What is Santander Alliance & Leicester Tag?

The programme, run by one of our Tigers Rugby Development Officers, visits different areas of Leicestershire and Rutland delivering teacher training seminars and three coaching sessions to every school in the area. These coaching sessions prepare participants for a regional festival held at a local rugby club.

The teacher training seminar aims to educate teachers on the rules of Tag rugby and therefore allow the continuation of the game after the Tigers coaches have left. The winners of the regional finals are invited to Welford Road to play in the district final in front of a crowd of upto 24,000 Tigers fans. At the end of each year the final winners are invited back to Welford Road for a grand final to decide that year's champions. A unique experience for all concerned!

Leicester Tigers and Santander Alliance & Leicester have another year in partnership which will see the Tigers Community coaching team taking Santander Alliance & Leicester Tag Rugby to a further 300 schools across Leicestershire and Rutland.

Santander Alliance & Leicester Tag came to an end on May 10, 2008 when Leicester Tigers took on the Harlequins. Badgerbrook Primary battled it out to become the Santander Alliance & Leicester Tag champions 2008.

2009/10 Season - Tag Standards Impress Tigers

Schoolchildren won the praise of Leicester Tigers coaches after Welford Road hosted a series of thrilling games in the Melton area finals of the Santander Alliance & Leicester Tag tournament.

Frisby CofE Primary School beat Harby CofE Primary School in the final to land the title in front of a large crowd at the home of Guinness Premiership champions Tigers. The tournament also featured Old Dalby Cof E and Somerby primary schools and was held before Tigers took on Northampton Saints in the Guinness Premiership on Saturday.

Scott Clarke, Tigers community manager, praised the play and attitude of those involved.

"Everyone who took part, from the children to the staff to their parents, should take a lot of credit for an excellent day," he said.
"The standard of tag rugby was very high and there were some close games. Everyone played with a smile on their face and really enjoyed the occasion."

Frisby joined Harby, Somerby and Old Dalby in the finals after taking part in Tigers' Santander Alliance & Leicester Tag programme. Tigers coaches spent three weeks in schools in the Melton area earlier this season, introducing children to tag rugby which culminated in a festival at Melton RFC from which the four schools qualified to play at Welford Road.

Frisby beat Somerby 6-4 to set up a final with Harby, who qualified by virtue of scoring the first try against Old Dalby after their game ended in a thrilling 7-7 draw. Frisby celebrated victory by beating Harby 7-4 in the final while Somerby beat Old Dalby 5-4 to win their second game.

Tigers coaches are currently working with schools in Rutland and will move on to Leicester city later in the year.

Tigers will hold festivals at the end of each course from which schools will qualify to play in their area finals before a first-team game at Welford Road.

The winners will then join Frisby for a play-off to decide the 2010 Santander Alliance & Leicester Tag champions.