The Rochdale International Mixed Tag Rugby League Festival takes place this Saturday May 28, at the Rakewood Sports Centre, Littleborough, Rochdale with a 1pm kick off with organisers describing it as Rugby League’s version of Glastonbury.

The event, now in its third year is the largest adult Rugby League festival in Europe and it will see nearly 400 men and women taking part in this mixed sex competition.

It will again see teams from all corners of the UK as well as main land Europe battle to be crowned International Tag Rugby League Champions.

With a new record number of teams taking part, the Rochdale Swarm who organise the event are justifiably proud of the fact the Festival has grown from 16 teams in the first year to 28 teams who will compete in Saturdays event.

The festival can boast having had teams taking part from Loch Lomond to Paris, London to Limerick in its brief history, as well as teams of Fijian, Australian and Kiwi exiles. Ever present have been teams from Bridgend in Wales alongside the more traditional Rugby League areas.

Tag Rugby League has proven to be the perfect vehicle to get people to take up Rugby League or to dust off the boots for another go at the sport.

One of the big attractions of The International Mixed Tag Rugby League Festival is the social aspect, with teams camping at the venue for the entire weekend.

On the Friday there is a schools Tag Rugby League competition with around 250 school children taking part.

Friday evening will see the adults take over for an International Challenge with players representing their countries of choice. Friday evening will be finished off with a welcome party, bbq and disco.

Saturday sees the big event where the 28 teams will be split into 2 competitions, an A Grade and a B Grade to produce an overall champion as well as several graded winners.

Champions two years running, the Liitleborough Lightning will be looking to retain their crown after defeating Fiji in 2009 and the Kiwi exiles team, NV US in 2010.

They will face stiff opposition though with every team improving in the last 12 months.

Once the champions have been decided the winners trophies will be presented by Rochdale Hornets Head Coach and former St. Helens Grand Final winner John Stankevitch.

Stankevitch whose autobiography is published very shortly will also help in the selection of the Finals MVP as well as with the Spirit of the Festival award which goes to the team or player who contributes the most to the festival.

Last year the Spirit of the Festival award went to the Paris based team, Try Again who literally came by planes, trains and automobiles to get to the Festival.

After the presentations are done and dusted the Saturday night festival party kicks in, with local rock group, The Jackson Kay Band really pushing that festival feel!
The players and friends party late into the night to finish off what will be a real weekend to remember.

For more details contact the Rochdale Swarm direct on 07970 079863 or email mark.wynn@talk21.com or rochdaleswarm@hotmail.co.uk