THE 2004 Malvern Hills District Primary Schools Tag Rugby Festival is to be held at Malvern Rugby Club on Wednesday (June 9).

Fifteen of the district's top tag rugby playing primary schools will be taking part in the event, with the winners going on to represent the Malvern Hills District at the Worcestershire Youth Games later in the month.

Malvern Hills are currently the Worcestershire county champions and the event organisers from Malvern Hills District Council and Malvern Rugby Club are hoping for repeated success in 2004 by this years local festival winners.

But a cloud hangs over the whole event because of a lack of referees willing to help out at next Wednesday's festival.

"I am becoming very worried," said Gary Tolley from Malvern Rugby Club who is helping to organise the event.

"With less than a week to the festival I have only two willing volunteer referees available, despite my efforts to call all of my regular contact from across the county for help. Unless I can get hold of four more tag ruby referees by next week, the festival will be in trouble."

Mr Tolley is hoping to contact sixth form students from the local high schools for help but he says that the invitation is open to anyone with experience of refereeing tag rugby.

If you can help contact Gary on 07743739737 or Mark Hammond from MHDC on (01684) 862291.