England Touch signs up as Association for Physical Education NGB & Sector Affiliate

To support its strategic plans to introduce Touch Rugby (Touch) to as many children and young people as possible, the England Touch Association has joined the Association for Physical Education’s (afPE) Sector Affiliate Scheme.

Over the past three years, Touch has enjoyed exponential growth among the Under-18 age group:

• England Touch’s Schools Delivery Partner, Try Sports, has seen its tournaments expand from eight teams in 2022 to more than 100 in 2025;
• In2Touch has introduced multiple Junior Touch Cups for junior clubs;
• The 2025 Junior Nationals welcomed 450 talented young players to Nottingham’s Riverside Sports Complex – the most ever;
• More than 1,200 young people from 30 schools received introductory coaching sessions as part of the 2024 Touch World Cup event programme in Nottingham;
• England sent 11 teams to the 2025 Atlantic Youth Touch Cup, winning six Golds, one Silver and two Bronze medals;
• Support from multinational company, Vermeer UK & Ireland, for the National Schools Touch Championships Finals Day and Junior Nationals, enabling both to be live streamed.

The experience of these post-pandemic years reinforces England Touch management’s belief in the potential of Touch to be a mass participation sport among young people.

With England Touch still reliant on a small paid workforce and committed volunteer network, having key strategic partnerships is critical to support further growth, which is why England Touch has chosen to become an afPE NGB & Sector Affiliate.

afPE is the leading subject association for physical education in the UK, dedicated to promoting high quality PE and placing it at the very heart of school life.

As an NGB & Sector Affiliate, England Touch will have access to networking opportunities, professional development, engagement programmes, expert guidance and the essential health and safety guidance relied upon by teachers in their day-to-day practice.

With resources that range from introductory sessions to develop core skills all the way to the in-depth support for more experience coaches and teams, all complemented by a rule book that is straightforward to learn and a need for just a ball and some space to pick up a ball and play, England Touch’s General Manager, Sammie Phillips, says that this affiliation can help to make Touch a sport of choice for PE teachers.

“Over the last few years, we have seen schools across the country embrace Touch and introduce it into their PE programmes,” she commented. “Affiliating with afPE is a natural next step, both as we seek to learn more about best practice and to showcase our sport to their nationwide network. We’re looking forward to this exciting next chapter in our development as a National Governing Body!”

“We are delighted to be collaborating with England Touch, an organisation that places a strong emphasis on inclusion, enjoyment and meaningful participation,” added afPE Chief Executive, Kate Thornton-Bousfield. “Their commitment to supporting the development of young people’s fundamental movement skills, physical literacy and wider personal, social and cognitive skills through game-based approaches is exemplary. 

“It’s also clear that they are deeply invested in equipping PE teachers across all phases with high-quality, engaging resources that enhance the delivery of Physical Education.”

To find out more about the afPE visit afpe.org.uk

To find out how you can introduce Touch to your school visit englandtouch.org.uk/schools