physical tackles, players “tag” opponents by removing a flag, or “tag,” attached to their belt. This non-contact nature makes it ideal for children, beginners, and mixed-gender teams. The sport emphasises speed, agility, and strategy, without the risk of full-contact injuries.
Tag rugby is also easy to set up, requiring minimal equipment. As per World Rugby, games can take place on a variety of surfaces, including grass, artificial turf, and even indoors.
Touch Rugby
Touch rugby is similar to tag rugby but uses a “touch” rather than a tag to stop opponents. This is a popular format in Australia and New Zealand, where it’s sometimes used as training for full-contact rugby.
As per the Utah Warriors website, six players are allowed per team in touch rugby. According to their version of the rules; after six touches, possession changes hands.
A legal touch can be made on any part of the body, clothing, or ball. A player must indicate a touch by raising their hand and calling out, “touch.” The referee is the ultimate authority when it comes to judging touches and may overrule any claims at their discretion. Play continues until the referee blows their whistle. An attacking player can influence a touch by intentionally touching an opponent.
OzTag
OzTag is a version of tag rugby popular in Australia. It’s similar to standard tag rugby but has specific rules on kicking and possession. OzTag is governed by its own organisation, which sets official rules for competitions. The usual dimensions of the field are 70×50 metres. Eight players in each team are allowed on the field at any moment.
In this regard, OzTag and other forms of tag rugby differ significantly from rugby union, which has 15 players per team on the field, and rugby league, which has 13.
Try Tag Rugby
Try Tag Rugby is a popular league in the UK. It follows similar rules to standard tag rugby but often has a faster pace. Try Tag Rugby leagues are available across the UK, catering to different skill levels and age groups.
Try Tag Rugby is known for running tag rugby tournaments across gender lines in the UK. The most common format is the 7-a-side mixed format consisting of four males (maximum) and three females. Games last around 40 minutes.
As per Try Tag Rugby, well over 200,000 players take part in Oztag competitions nationally in Australia, which puts it on par with rugby union in terms of popularity in the country.
Benefits of Playing Tag Rugby
Tag rugby offers a range of physical and social benefits, ranging from a different social setup to tackle rugby to a reduced injury risk.
Indeed, some players may even use tag rugby or touch rugby to train for tackle rugby without picking up injuries along the way. The sports do not have to be in competition.
However, there are specific benefits to tag rugby and touch rugby which make them worth trying.
Increased Fitness
The game’s fast pace promotes cardiovascular health and endurance. In its prioritisation of running rather than physical contact, it is somewhat similar to sevens rugby.
However, sevens rugby still has contact – albeit not the same degree of physicality in the scrums.
Reduced Injury Risk
With no tackling or heavy contact, the risk of injury is much lower than in traditional rugby.
With tackling involved, rugby union has consistently been found to have higher injury rates than other contact sports such as American football.
In tag rugby or touch rugby, there is less possibility of something going badly wrong.
Social Interaction
Tag rugby is a highly social sport, often played in friendly leagues and mixed-gender teams.
Males and females playing together is not something one can expect to find often in rugby union or rugby league. However, in tag rugby, it is actively encouraged by governing bodies.
This means that tag rugby can open up mixing between groups of people who may not have crossed paths simply by playing traditional rugby union.
Skill Development
Tag rugby develops key athletic skills, including agility, coordination, and teamwork.
As a result of benefits such as this, tag rugby is popular in schools, recreational leagues, and corporate events.
Variations of the game, such as touch rugby, enable adaptations to the rules, but the concept of rugby without tackles is one which can help the game grow into new audiences.
Leonard Solms is a freelance journalist who has been covering local and international sport from South Africa since 2015. Best known for his work for ESPN, he has also written for Al Jazeera, The Continent, New Frame, Planet Rugby and GiveMeSport among several other publications.