Wigan Summer Tournament 2026

Wigan one-day tournament is back and it is setting the tone for summer.

In 2025, fourteen teams descended on Wigan St Cuthberts ARLFC for a proper Northern opener. Brilliant Tag Rugby, a lunchtime Tug of War, and the legendary pie eating competition all delivered. Add a famously lively after-party that ran well into the night, and you had a day that people are still talking about.

Wigan Summer Tournament 2026 proudly returns as the first tournament of the summer, bringing with it everything that makes Tag Rugby in Wigan special. Yes, the iconic pie eating competition is back. And yes, there will be plenty more to come, including extra activities, a fancy dress theme and full after party details, all to be revealed over the coming months.

The tournament will once again take place at Wigan St Cuthberts ARLFC. The venue is an easy twenty five to thirty minute walk from Wigan’s main train stations. Wigan is close to Manchester and, thanks to the West Coast Mainline, just two hours by train from London.

Top-class Tag Rugby with proper Northern hospitality.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• 16+ mixed Tag Rugby teams
• 90 minutes of game time.
• Pool stages followed by a divisions
• Travelling teams from all over the UK.
• Fancy Dress Theme – to be announced!
• Other awards for fair play, best fancy dress and other individual and team awards.
• Pies and Tug Of War!

TAG RUGBY FORMAT

• Maximum of 12 players per squad, maximum 4 male players on the pitch at any one time.
• All players must be registered for insurance purposes.
• Standard 7-a-side Try Tag Rugby rules.
• Teams will be seeded based on submitted squads. Squads must be complete by 31 May.
• Seeding is done at the discretion of Try Tag Rugby, incomplete squads may result in higher seeding than expected.
• Consumption of alcohol is prohibited until the tournament has concluded
• International cap limits apply. Please see information further down this page.
• Players must be 18 or over.

VENUE

Wigan St.Cuthberts ARLFC, Montrose Avenue, Wigan, WN5 9XN

• 10 minute taxi drive from Wigan’s two main train stations.
• Female and male changing facilities – particularly important for getting yourself changed into your after-party outfit once the games are finished.

Alcohol will only be served to non-players during the tournament. Once out of the tournament players are able to purchase alcohol. No alcohol will be permitted to be brought on site.

ON THE DAY

Fixtures for the day are scheduled to take place between 11.30am and 5pm with exact timings to be confirmed once seeding is complete. The winner’s presentation will follow the Cup Grand Final with the official after party then running until the early hours in the town centre.

Spectators are more than welcome, so make sure you bring your friends and family to enjoy the day and all it has to offer in the evening.

FOOD & DRINK

Food and drink will be available on-site throughout the day.

PLAYING KIT

ITF approved Tag Rugby shorts or tights are compulsory, available from the Try Tag Rugby shop in advance or via card at our shop on the day. A limited number of shorts will be available to hire on the day for £5.

Details on ITF Approved (Tag Rugby) Shorts / Details on Kit Items not Permitted.

REGISTRATION

Team registration is £240 for squads of 12.
Individual registration is £25 and we’ll try and add you to a team or create a team of other individuals.

If you have a couple of mates and want to play together as part of an individuals’ team, sign up and contact us at wigan@trytagrugby.com with the players’ names.

The registration deadline for the event is 12 midday on 22nd May unless the event sells out earlier.

An international player cap applies for this event. Please see the details below. It is the team’s responsibility to ensure the limit is not exceeded, if you have any queries, please contact us.

INTERNATIONAL PLAYER POINTS

All teams at Wigan Summer Tournament have 4 points maximum.

Players count towards the cap if they:

• Played international Tag Rugby representing a nation in 2025.
• Were named in the 2025 GB Tournament Squad – these players can be found on the International Talent Cap Players for 2026 Events

Point values:

• 1 point – Capped at Open or Seniors level
• 0.5 points – Capped in U22s or Masters level
• 0 points – Capped in Over 50s