LIMERICK will be awash with tag rugby players and fans as more than 3000 competitors are expected to participate in Limerick’s famous Pig n’ Porter Festival – one of the largest tag rugby events in the world- which takes place this year on Saturday, July 14 next. Old Crescent RFC, in association with the Irish Tag Rugby Association (ITRA), will host the 2012 Pig n’Porter Festival at its grounds in Rosbrien, Limerick.
The 2012 event was launched this week by former rugby international Jerry Flannery whose Limerick pub will host the welcome party this year and tag rugby player Alie Lacey. The Pign’Porter is sponsored by Heinz Tomato Ketchup and kindly supported by Fáilte Ireland.
The hugely popular festival, combining sport, food and live music regularly attracts record crowds to the venue with 130 participating teams.
“We celebrated our 10th anniversary last year which was a major highlight for us and the event keeps on growing,” said Padraic O’Connor, organiser. “We started with 12 teams in 2002, had over 100 teams last year from all across Ireland and the UK and this year we have up to 130 teams from Ireland, the UK and France eager to win the coveted Pig n’Porter trophy! It brings a large number of visitors to Limerick for the weekend and is always a huge success which is fantastic considering we’ve built this into an international festival from a volunteer base. Since its inception, we’ve had more than 13,000 participants and we’re delighted to be a permanent fixture on Limerick’s sporting calendar.”
The 2012 Pig n’ Porter kicks off with a welcome party and registration at Jerry Flannery’s Bar on Friday night, July 13th. There will be special guests attending the event helping to build the spirit of rugby in Limerick, widely known as the rugby capital of Ireland.
On Saturday July 14th, the main event, the Pign’Porter Tag Rugby Festival gets underway Throughout the day, the iconic pig will be roasting on a spit ahead of the legendary Pig n’ Porter BBQ. This year’s festival sees the return of the fancy dress competition for all taggers and supporters, along with a large pitch side Jacuzzi for participants to enjoy!
When the prizes have been handed out and the weary bodies have had a chance to recover, the festival continues into the early hours in the Festival ‘Piggery’ with live ballad sessions, a live band, a bouncy castle, bucking bronco bull and of course, the disco!
Team registration is live NOW through the Irish Tag Rugby website www.tagrugby.ie. Regular updates are available on Facebook www.facebook.com/pignporter.For more information on the Pign’Porter festival please visit www.pignporter.com
Former rugby international Jerry Flannery whose Limerick pub will host the welcome party this year and tag rugby player Alie Lacey launch the 2012 Pig n’ Porter Festival in Limerick. Picture: Alan Place / Press 22
