With summer on our doorstep, it’s a common sight to see people running around on pitches with a rugby ball. Most of them have the Velcro strips flapping in the breeze. But on the back pitches of Terenure College you’ll hear them yell “touch!” instead of “tag!”
So what is touch rugby? The game of touch was established in Australia more than 40 years ago and is loosely described as a simplified non-contact version of rugby league. It’s played in some rugby clubs as a warm up in training, but is actually a competitive sport that is played at an both a social and elite level in most rugby nations, with a whopping 25,000 people playing in the UK alone.
President of the Ireland Touch Association, Mr Peter Ashe-Browne, is keen to see the sport develop throughout Ireland.
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“It’s an incredible game that has structure and develops skills really well, particularly for rugby players in the off-season looking to stay fit. All you need is a ball and a patch of grass, and everyone can get involved,” he said.
With Ireland due to participate in its second European Touch Championships this year in Bristol, the numbers participating in touch rugby has increased dramatically with four teams competing in the Mixed Open, Men’s Open, Men’s Over 35s and Men’s Over 40s divisions.
“Touch is a unique sport where men and women can play side-by-side at an international level. We are hoping that through our participation at the 2010 European Touch Championships, we can highlight touch as an accessible sport for Irish men and women of any age.”
There is currently a development squad training every Thursday evening from 8.00pm at Terenure College where you can learn the basics of touch. For more information on how to get involved in touch rugby, please visit www.touchrugby.ie or www.irelandtouchassociation.com. To see touch in action, head to You Tube and type in ‘touch rugby’.
5 QUICK TOUCH RULES:
1. There is no marker: Once a touch is made, the ‘toucher’ has to retreat to become onside.
2. Dummy half cannot get caught with the ball or score a try: The ball must be released by the dummy half or it is a turnover.
3. Don’t drop the ball!: If the ball hits the ground, it is a turnover.
4. The attacker can initiate a touch: This allows the attacking team to dictate the pace of play, and encourages the attacking team to play the ball quickly in the hope of forcing the defensive team offside.
5. There is no kicking: Touch is all about passing, and avoiding being touched. Speed, skill and structure are key to a good game of touch.
IRELAND TO COMPETE FOR TOUCH RUGBY EUROPEAN TITLE
The Ireland Touch Association has today named the four teams to compete in July at the 2010 European
Touch (Rugby) Championships in Bristol from 22-25 July.
The four teams representing the best touch rugby players in Ireland will compete in the Mixed Open, Men’s
Open, Men’s Over 35s and Men’s Over 40s divisions.
Peter Ashe-Browne, President of the Ireland Touch Association, is confident of success in Bristol.
“Our squads have been training for several months now and are a group of dedicated men and women who
are determined to assert Ireland as contenders for the European title,” he said.
“While the Men’s Over 40s are confident of retaining their title as Champions of Europe, our Mixed Open
team firmly believes it can build on the success of their debut at the last European Championships in 2008.”
The Men’s Open team and Men’s Over 35s team will make their first ever appearance for Ireland at a
European level this year.
Mr Ashe-Browne also highlighted the importance of this tournament as preparation for the World Cup next
year in Edinburgh.
“As touch is still a developing sport in Ireland, competitions such as the European Championships are the
perfect setting to showcase the natural talent of many Irish players who have taken up the sport in the last
five years,” he said.
“Touch is a unique sport where men and women can play side-by-side at an international level. We are
hoping that through our participation at the 2010 European Touch Championships, we can highlight touch
as an accessible sport for Irish men and women of any age.”
This year, the event will bring together 56 teams with over 900 players and more than 50 referees from 16
different countries.
Mixed Open: Aroha Nathan; Ashley McLaughlan; Christina Tuataga; Claire Camilleri; Craig D’Alton;
Deanna O’Byrne; Eddie Devitt; Elizabeth Comerford; Emma O’Byrne; Eric Jackman; Katie O’Byrne; Michael
Wills; Nathan Simpson; Shannon Tau; Simon Neale; Teresa Aldous.
Men’s Over 40s: Frank Ennis; Edward Morton; Simon McKenna; Howard Tracey; Fergus Conway; Rory
Hickey; Brian Sweeney; Philip Elliott; John Gleeson; Kevin Stiles; Barry Keogh; Paul Brown; David
O’Donnell; Brian Noble; Martin Huggard; Peter Ashe-Browne
Men’s Over 35s: Andrew Moss; Paul Bradley; Gary Purcell; Federico Black; Mark Bagnal; Boris Darceaux;
Micheal Davies; Emerson Devlin; David Dowling; Les Devlin; Garret Fanning; Garrett Agnew; Clayton
Homer; Peter Gilbourne; Gerald Pelosi.
Men’s Open: David Beagon; Jack Brennan; Daragh Devlin; John Gavin; Alan Glenn; Mark Kavanagh;
Adam Kelly; Nicholas Leung; Luke Madden; Kevin Masterson; Eamon McAlleese; Stephen O’Connor;
Shane O’Neill; Killian O’Sullivan; Josh Russell Carroll; Mark Woolfield
For more information on Touch Rugby in Ireland, please click here
