Great Britain have been crowned Try Tag Rugby 2023 British & Irish Cup champions after a comprehensive victory at King’s House Sports Ground, Chiswick on June 24 – the triumph is only the second time in the history of the competition that Great Britain have been victorious. With the Tag World Cup just five weeks away, the tournament provided a final opportunity for sides to test themselves at international level before travelling to Limerick in August.
Eight categories were in action at the event with seven of them counting toward the awarding of the British & Irish Cup. Great Britain demonstrated particular dominance across the Women’s categories, securing 3-0 clean sweeps in Women’s Open and Women’s 30s, and a 2-1 victory in the Women’s 35s which was an exhibition category in the GB team’s inaugural year. Great Britain now leads the overall Women’s categories 10-4 all-time.
In the Mixed categories Great Britain claimed a historic first win in Mixed Open, taking the category 2-0 after the first test was drawn. This also marked the first time GB had won more than one game in the category at a single tournament as well as the first time Ireland had been winless. Ireland did however maintain their winning run in the Mixed Seniors category although just like last year Great Britain’s losses were by very narrow margins before they secured a solid win after the series had been decided. Ireland now leads the overall Mixed categories 14-2 all-time.
The Men’s categories saw two victories for Great Britain, 2-1 in both Men’s Open and Men’s 40s. Great Britain had secured Men’s Open before Ireland took an impressive victory on the main live stream for the tournament while Men’s 40s came down to a deciding third test that was crucial in deciding the overall winner of the B&I. Ireland’s strongest performances once again came in the Men’s 30s category where they kept GB scoreless over the first two games and won a 3-0 series sweep. Great Britain now leads the overall Men’s categories 10-7 all-time.
Ultimately Great Britain won 5-2 in the seven eligible categories and won six out of eight including the exhibition Women’s 35s, picking up 15 total wins to Ireland’s eight to avoid any danger of repeating 2022’s heartbreaking tiebreak loss.
Great Britain Programme Director, Will Shepherd, says:
“This win, and the manner in which it was achieved, is a richly deserved result for our players, coaches and team managers who have put in an immense amount of work since last year’s result.
“It is brilliant to see the direction our teams are headed in with the World Cup now just over a month away. The challenge now is to harness this momentum and drive our teams onward and upward to the ultimate prize in Limerick!”
This was the second year in a row that the British & Irish Cup has been hosted by Great Britain and to develop a festival atmosphere, Try Tag Rugby’s social level International Cup ran alongside the tournament. The International Cup allows players of all experience levels to play in their national colours and saw Ireland Harps win the Cup competition with England Lions taking the Plate division.
The tournament was streamed across Our League alongside Try Tag Rugby’s YouTube channel and Facebook page - all the live stream action from the respective channels can be watched now on replay and photos from the event can also be found on the Great Britain Tag Rugby Facebook.
Category Results and Players of the Tournament
Women’s Open
Game 1: Great Britain 9 – 2 Ireland Game 2: Great Britain 4 – 1 Ireland Game 3: Great Britain 8 – 1 Ireland
Series Result: Great Britain 3 – 0 Ireland
Player of the Tournament: Freya Wilde (Great Britain)
Women’s 30s
Game 1: Great Britain 8 – 1 Ireland Game 2: Great Britain 7 – 0 Ireland Game 3: Great Britain 4 – 3 Ireland
Series Result: Great Britain 3 – 0 Ireland
Player of the Tournament: Caroline Henzell (Great Britain)
Women’s 35s (Exhibition Category)
Game 1: Great Britain 2 – 0 Ireland Game 2: Great Britain 1 – 2 Ireland Game 3: Great Britain 4 – 1 Ireland
Series Result: Great Britain 2 – 1 Ireland
Player of the Tournament: Emma Becker (Great Britain)
Mixed Open
Game 1: Great Britain 8 – 8 Ireland Game 2: Great Britain 13 – 8 Ireland Game 3: Great Britain 6 – 2 Ireland
Series Result: Great Britain 2 – 0 Ireland
Female Player of the Tournament: Michelle O’Driscoll (Ireland)
Male Player of the Tournament: Marcus Campopiano (Great Britain)
Mixed Seniors
Game 1: Great Britain 5 – 9 Ireland Game 2: Great Britain 6 – 8 Ireland Game 3: Great Britain 13 – 4 Ireland
Series Result: Great Britain 1 – 2 Ireland
Female Player of the Tournament: Amanda Scarfo (Great Britain)
Male Player of the Tournament: Will Powell (Great Britain)
Men’s Open
Game 1: Great Britain 4 – 2 Ireland Game 2: Great Britain 4 – 0 Ireland Game 3: Great Britain 3 – 4 Ireland
Series Result: Great Britain 2 – 1 Ireland
Player of the Tournament: Keegan Bradley (Ireland)
Men’s 30s
Game 1: Great Britain 0 – 6 Ireland Game 2: Great Britain 0 – 8 Ireland Game 3: Great Britain 5 – 9 Ireland
Series Result: Great Britain 0 – 3 Ireland
Player of the Tournament: Matt Kennerson (Ireland)
Men’s 40s
Game 1: Great Britain 8 – 2 Ireland Game 2: Great Britain 5 – 6 Ireland Game 3: Great Britain 4 – 2 Ireland
Series Result: Great Britain 2 – 1 Ireland
Player of the Tournament: Rhys Davies (Great Britain)
Great Britain won the 2023 British & Irish Cup 5-2 on categories
Ireland now leads the British & Irish Cup 7-2 all-time
British Referee of the Tournament: Dom Collingwood Irish Referee of the Tournament: Mark Scoyne
