National Schools Touch Championships going from strength-to-strength

It is only the beginning of 2026, but already the National Schools Touch Championships is experiencing an explosion of interest year-on-year, with more than 200 teams having entered even with four months to go until the Championships get underway.

This represents more than double the number of entries have been received compared to the same point in 2025 by Try Sports – England Touch’s schools delivery partner – which itself was significantly larger than 12 months previously.

Nearly a third of the entries have come from schools who are new to the Championships, and Try Sports Director, Dom Tripp, believes that the National Schools Touch Championships is experiencing mainstream cut-through into the education sector.

“The growth over the last five years has been exceptional, but we have not been surprised by it,” he says. “When we set up Try Sports we were sure that Touch in England could emulate what has happened over the last 20 years in Australia. We believe that we are on the verge of this, based on the level of interest from new schools, and the larger number of teams being entered by returning schools.

“We are also being asked to do more and more coaching across the country, and with England Touch’s Junior Nationals also expanding year-on-year it is clear that there is an appetite not just to try Touch, but to then commit to further development.

“It is massively exciting and we are looking forward to an enjoyable spring and summer.”

2026 National Schools Touch Championship, organised by Try Sports

North	Weds, Apr 29	Harrogate RFC
Midlands	Fri, May 1	Nottingham Riverside
South West	Weds, May 6	Cheltenham RFC
South East	Fri, May 8	Old Reigatian RFC
National Finals	Fri, June 26	Old Leamingtonians RFC