Pig ‘n’ Porter fest to draw 120 tag teams

LIMERICK will combine its strong rugby tradition with drink, food and fun for a huge festival which will draw up to 120 teams from this country and Britain.

The 2010 Pig ‘n’ Porter Festival, the world’s largest tag rugby competition, which attracts thousands of visitors, will take place from July 16-18.

Old Crescent RFC in association with the Irish Tag Rugby Association will host the event.

Competing teams will be joined by thousands for the festivities which will centre around the Pig ‘n’ Porter BBQ night.

Organiser Padraic O’Connor said: “We’re very proud that the festival has been growing steadily over the last nine years to become the largest such event in the world. We’re delighted to add extra events like the Pig on a Spit competition and open the competition to hockey and extend the tag rugby programme.

“We expect this year’s festival once again to be a sell-out.”

Eoghan Prendergast, Limerick Development division manager with Shannon Development, said: “We are delighted to support the Pig ‘n’ Porter Festival. The development of sports tourism is an integral part of Shannon Development’s tourism strategy and events such as the Pig ‘n’ Porter Festival enable us to showcase the proud sporting tradition of Limerick to a wide audience.”

The 2010 event commences with a welcome party at The Piggery in the grounds of Old Crescent RFC featuring comedian John Kenny and musician John Spillane on Friday night, July 16.

On Saturday July 17, the main event, the Pig ‘n’ Porter Tag Rugby Festival, gets under way.

The Pig on a Spit competition also takes place as well as the underage tag rugby blitz.