The Nationals - Launch for 2013

England Touch are proud to announce the 2nd annual National Touch Tournament. This is a 2 day tournament where regional sides will compete for the national title whilst forming the basis for player development and pathway leading to National Squad selection.

The tournament will show case the best players from each region and will be used as a basis for selection for the Opens and 30′s sides for Home Nations 2013. This tournament will increase player’s exposure across England to coaching, improve coaches skills and lift the standard of England Touch across the board.

Regional and assistant coaches have been selected by the Director of Elite Coaching . Each region will announce their own trial dates, so please keep an eye on the England Touch website.

When? Where? Who?

The 2013 Nationals is to be held on 13th and 14th April 2013 at Bolton School, Chorley New Road, Bolton. This is not open to club sides, only sanctioned regional franchises are allowed to participate.

Club sides will have the NTS and CTS series to compete in and this will continue as normal for 2013.

The regional sides for 2013 are:

The exact borderlines are as shown here - Regional Map

Coaches and Contacts

North East Raiders Regional Lead – Lesley McCallion

Email: NorthEastRaiders@EnglandTouch.org.uk

North West Blades Regional Lead – Ben Powell

Email: NorthWestBlades@EnglandTouch.org.uk

Midland Tigers Regional Lead – Jon Lovell

Email: MidlandTigers@EnglandTouch.org.uk

West Wildcats Regional Lead – Dave Woolley

Email: WestWilcats@EnglandTouch.org.uk

South West Saxons Regional Lead – Nathan Joyce

Email: SouthWestSaxons@EnglandTouch.org.uk

South East Taipans Regional Lead – Marnie Wills

Email: SouthEastTaipans@EnglandTouch.org.uk

South East Sharks Regional Lead – Anna Stibbs

Email: SouthEastSharks@EnglandTouch.org.uk

Vacancies

Please see our vacancies page for current regional and national coaching vacancies. Deadline for applications is 23rd November.

Masters Grade for 2013

As our sport grows, so will the grades competing at Nationals. England Touch are introducing a Men’s Masters Grade for 2013 Nationals.

Based on player numbers and feedback there is sufficient scope to have a "North vs. South" Masters grade. Trials for the two sides are open to male players aged 35+ on or before 22^nd March 2013. The format will be North vs. South, played over a 3 games series at the Nationals tournament. This also forms the basis for player development and selection for the England Men’s 35 and 40 sides for the 2013 Home Nations.

The exact borderlines are as shown here - Regional Map

Masters - North Regional Lead – Jeff Bimson

Email - Masters_North@EnglandTouch.org.uk)

Masters - South Regional Lead – <TBC>Email - Masters_South@EnglandTouch.org.uk)

Eligibility

In order for a player to be eligible for a region, they will need to have participated in an affiliated league (see list here) in the region in the last 12 months; or be registered (and regularly play) with an affiliated club; or live within the regional boundaries outlined. Any exception needs to be authorised by the High Performance Team.

Further info on this is detailed here: Player Eligibility

Registering

Please fill in the following on-line form, which will be sent to your regional lead coach: Registration Form

Home Nations 2013

When?

21st - 23rd June 2013 in Dublin at DCU (Dublin City University).

3 days - Games Friday pm, all day Sat, inc finals, party Saturday night

Grades

Competitions are expected in the following grades. If a competition is not viable due to lack of entries, teams will enter merged competitions.

Men's Open
Women's Open
Mixed Open
Men's 30s
Women's 27s
Mixed 30s
Men's 35s
Men's 40s

Questions?

Please look at the FAQ's page to answer any of your questions. If this doesn't cover it, please email Marnie (Marnie@englandtouch.org.uk) for further info

- We are England Touch.