Host for 2026 British & Irish Cup announced

The Irish Tag Rugby Association is delighted to announce that the 2026 British & Irish Cup will be held at University College Dublin on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August.

The annual competition between the international teams of Great Britain and Ireland returns to Irish shores this year, having been held in Nottingham in 2025. Great Britain are the current holders of the tournament, having beaten Ireland at the University of Nottingham.

The 2026 tournament will take place over two days, on familiar grounds for all parties after the successful hosting of the 2024 tournament in UCD.

Irish tag players will be even more familiar with UCD, whose top-quality facilities have hosted tag for many years. Among hundreds of leagues and blitzes, UCD has hosted tag Nationals twice and the visiting Australian Tagaroos in 2014.

University College Dublin is an established centre of sporting excellence, having hosted the 2017 Rugby World Cup. It is the current base of Leinster Rugby's professional setup, and hosts the National Hockey Stadium. 

Its sporting alumni include Ireland, Leinster, and the British & Irish Lions stars Brian O'Driscoll and Johnny Sexton, Olympic medalist Eimear Lambe, world indoor champion Derval O'Rourke, and many others.

“We are absolutely delighted to once again be hosting the B&I Cup in UCD,” commented Irish Tag Rugby Programme Director Jack Leahy.

“We have an excellent long-term relationship with UCD, and we know first-hand that their facilities are perfect for an event like this.

"The feedback from players from both nations after the 2024 event was excellent, and we jumped at the opportunity to return in 2026. The event will take place just two months before we leave for the 2026 ITF Tag World Cup in Coff's Harbour, and represents an important opportunity to sharpen our game ahead of that trip.

“UCD has a well-earned reputation for sporting excellence and we can’t wait to welcome our friends from Great Britain Tag Rugby to the campus in August”.