For the second year running, Ulster Branch Development Officers were heavily involved in the competition, refereeing the heats as well as the finals and they were very impressed with the level of talent displayed by both the boys and girls who competed in the tournament.

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The tournament kicked off last Monday with teams from Counties Antrim and Londonderry going head to head at Ballymena Rugby Football Club.  Coleraine YFC, Finvoy YFC, Garvagh YFC, Glarryford YFC, Gleno Valley, Holestone YFC, Kells and Connor YFC, Kilraughts YFC, Lisnamurrican YFC, Lylehill YFC, Moneymore YFC, Moycraig YFC, Randalstown YFC, Rathmore YFC, Straid YFC and The Glens YFC competed against one another in a Senior and Junior league for places in the final. 

After some excellent matches and some nail-biting action Garvagh YFC, Kilraughts YFC, Lisnamurrican YFC and Moycraig YFC were awarded a place in the Junior final.  The competition was equally as tense in the Senior section of the tournament with Garvagh YFC, Gleno Valley YFC, Holstone YFC and Moycraig YFC, being crowned as worthy winners and a place in the final. 

The action moved over to Omagh Rugby Club on Tuesday night with teams from Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone battling it out for a place in the finals.  Teams from Derg Valley YFC, Seskinore YFC, Strabane YFC and Trillick YFC took to the pitch with vigour.  In the end Seskinore YFC clocked the largest number of tries in both the Junior and Senior leagues, which guaranteed the club a place in the final. 

The final regional heat took place in Ballynahinch Rugby Football club for Counties Armagh and Down last Thursday.  On the night teams from Annaclone YFC, Artana YFC, Ballywalther YFC, Donaghadee YFC, Moneyrea YFC, Newtownards YFC and Spa YFC taking to the pitch to try and score a place in the final.  After some very tightly contested matches Annaclone YFC, Newtownards YFC and Spa YFC won a place in the Junior Final.  In the Senior Section Annaclone YFC, Donaghadee YFC and Spa scored a place in the final of the competition.

Spa YFC, winners of the Junior Section

Even though the rain didn't hold off, Friday nights finals proved a tense affair with some very closely contested games in both the Junior and Senior sections.  All teams showed great determination and skill, and not put off by the weather they fought hard for their place in the finals.  The junior section saw Spa and Seskinore battle it out for the junior winners title but it was Spa who came out on top, meanwhile over on the Senior pitch, Moycraig emerged the winners.

YFCU President Adrian Cooper commented on the quality of skill displayed at the county heats of the YFCU Tag Rugby competition.

“This year we have seen a large number of teams take part in the competition and the skill displayed in the matches was excellent,” said Adrian.

“The Tag Rugby tournament is a very popular competition with our members and to see them take to the pitches with such enthusiasm is fantastic.  I would like to once again express our thanks to Northern Bank for continuing their support of the tournament and to Barry Willis and all at the IRFU Ulster Branch for all their help in organising and delivering the tournament,” said Adrian.