SPORTING ACCOL ADE
TAG RUGBY
Dr AMIT MISTRY
Namaste, After attending several GB trials, I have
been selected to play on the Wing for the Great
Britain Men’s Rugby Tag Squad at the International Tag
Federation World Cup, Sunshine Coast, Australia, 3rd 6th December 2015. There will be 26 competing nations
and this will be televised in several countries such as
Australia.
Tag Rugby is a step-down from full contact Rugby.
They both possess a similar game format. It is a sport
I also have Yorkshire Rugby Union representative
honours in.
Tag Rugby is a minimal contact team game in which
each player wears shorts with velcro patches with two
tags attached to them. The mode of play is similar to
Rugby League with attacking players attempting to
dodge, evade and pass a rugby ball while defenders
attempt to prevent them scoring by “tagging” - pulling
a velcro attached tag from the ball carrier. Seven players
in each team are allowed on the field at a time, whilst the
field dimensions are 70m by 50m. The attacking team
has six plays or tags to try to score a try or take the ball
down field as close to the line as possible.
In London, Tag rugby is becoming an increasingly
popular corporate sport and offers both fitness and
networking opportunities. There are currently eighteen
active leagues within London that cater for a diverse
skill set and both sexes. Each game typically lasts 40
minutes per match. For further information visit www.
trytagrugby.com
Currently, I am attending squad training on a weekly
basis and also compete in a weekly domestic league.
This activity is solely extracurricular in nature as I also work
full-time as a Psychiatry doctor
through the University College
London (UCL) Partners Scheme.
I would encourage all in our
Prajapati Samaj to keep both
our physical and mental
health in check.
Dr Amit Dahyabhai Mistry
58
Four Photos at top: Courtesy of Tag Rugby (www.tryrugby.com),
Team Photo: Back row furthest on right, Dr Amit Mistry
“...encourage all in our Prajapati
Samaj to keep both our physical and
mental health in check.”