Scotland Hosts Maclay Murray & Spens 2006 European Touch Championships
Edinburgh will welcome 34 teams from 13 countries from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd July for the largest European Touch Rugby Championships ever held.
Over 500 competitors will make up the national teams from countries including France, Holland, Scotland and England to challenge for the European Men's, Women's, Mixed and Masters titles. Invitational teams are also travelling from as far as New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates to take part in the 3 day competition being held at Heriots RFC, Goldenacre, Bangholm Terrace, Edinburgh.
The Scottish Rugby Union have provided their full support to the event. Simon Webster, Scotland international winger commented
"Touch rugby is a game that full contact players have used for years to sharpen their ball handling skills and fitness. It is fantastic to see it growing as a sport in its own right across Scotland and Europe."
The 80 strong Scotland squad has high hopes for success at the tournament. "Touch rugby has grown significantly in Scotland over the last 10 years" explained Scotland's head coach David Short. "Leagues are now running in Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Borders."
Jenny Cochran, President of the Scottish Touch Association said "The tournament takes place every 2 years and this will be the 6th time the event has been held. We're delighted that Scotland won the tender for what is one of the largest Touch competitions in the world."
The Championships will kick off in style on Friday 21stJuly with a traditional Scottish Pipe Band leading the competing nations in a grand procession of colour for the opening ceremony. A round robin for each division will take place on the Friday and Saturday with the finals being held on Sunday 23rd July.
For further information please visit www.scottishtouch.org.uk or contact:
Alison Flintham at the Scottish Touch Association
Tel: 07810 878581
e-mail: alison.flintham@scottishtouch.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- The Tournament is being hosted by the Scottish Touch Association in association with the Federation of International Touch.
- Countries being represented at the tournament are Scotland, England, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey, France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Ireland, New Zealand and United Arab Emirates.
- Scotland will also be represented at the Touch World Cup in January 2007, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
- Touch rugby began as a warm up game for rugby league and union teams as early as the 1960s. It was Sean Lineen, former Scotland Grand Slam winning centre, who brought the game from New Zealand where it was already popular, and Touch was established as a separate sport in Scotland around 1995.
- Touch rugby is a minimal contact game played by teams of 6-a side with usually 4 or 6 substitutes. Teams may be male, female or mixed (usually 3 men & 3 women). The game emphasises the skills of running, agility, and passing and catching the ball. Although the title of the game contains the term rugby there is no tackling, lineouts, scrummaging or kicking involved.
- The sport contains many rules but the main aim of the game is for each team to score tries and to prevent the opposition from scoring. Defending players prevent the attacking team from gaining territorial advantage by touching the ball carrier. The ball carrier must then place the ball between their legs for a member of their team to pick up and drive forward again. The attacking team must score a try within 6 touches or the ball will be passed over to the opposition. The ball is also passed over for other reasons including if it is dropped or passed forward.
- Touch has been claimed as the fifth most popular sport in Australia where over 1 million people taking part in the game from schools through to international standard. New Zealand and South Africa also boast strong player bases.