The 28th and 29th July 2012 sees rugby return once again to the Fiddlers’ Green International Folk Festival as one of the main non-musical events of an action packed week in the village of Rostrevor.
This year will see the biggest and best Fiddlers’ Green Rugby Tournament in the event’s 18 year history. 2012 has a series of “Firsts” that will make the Tournament even better than in the past.
THE FIDDLER’S BOOT, MEN’S SENIOR COMPETITION
For the first time there will be cash prizes for the successful participants. The senior competition for “the Fiddler’s Boot” will see a prize of £500 awarded to the winning team and £100 to the losing finalists.
THE VERY SOCIABLE FIDDLER’S SOCK JUNIOR MEN’S EVENT
The junior event will be focusing on the social side of the game and the prize of undying honour awaits the victorious finalist in “the Fiddlers’ Sock” and maybe a pair of socks if the budget stretches that far!
THE INAUGURAL LADIES’ 10 ASIDE EVENT
For the first time ever there will be a 10 aside ladies event. We have yet to name this event and there will be a prize for the best (printable) suggestion for a name for the event in future years.
AND IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH THERE’S A TAG TOURNAMENT ON THE SUNDAY!
If Saturday is full contact then Sunday afternoon will be decidedly non-contact as we invite all-comers and all age groups to turn up on the Sunday for a Tag Rugby blitz. All teams will be feature mixed age groups and the emphasis will definitely be on participation by the younger players with 8 to 80 being welcome to participate. The details of this event will be posted on our Web and Face Book pages in the coming days.
OUR SPONSORS
This year we are delighted to welcome on board as main sponsors The Canal Court Hotel, Newry and Heineken Lager.
The support of the Canal Court Hotel for local sports is well known. We are delighted that they have come on board as main sponsors and we encourage all our supporters to support them in turn.
The Heineken brand needs no introduction here and we are pleased (following their successful involvement in some other rugby competitions) to welcome them to this event.
In addition to our commercial sponsors this event is part funded by Newry & Mourne District Council and our thanks goes out to that August Body and all its staff who have been so supportive in helping to put this weekend of summer rugby together.
COOL BATHS ON A HOT DAY
This year also sees the provision of some post match recuperative facilities with the provision of a Hydropool iced bath to help revive the weary limbs after the day’s contest.
For those players who might baulk at the thought of an icy plunge (even in the sunny month of July) we will also have ordinary hot showers available to help you get cleaned up after the matches.
A REAL BEER TENT (AND A LOT ELSE BESIDES)
Seeing as we are being sponsored by a brewery unsurprisingly this year will see the introduction of our fully fledged (and licensed) Heineken Beer Tent serving ice cold Heineken lager and other drinks besides, in Kilbroney Park so that players and spectators will no longer have any excuse for drinking warm beer and flat minerals from the boot of their car. (Serious warning: Newry & Mourne District Council have declared in their bye-laws that with the exception of the Heineken Beer tent and its licensed area, Kilbroney Park shall be an alcohol free area.) Of course soft drinks, water and food will also be available throughout the course of the day.
Music will be provided throughout the day with jazz, pop and rock all featuring in the range of entertainments that will be available for our visitors.
ACCOMMODATION
We are currently organising the provision of camping facilities in Kilbroney Park with the owners, Newry & Mourne District Council and will update all interested parties about this in the coming days.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? ENROL NOW!
The competitions are open to teams from all accredited rugby clubs. Whether you have played for Ireland or have never kicked a rugby ball in your life we want you to come and enjoy a brilliant day’s craic, so log on to our website now and enrol your team ASAP. The entry fee is a snip at a mere £50 per team. That’s less than the price of a pint of Heineken per man (or woman)!
