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Here at the England Touch Association we are delighted to continue our commitment to improving LGBTQ+ participation and inclusion within Touch by becoming the first National Governing Body to join the Pride In Touch Partnerships Programme. Pride In Touch is an organisation aimed at improving LGBTQ+ participation in Touch across the world. Their Partnerships Programme gives NGBs ...

Mixed National Touch Series action was back on the agenda for the first time in nearly two years this weekend with the opening rounds of the 2021 Elite and Development Series. The basic stats are impressive alone – more than 580 players, tens more referees and staff, 144 matches featuring 48 teams from 32 clubs across six fields, all happening at the home of Banbury RFC. This w ...

The National Touch Series action comes thick and fast in Banbury this weekend with Sunday’s opening round of the 2021 Development NTS season. The Development NTS has become increasingly important within the England Touch pathways over the past few years, with the standard of play increasing all the time and more new clubs entering teams. Manchester Chargers led from start to fi ...

Some 23 months after the best teams in England last locked horns in the Elite National Touch Series, they will return to the field in Banbury this Saturday for the first of three tournaments to decide who will be the best Mixed team in the country. It was a massive disappointment that 2020 was written off, not least because 2019 had been an extremely competitive year within the ...

Touch Rugby has proven itself to be a strong proving ground for future top flight female players across England. Players with England international and representative experience have been turning out in both the Premier 15s and Women’s Super League in recent weeks and months, showing that the skills you develop in Touch are transferrable into the other versions of rugby. Freya ...

This weekend marks our first National Touch Series events of the season, and the first nationally organised tournament since early March 2020. Anyone coming to Banbury as a referee – whether for the Elite NTS on Saturday or the Development NTS on Sunday – then please note that enhanced Covid-19 protocols will be in place. In addition to a health questionnaire, we are strongly r ...

“I would like others to experience what I have had the pleasure of being involved in - and being able to facilitate that has been a joy to be part of, let's hope we see many more years of enjoyment.” Working alongside my wonderful wife, Siany, we helped start the Crewe & Nantwich RUFC Touch section in 2011 – which is where it all began initially as players then probably mor ...

“I can honestly say that my time spent as a Touch Rugby volunteer has been incredibly enjoyable and rewarding, but also hard work. Volunteering has given me a sense of belonging and also a great feeling of pride not just in my club but towards the game.”   I think that my Touch Rugby volunteer story is quite different to most as I have never actually played Touch, not once. I s ...

“Volunteering allows me to give something back to a sport that's been very good to me over the years.” Background I was first introduced to touch in 2004 whilst living in Japan. I played in a single tournament, with the Okayama Grapes of Wrath, which we won, then forgot all about it. It wasn't until I moved to London in 2011 that I started playing regularly, initially with a fe ...

“I feel great when I bump into former pupils from my school and they thank me for introducing them to rugby, football or Touch. It's incredibly rewarding.” I initially volunteered at Norwich Rebels because the club was in danger of folding due to lack of numbers and few opportunities to play locally in Norfolk. When I discovered Touch I realised that I absolutely loved it and d ...