Touch France to host European Junior Touch Championships

Hosted by Touch France, the tournament will see Europe’s best and brightest juniors competing for glory in several divisions between Friday, August 12th and Sunday, August 14th 2022.

England will go into the event as the reigning champions across the 18s and 15s categories, having achieved an unprecedented unbeaten weekend at the last European Junior Touch Championships in 2019, which were also held in France.

The Event to be held at The Sports Centre De Vichy (Centre Omnisports de Vichy), will include divisions for boys, girls and mixed in the 18s and 20s age brackets and a mixed division only for 15s.

England Touch is seeking Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches for the 20s teams; CLICK HERE for more information.

Gary Reynolds, Events Manager, FIT, said he is delighted that all systems are go for the European Junior Touch Championships (EJTC22) after several false starts due to the pandemic.

“Touch has pivoted brilliantly through the COVID period by moving much of its technical development online. However, there is nothing like major international tournaments to enable our elite players to hone their skill and expertise,” he said.

“This tournament marks the official reboot for Youth international Touch and will attract plenty of participants who have been starved of elite-level action for over two years now and provides a great opportunity to build towards next year's Youth World Cup.

“We are all excited about getting back on the pitch and working with all our member nations in Europe directly to make this event a true celebration of our sport.”

Vichy is a city in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, located about 360 kilometres south of Paris and is dedicated to sports activities.

Jean-Louis Vellet, Treasurer of Touch France and tournament organiser, said: "As a member of Touch France's Board but also as a person born in the Auvergne county, I am really proud and happy to be hosting the ETJC22 in Vichy.

“Vichy is a splendid place where a lot of high-performance sportsmen and sportswomen come to train in various sports. 

“I am very proud to make everyone discover this place, from the young players and the people who will be accompanying them. I am confident that the multiple assets of Vichy will convince them that this city is as great as I think it is!

“I am really excited about hosting the future of Touch in Europe in the Auvergne county!"