BEACH volleyball might be grabbing the headlines this week but it is the unlikely sport of rugby which will be taking centre stage at Horseshoe Bay later this month.

A tag tournament involving up to a dozen mixed teams is being set up with a view to aping the success of European beach rugby.

Organiser Sue Rebello hopes the inaugural event on September 30 can blossom into an annual extravaganza. The short six-a-side games will be played over a 180 foot by 90 foot pitch large enough to open the game up.

"It will leave gaps large enough for people to run through ? you must mark your man," said Rebello who began playing rugby last season with Renegades ladies in the thriving women's league which started last year.

Squads are restricted to eight players ? two of whom must be women.

Player will wear tags on each hip which must be grabbed by opposing players to signify they have been tackled. A beginner's clinic run by national team coach Pete Shillingford will start at 3 p.m. before the main action an hour later.

Rebello said a key part of the tournament was to entice new players to the sport.

"We want to encourage players who may have played in the past to think about coming out. They are basic short games to get a taste of it."

Youth games for the over fives will also be interspersed with the adult games.

Rebello's own club Renegades are putting three or four sides in, Teachers Rugby Club want to take part but she is still awaiting confirmation from other teams before the deadline of September 15.

And she is encouraging teams and individuals interested in taking part to get in touch.

Beach tournaments are popular in Europe said Rebello who has been playing with clubmates at Horseshoe Bay on Thursday evenings all summer.

"It's quite hard to run around the beach," conceded the 34-year-old who got into rugby after spotting an advert for the women's league on the Internet.

"I am quite sporty but I didn't really find a team sport I was that interested in but rugby was quite challenging. I didn't have the ball skills for soccer."

Teams interested in entering a side must pay $100. Food is included and there is a cash bar. Part proceeds will go to enhancing junior rugby in the schools.

If you are interested in playing email srebellonorthrock.bm