Who said rugby is over?

Yes, the fifteen a side code has drawn to a close but have no fear senior mixed grade touch rugby is here!

But what is touch rugby? If you asked a rugby union or league player of a more mature age, it’s a warm up you play while waiting for the coach to get organised. If you asked a younger more modern coach for lack of a better term, it’s a training drill/conditioned game to use when you don’t want the pressure of contact or focusing on handling. I being the stout Ross-Sutherland man I am, would fall into both of these categories. Now don’t get me wrong, I love using touch as a warm up and part of a session, it incorporates the skills needed for rugby and since there is no pressure of contact, players can get more involved and play a fast brand of rugby. Quick disclaimer though, if you are going to use touch as a warm up, make sure players do a quick individual warm up or are sensible enough to know not to go flat out straight away and ease themselves into it.

When I moved to the land of the long white cloud, the boys invited me along to a touch tournament, being the slight fella I am, I was thinking I could nip in and out of the way of others, throw a goose step here and a hitch kick there and an up and under on the fifth. But, to my dismay, they were playing touch rugby but the likes of which I had never seen. Retreating back five meters after every tackle, one handed touches, no kicking, hellish strict on travelling and touch and pass. It took me a about three sessions to break the habits of “European touch” and another couple after that to understand the tactics of this form of the game.

What I learnt from it all though, touch rugby is its own sport! It is played in every corner of the world and most major cities now have touch leagues. It is incredible for your fitness! The game is at least three times faster than rugby and if you are looking to speed up your decision making, defensive re alignment or just trying to cut a couple of pounds, this game is for you. It is unbelievably good craic! I played in the Canterbury city league, games were played two nights a week. But there would be a couple hundred playing every night. Twelve pitches going on at once, with age groups ranging from under 16s to over 50s. there was men’s only, girl’s only and mixed. At least three different barbecues going and the bar was open. Perfect!

This is Ross-Sutherlands take on summer touch,
Starting Thursday the 8th of June, we are going to be running a social touch tournament everything Thursday until the 6th July. Teams are arranged by where you live and the six teams are; Tain and Sutherland Knights, Fearn and Port Barbarians, Invergordon Riggers, Alness Wildcats, Evanton & Dingwall Staggies and Inverness & Black Isle Bruisers.
Every Thursday is going to be a 7pm meet for a 7:15 kick off.

It is going to be a mixed grade league therefore, teams can have as many boys and girls they want but there must be at least two girls on the pitch at all times. Anyone over the age of sixteen is welcome no matter what your experience of rugby or sport in general is.

If you want more information, The Facebook page for this is “Ross-Sutherland Mix grade touch” or as always get in touch with me at ross.sutherlandrdo@gmail.com

Chur
John Mann, Community and Rugby Development Officer