At the last International Cup tournament held in November 2013, it was the Kiwis who held up the silverware in the Mixed A grade division by beating England in the final in a nail biter.
This time around, the Aussies stamped their class by going through their six pool stage matches undefeated but had narrow victories against Great Britain Ladies (one point) and London New Zealand (two points).
It was the Great Britain Ladies national team who will be taking on Ireland and Australia next month over in Limerick who the London Aussies were to face in the final. The Aussies defence was rock solid, only conceding two tries to claim back the Try Tag Rugby International Cup Mixed A grade title which they last won in June 2013.
In the Intermediate grade, the London Australia team were last November’s champions but couldn’t defend their title this time around. The team captained by seven time International Cup representative, George Katralis performed admirably but didn’t make the final. They will surely bounce back in the November International Cup tournament.
In the Social grade, the Aussies and Kiwis joined forces to form the London Anzacs! The Anzacs started slowly but timed their run perfectly by making the final and defeating London Ireland to claim the title.
The next one day tournaments coming up are the 2014 London Tag Rugby Championships (team event) on Saturday, 16th August in West Ham which attracted a record 42 teams in 2013 and the Provincial Challenge tournament (individual event) on Saturday, 13th September in Acton.
The Provincial Challenge is an individual sign up event and is a similar concept to the International Cup except it breaks the nations up into provinces such as NSW, QLD (Australia), North England, South England (England), North Island, South Island (New Zealand), Connaught, Leinster, Munster, Ulster (Ireland) and the London Exiles (all other nations).
This is a chance to break up your regular team and play against your mates in a friendly tournament whilst making a whole bunch of new mates in the process. You’re teamed up with players who share a common interest so you’ll no doubt be good friends with your new team mates after six or seven games together over the day and the big after party post tournament.
The next International Cup tournament will be held on Saturday, 1st November in Acton and registrations will be open soon.
Meanwhile, all attention is now on the Summer leagues which commence from Tuesday, 24th June onward. All leagues are now open for team and individual registrations.
Summer leagues are taking place at the following venues: Acton (men’s & mixed), Balham (men’s & mixed), Borough, Canada Water, Clapham Common, East London RFC (West Ham – men’s & mixed), Finsbury Park (men’s & mixed), Fulham, Highbury, Hyde Park, Reading, Richmond, Shoreditch (men’s & mixed), Wandsworth Town (men’s & mixed) & Wimbledon.
If you’re an Aussie new to London, if you get involved you will make a heap of new friends, keep fit and have plenty of fun! We look forward to welcoming you to a Tag Rugby pitch soon.
If you would like to get involved in a Try Tag Rugby competition or event, go to www.trytagrugby.com or email info@trytagrugby.com for more details.