5sRugby – A Super Tag Revolution

Have you checked out the new form of rugby being played down at the 5sFutbol artificial courts in Sunningdale…? Not? Well, let me fill you in. It’s called 5sRugby Super Tag, and is a hybrid of sorts between touch rugby and contact (just without the actual contact). That may sound confusing but it’s reallyÂ quite simple.

I’m quite keen on playing touchies, and was looking for another game in addition to my weekly run at Hammies. That’s when I heard about 5sRugby Super Tag. I’ve been playingÂ for about two months now, and not only is it a great way to keep fit, it’s also an awesome form of the game that we all love. The word seems to be spreading, and the response down at the courts is reflecting just how big this form of the game is going to become.

What is 5sRugby Super Tag?

As IÂ said before, it’s a hybrid of touch rugby and contact, but instead of simply being touched in order for the possession to be turned over, you wear a belt with a tag on either hip,Â and get three downs, similar to flag football in the United States.

It ties in with contact rugby in that once you are tagged, it counts as a down, but you are allowed to offload to a support player. This is great for an open, flowing game, that enables players to improve their spacial awareness, as well as their explosiveness off the mark.

5sRugby Super Tag isÂ a pretty new concept in South Africa. Having grown up playing mainly one touch, and the odd game of 6 down, 5sRugby Super Tag takes two or three runs to get used to, especially on defence, but once you have it down, it allows for a fast paced, high energy form of the game, that teaches you to read and playÂ the situation, more soÂ than would be required in a regular game of touch.

Where and When?

5sRugby Super Tag has been running Sunday morning games at the Sunningdale 5sFutbol artificial turf courts in order to let players familiarise themselves with the game beforeÂ the inaugural tournament, which will beÂ run on Saturday 26 February 2011. The Suniningdale Club house will be open and there is the monthly market at Elkanah High School that day, so bring the whole family down. The League will begin thereafter.

Tournament details:

Where: Sunningdale Sports Centre
Date: Saturday 26 February 2011
Time: 09h00 – 14h30 (Stormers game is televised at 19h00, so no excuses)
Cost: R230 per team of 8 (5 on, 3 subs)
Contact: Marc or Darin Viljoen
Email: darin@5v5.co.za

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5sRugby Super Tag Rules:

5sRugby Super Tag Rules: Attacking (with the ball)

NO CONTACT is allowed (hand offs, blocking, charging, pass interference)
The attacking player must keep both hands on the ball (this avoids hand off etc)
The attacker must be on his/her feet at all times (if you slip and fall play stops and it counts as a tag, no diving on the ball)
The attacker is allowed only one step, from the point you have been tagged, to offload (overstepping = turnover)
The attacking player can only get back in the game once he receives his tag back from the defender (the quicker you get your tag back from the defender the quicker you back in the game)
The attacker cannot jump up or spin around to avoid being tagged (pirouette movement)
Once you are tagged you have 2 seconds to make the pass (the ref will call â€œPASSâ€). Anything beyond that will result in a turnover.
If a backward pass is made and the ball touches the ground play will continue.
If an attacker in possession knocks his own tag off â€œtag himselfâ€, this will count as a tag and then he must pass immediately
If a support player knocks his own tag off â€œtags himselfâ€, this will count as a tag and then the player must pass immediately

5sRugby Super Tag Rules: Defending (without the ball)

NO CONTACT is allowed (body checks, blocking, charging, pass interference, grabbing of the shirts or shorts)
The defender must be on his/her feet at all times (no diving to make a tag or diving on the ball)
The defender may only tag one player at a time (no multiple tagging)
If two defenders tag the same attacker that counts as one tag, and both defenders are out of the game until tags are returned to the attacking player.
The defender must hold the tag above his head and stand on the spot were the tag was made
The defender must hand the tag back to the attacker (in his hand and not throw it away)
The defender must shout out TAG once he has tagged a attacker
The defender must be 2m from were the attacker restarts (thatâ€™s the only offside rule)

5sRugby Super Tag Rules: General

There are only 3 tags then a turnover
Other ways a turnover will happen is with a knock on , forward pass, stepping out and foul play (normal rugby rules apply)
There are 8 in a squad (5 on 3 rotating subs)
There are no more than 5 on the court when play begins
The teams must always start with a fullback (the 5th player)
A fullback is the player who stands minimum of 3m behind his team (he must be clearly visible to the ref ) he can join play once the tap restart has been taken
Subs must enter the court from the designated area
Advantage will be played unless there are too many infringements or a safety issue
Turnovers must be taken from the mark (which the assistant ref will clearly mark)
Every restart begins with a clear tap and go of the ball with the foot (not knee) and on the refs whistle
The game is 40 minutes long with a 5 minute interval (20min halfâ€™s)
The team captain who wins the toss will choose what his team will do 1st (defend or attack)
It’s 1 point for a try
Its 2 points for a try scored by a female. (She has to physically score the try.
A try is awarded if the player is over the try line but if a player is tagged just before the try line then he must get the pass away (so if you are tagged just before the try line and your momentum takes you into the try area you must still pass the ball) or no try is awarded
There is a 3 meter area near the try line were the fullback may stand with team and not behind them
There are no quick tap or penalties the ref signals when to restart (he makes sure that all the players have their tags on)
If a player is tagged late the referee allows that player to continue with one tag and when that tag is taken then normal tag rules apply
If a player is tagged early the referee allows that player to continue with one tag and when that tag is taken then normal tag rules apply
Consistent late or pre taggers may be sent to the bin
Yellow card is for repeated infringements (See discipline and code of conduct below)
Red card is for non sportsman or dangerous infringements (See discipline and code of conduct below)

5sRugby Super Tag Rules: Clothing

No jewelry may be worn (watches, bracelets, earrings)
All shirts must be tucked in at all times
Running shoes or moulded boots may be used on the courts (that includes blades)
No metal studded boots are allowed on the court
TAG shorts may be used (which will be supplied at a cost )

5sRugby Super Tag Rules: Code of conduct

All players and coaches will be expected to abide by the rules of the tournament and decisions made by the officials and referees.
They will be expected to play fairly and demonstrate good sportsmanship both on and off the pitch. In the event of misconduct and/or repeated and deliberate breaking of the rules or dangerous play, then the referee/tournament officials shall, at their discretion issue players with a red or yellow card.

5sRugby Super Tag Rules: Discipline

All players and coaches will be expected to abide by the rules of the tournament/festival and decisions made by the officials and referees.
They will be expected to play fairly and in the correct spirit of the game. However, in the event of misconduct and/or repeated and deliberate breaking of the rules or dangerous play, then the referee/tournament officials shall, at their discretion, caution, sin bin (five (5) minutes) yellow card, dismiss (send off) red card the player or request he/she leaves the tournament area altogether.
Any player sent off or sin binned cannot be replaced. A player sin binned must give his/her tags to the referee and take up a position behind the oppositionâ€™s dead ball line for the duration of the five (5) minutes.
If a player is sin binned just before the half time break, the duration of half time does not constitute as any part of the five (5) minutes suspension period.
If a player is sent off (red carded) in a match during a festival/tournament, then that player is excluded from taking part in any other match in that festival/tournament.

The clubhouse will be open, so come and enjoy a drink or two.