‘It was never planned, it all just happened’ – The Pig ‘n’ Porter tag rugby festival

Byvipadmo

IT’S THE LARGEST tag rugby festival in the world, and it all just happened by accident.

13 years ago, the thirds team at Old Crescent rugby club in Limerick finished the season as the All-Ireland champions.

To mark it, they said they’d throw a party. They invited a few of the teams around Limerick to the club for a bit of tag rugby, they roasted a pig on a spit, and they drank the night away.

It turned out to be a hit. This Saturday will see the 14th installment of the Bulmers Pig ‘n’ Porter tag rugby festival, which has evolved from a small social gathering to an international event with a title sponsor.

Teams from all corners of the world have made the trip to Rosbrien in Limerick since 2002, and joint chairman of the festival’s committee Eugene O’Riordan – or ‘Valvo’ to anybody who’s met him – says it’s growth has all been organic.

What was meant to be a summer’s night blowing off steam after a cup win took off like a rolling stone.

“It was never planned, it all just happened,” he tells the42.ie.

Eventually, the festival became too big for itself, with the tag rugby now split between the club and the adjacent school, Crescent College in Dooradoyle.

What would the Pig ‘N’ Porter be without the Pig? Source: Facebook.com/PignPorter

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On top of the 2,000 or so taggers, even more come by for the party, with food, drink and music rolling into the early hours of Sunday morning.

“This year now, we’ve 125 teams in the tournament, which is phenomenal. It’s unique because of the craic that comes along with it.

Despite the event now being the largest tag rugby event in the world, the same faces that brought a pig and a keg down to the clubhouse 13 years ago are still pulling the strings.

The logistics, budgets and organisation are done by J2 rugby players and friends of the club, sitting on a committee and making it work.

It’s all about community and team spirit and lending a hand.

“The big success of it is that it’s all voluntary. We have a committee of around 15 people, and we’re going since about March, tipping away all year, you never really stop.

“We have about 50 volunteers in total. You couldn’t do it without the volunteers, you just couldn’t. We’ve a good team that works well together.

The punters come for the rugby and they stay for the craic.

This year illusionist and hypnotist Steve Spade will be working his magic on the public, and the now legendary Fr Ted themed Parish Hall Disco, and accompanying ‘Lovely Girls Competition’ rolls on through the night.

As usual in Ireland, the weather has its say. When it’s raining, the volunteers are still out in the thick of it, the huge tents and marquees keeping the party goers dry.

Sunshine is all the better.

Source: Pig’N’Porter Old Crescent RFC/YouTube

While the main event is the tag competitions on the Saturday, it’s become a weekend event, with a welcome party and tag rugby international on the Friday night.

This year, Ireland’s entry to this year’s Tag Rugby World Cup in Brisbane will take on a ‘Celtic Warriors’ selection, a tag rugby Baa Baas for want of a better word.

The knock-on effect of it all, a positive impression of Limerick for those who come along, is the added bonus.

“Limerick doesn’t really get much good press, so we’re delighted to be able to put on such a good event that showcases Limerick. We’re proud of that. Very proud of that.

“The emphasis is on people coming down to Limerick and having the craic and an absolute ball of a time, and heading home on Sunday with a positive experience of Limerick.”

The 2014 winners celebrate Source: Facebook.com/PignPorter

O’Riordan will stress that the event is not about the money, but in a period when so many small clubs in the country have fallen foul of the economy, the Pig ‘n’ Porter has allowed the club to make big improvements to the grounds.

Each year they chip away at repairing one thing, or upgrading something else and that in turn improves the festival year on year.

“It’s been instrumental. We’ve tarmacked all the grounds, we’ve put footpaths all around the pitches, we’ve fitted new floodlights, upgrading of the pitches, upgrading of the dressing rooms.

“Compared to 2008 or 2009, we probably have one of the best club grounds in Limerick now.”

The 2015 Bulmers Pig ‘N’ Porter tag rugby festival takes place at Old Crescent Rugby Club on Friday July 10 and Saturday July 12. For more information visit Pignporter.com and Tagrugby.ie

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