For the 2025 calendar year, Tag Republic will introduce a new Premiership format, officially named the Super League. This new structure aims to enhance league growth, create pathways for new players, and uphold high standards of competitive tag rugby.
The Super League will continue to follow Tag Republic Quota Rules
Objectives:
- Grow participation in Tag Republic Prem leagues.
- Support player development
- Provide an accessible entry point for players.
- Support team growth while upholding competitive standards.
Premiership protocols for 2025
Club Sizes
Club teams are allowed a maximum of 18 registered players per league. This capacity ensures adequate cover in case of injuries or absences.
Teams must submit their roster of 18 players at the start of the league. If a team needs to field a player outside of the registered 18, they must seek approval from the Directors of Tag Republic.
Fielding an unregistered player without prior approval may result in a forfeit and a points deduction.
Super League Player Transfers
If you’re transferring a player from one club to another, who is currently registered or has previously played in a Tag Republic Prem League team, please submit your transfer request to tagrepublic@tagrugby.ie by March 14th.
All teams are subject to Tag Republic Quota Laws.
Franchise Teams
Clubs looking to develop players beyond their core panel of 18 can establish additional teams under their club umbrella. This allows for seamless transfers between club-affiliated teams without the need for formal transfer requests.
However, these transfers may be subject to some limitations if a transfer is deemed to negatively impact a team’s competitiveness. The transfer may be challenged, as the primary goal of the leagues is player development and growth.
For example, if Team A and Team B operate as franchise teams, but Team B has a player with international prospects, while Team A already has a high number of Cork representatives and IQ players, transfers may be restricted if they significantly impact Team B’s competitiveness in the league. All teams are still subject to IQ Laws.
Super League Laws
- Super League is subject to ITF Laws.
- Squads must be submitted by March 21st and comply with ITRA International Quota laws. These rosters will also be shared with Cork Chiefs National coaches. If you’re unable to fill your squad, please inform the directors of Tag Republic so we can make note if players are to be added to your squad at a later date.
- Any players beyond the initial 18 must receive prior approval to ensure a consistent playing standard across teams.
- Each week, captains are required to submit their lineups via a Google form sent out in the captains’ WhatsApp group. Teams must be submitted by 5 p.m. on game day. If possible, include players’ jersey numbers, and when possible, games will be recorded. These recordings will be shared with teams and Irish Tag Rugby to support player development and allow Irish coaches to observe players.
- Players are only allowed one prem game per night. Any players found to be playing with multiple teams will result in a forfeit and 4-point deduction to their club team and to the team they were filling in with.
Cork Chiefs
Tag Republic is Cork’s only ITF-approved league, offering players the opportunity to compete at a higher level. Participation in the league provides a pathway to regional representation and potential selection for international tag rugby.
Cork Chiefs is Tag Republic’s National Representative Tag Rugby Team.
Any player looking to play at the ITRA Nationals competition in any category and hoping to have the opportunity to represent Cork, will need to be registered for a team and actively playing in Tag Republic’s Super League, formally known as the Premiership League, and to have played at least 7 games over the Spring & Summer leagues.
Players playing Mixed Development for the first year, can be recruited from social leagues and encouraged to join premiership club teams.
Tag Republic Proposal for an 8-team league:
Tag Republic intends to adopt a new Premiership format, aimed at growing the league, providing a pathway for new players, while maintaining high standards of competitive tag rugby and working with coaches to help develop players.
The proposed format divides the league into two pools. Super League shall continue to follow Tag Republic Quota Rules
Example Format for an 8-Team League (6-Week Season):
Pool Assignment:
- Teams will be pre-graded based on competitive levels. Tag Republic will work with club captains and coaches for accurate pool placements.
- Pool A: Teams with multiple players who have represented their country and a high of players who have played open and senior categories in the ITRA Nationals Competition.
- Pool B: Teams with multiple Mixed Deevelopment category representatives at a previous Nationals or new to Prem. These teams are more or less in line with the new ITRA guidelines surrounding Mixed Development which can be found here.
Pool B teams can follow, if required, Tag Republic’s previous “Super 8s” style: where players sign up individually, are drafted into squads, and can access coaching and additional training. Coaches can also draft players into squads.
Schedule:
- Each team plays the other teams within its pool once.
- Two crossover weeks: Each team plays two 20-minute crossover games against teams from the opposite pool.
- Each game will contribute to league standing in each group.
Example Pool Structure:
| Super League | |
| Pool A | Pool B |
| Team A | Team 1 |
| Team B | Team 2 |
| Team C | Team 3 |
| Team D | Team 4 |
Finals Week:
- Pool A: Compete for the Premiership Cup and Premiership Plate in 1 vs. 2 and 3 vs. 4 matchups.
- Pool B: Compete for the Challenge Cup and Challenge Plate, also in 1 vs. 2 and 3 vs. 4 matchups.
Please note the above is a sample league format and could be subject to a change for example 1 week of grading before being placed in pools.
Super League Coaches
Tag Republic is seeking assistance from coaches for the recruitment and development of players in the Pool B format of the Premiership. The objective is to enhance the overall development of teams and introduce new players to the Premiership level.
Rewards
Coaches shall be compensated for assisting in the development of teams. Coaches shall receive a discount for their next entry for a team of their choosing while also receiving their entry for ITRA Nationals competition.
Franchise & Player Transfers
- Club teams can use this opportunity to franchise their teams, making player transfers seamless.
- Before the commencement of a league, Players may move within their franchise club, from Pool B to a Pool A club, or visa versa, will not be subject to transfer requests but may be limited if it negatively impacts a team’s competitiveness.
- Players may not play for 2 teams within 1 league.
Coaching Guidelines
- Coaches are not permitted to “fill in” for the teams they coach unless they were included in the initial squad at the beginning of the league.
- Coaches must actively aid in the recruitment of Prem B club teams.
- Coaches must be actively engaged in coaching and developing their assigned teams.
Accountability & Compliance
- Coaches found not to be engaging with the teams they have committed to developing may forfeit the prizes outlined above at the discretion of Tag Republic.
This initiative aims to strengthen player development while providing incentives for clubs and coaches to invest in the future of the Premiership format.
Coaches interested in participating in this initiative can submit their requests to the directors of Tag Republic via email tagrepublic@tagrepublic.ie.
