Funded by rfu.com/O2Touch 02 Get hands on with Introduction Get hands on with Introduction 03 Touch Rugby

Few sensations in compare to the thrill of running with a rugby ball in hand and scoring a try. The good news is that it couldn’t be easier to experience that release on a regular basis. Touch rugby is the answer. This exhilarating sport can be played by almost anyone, regardless of gender, age, ability and experience.

The simplicity of touch rugby is This booklet is the RFU’s its strength – all you need is two comprehensive guide to getting teams, a ball and you’re away. the most from this fantastic sport. Touch allows you to keep fit It gives useful tips on tactics, without setting foot in the gym. rules, refereeing and organising Above all, touch is the perfect club events. But above all, it is a opportunity to relax and have call to action: get your hands on fun with friends, whilst improving a rugby ball. You’ll not regret it! coordination, strength and speed. For further information, Our busy lifestyles mean we have please visit our website at to make choices about how we rfu.com/O2Touch fill our precious spare time. Too often, the constraints of training every week and playing every weekend become impractical. Therefore more and more people are choosing to play touch rugby, getting their fix without compromising their job, studies, family or relationship.

Clubs are the lifeblood of rugby in : a vital network for keeping the sport in good health. For clubs, touch rugby represents Touch [tuhch] a means of recruiting new players and retaining existing members, vb. to stop the opponent by tapping any part of their body or ball; as well as keeping the doors open n. 1 either of the sidelines or the area outside; 2 a piece during the summer months. of skill, showing sleight of hand or nimble footwork.

06 Get hands on with Class of touch: Get hands on with Class of touch: 07 Touch Rugby The inside line Touch Rugby The inside line

Fitness Principles of Play Club selection Touch rugby is easy to learn and Touch: a crash course Go forward to score tries/ a great way to get in shape. It is touchdowns, although it can be One of the best ways to get especially useful within warm ups A fast-paced game, touch tactically advantageous to move and in pre-season training. towards the sidelines making involved is to join a club. is similar to conventional rugby space for attacking play. Miss- Finance passes and quick hands make Just remember the five Fs… Touch rugby is a good way to keep but without the , , ground before a touch is made. club facilities open all year round and a successful means of gaining ruck, maul, lineouts or kicking. When defending, deny your Fun new members. Touch tournaments opponents time and space by Touch rugby is enjoyable, sociable can also attract local business The object is to score the moving forward and making the and exhilarating, the perfect sponsorship. touch. The faster you move up, sport to play with family, friends, most tries, each being worth the less ground they can make. partners, work colleagues and old Fundamentals team-mates. Touch rugby brings together one point, and to prevent the Support the ball carrier, giving the core skills of many , more options in attack and Flexible opposition scoring. developing the basic principles keeping possession. Close Touch rugby can be played by men of attack and defence, without support saves passing the ball and women regardless of age, the need for contact. It teaches The team that wins the toss The half (scrum half equivalent) a long way back to a teammate. ability or fitness. It can be played running, dodging, chasing, chooses the direction of play and is not allowed to score and loses at a club, in the park or on the passing and catching, as well as starts with a tap from the middle possession if caught with the ball. The speed of getting the ball off beach. All you need is an open decision-making, communication of the pitch, the opposition being The opposition then restart play the floor following a rollball is space and a ball. and support play. back 10 metres. with a rollball, backwards between crucial and the ball carrier should the player’s feet. always know where support The ball is passed backwards players are. A flat pass directly as in contact rugby. It may be The length of the match can sideways can often be effective. passed, knocked or handed be varied but is often two 10 between players who must stay minute halves and the size of Frequent Interchange: a fresh onside, behind the ball carrier. the pitch can vary, with matches set of legs can be the difference Defending players stop them by frequently played across half a between winning and losing. touching the ball carrier. rugby pitch (ie 70 metres long Interchange players while your by 50 metres wide). team is on the attack. Once you After a touch all defenders must have scored, it is a good idea to be back 5 metres from where Each team comprises of six get a whole new set of players on the touch was made and after 6 players on the pitch at any one the field for maximum intensity. touches the attacking team must time. Squads can be anything hand the ball to the other side. up to 14. However, smaller Team communication is vital: squads enable maximum both talk on the field and overall When a try/touchdown is scored involvement. In a mixed understanding of what the team play resumes with a tap in the competition, the gender balance is trying to do and how to affect it. middle of the field from the team can be adapted appropriately that didn’t score. ensuring that both genders Running with the ball in two hands are represented at all times. reduces the risk of dropping it. The ball must be run over your opponents’ try/score line and touched firmly down, the referee confirming the score.

10 Get hands on with Touch points: Get hands on with Touch points: 11 Touch Rugby Getting started Touch Rugby Getting started

Nuts and bolts

1 Passing 6 Scoring 8 Possession 9 Penalty The ball must be passed A try/touchdown is awarded A change of possession When a player/team is backwards or directly sideways when a player places the ball occurs when: penalised the opposition at all times. A forward pass on or over the scoreline before restarts play with a tap taken results in a penalty to the other being touched. – The ball is dropped to ground. at the mark, the defending team. A “touch and pass”, team retiring 10 metres from when a touched player passes 7 The Tap – The scrum half/the half is the mark. Play restarts with the ball after the touch, results The tap restarts play from touched while in possession. a tap when the following in a penalty. a penalty. The ball is placed infringements occur: on the ground at the mark. – The sixth touch occurs. 2 The Tackle/The Touch The attacking player releases – Forward pass. A touch can be made on any it from both hands and taps – The scrum half/the half part of the body, ball, clothing it with either foot a distance places the ball on or over – Touch and pass. or hair, with one hand or two. of not more than one metre the score line. Minimum force is to be used before picking it up cleanly. – Performing a rollball prior at all times. The team in Any player from the attacking – A rollball is performed to a touch being made. possession is entitled to team may take the tap or pick incorrectly. six touches. the tapped ball up. – Not performing a rollball on – A tap is performed incorrectly. the mark. 3 Ruck Ball/Rollball This restarts play from a touch. – The player in possession – Using more than the minimum The player in possession steps on or over the touchline. force to effect a touch. stands on the mark, facing At a change of possession, the opponents’ defending line play is restarted with a rollball. – Defenders offside at the and rolls the ball backwards rollball (5 metres). between his feet a distance of not more than one metre. – Defenders offside at the This player may not pick the tap (10 metres). ball up. The player picking it up is the scrum half/the half. – Incorrect substitution.

4 The Scrum Half/The Half – Falsely claiming a touch. The scrum half/the half is the player who picks up the ball from a – Misconduct. ruck/rollball, they are not allowed to score and lose possession if – Playing more than the caught with the ball. allowable number of players.

5 Offside – Deliberately delaying play. An attacking player is offside when forward of another – Obstruction - defending attacking player who either has players must not obstruct or possession or who last had interfere with attacking players possession of the ball. supporting the ball carrier. A defending player is offside when not retreating 5 metres for a rollball or 10 metres for a penalty or restart of play. Defending players cannot move forward until the scrum half/ the half has touched the ball. 12 Get hands on with Touch points: Get hands on with Touch points: 13 Touch Rugby Getting started Touch Rugby Getting started

10 Substitution 13 Extra Time (The Drop Off) Teams may interchange players Should a knock-out match be a at any time but substitutes draw at full time, in a period of may not enter the pitch until extra time: the replaced player comes off and must start in an onside – Each team loses one player. position. The only exception is following a try/touchdown, – Play restarts with a tap from when players may change the centre by the team who over without having to wait for won the toss at the start of the substituted player to leave the game. the pitch. – After two minutes, the hooter 11 Defence dropping 10 metres sounds and the referee stops The defending team must the game at the next touch retreat 10 metres, in a straight or dead ball. Each team then line, from the team with the loses one more player. ball at the start of the game and after a penalty (tap ball). – Once teams have only three If the defending team concedes players each, play continues a penalty, the referee will until a touchdown is scored. insist they are back the full If a team has a player sent off 10 metres and will push the or sin binned at this point, they players back until satisfied. forfeit the game.

12 Defence dropping 5 metres – During the drop off, for a winner The defending team will to be declared, both teams frequently have to retreat 5 must have had possession. metres, in a straight line, from If a team scores straight from the team with the ball. This the restart at the beginning of occurs after each touch and the drop off, the other team subsequent rollball. When should restart as normal, and defending players don’t have play until they either score or time to retreat the full 5 metres lose possession. they must allow the attackers to run unimpeded for 5 metres – In a mixed competition, before affecting the touch. the gender balance can The referee will let the be adapted appropriately defenders know where the while keeping both genders 5 metre mark is. represented at all times.

Try [trahy] n. the enjoyable act of scoring by placing the ball on or beyond the try/score line; vb. to show effort and enthusiasm, adding to the team cause. Typical by-products include enjoyment, fitness and victory.

16 Get hands on with The rules of Get hands on with The rules of 17 Touch Rugby engagement Touch Rugby engagement

Marking out the pitch Pitch layout Markers/cones are placed at the 1 In Goal Area intersection of trylines/sidelines and halfway line/sidelines. 2 Try/Score line

It is recommended that markers 3 5m broken line or cones are not placed on the 5 metre broken lines or on the 4 10m broken line In Goal Area lines. 1 5 Halfway line The ball 3 The recommended ball size 6 Substitution box / is size 4, or smaller for junior 4 Technical Zone competitions.

Footwear Boots with moulded studs and trainers are permitted. 2 A word of caution! Most touch pitches will be marked on top of existing 15 a side rugby pitches. Please be aware of any existing infrastructure, i.e. goal posts, floodlight stations, crowd barriers and fences. 5 If any of these are close to the 70m touch pitch, we recommend marking safety areas at the ends 6 50m and sides, of not less than 5 metres where practicable.

5-10m 18 Get hands on with The rules of Get hands on with The rules of 19 Touch Rugby engagement Touch Rugby engagement

The Tap/Free or Penalty Kick 1 2 1 The ball must be placed on the mark.

2  The ball must be released from both hands.

3 The ball is tapped with either foot in any direction, a distance of not more than 1 metre.

4 The ball must be picked up cleanly.

3 4 20 Get hands on with The rules of Get hands on with The rules of 21 Touch Rugby engagement Touch Rugby engagement

The Ruck Ball/Rollball 1 The touch is made by a 1 2 3 defending player on the player in possession, with one hand or two.

The player in possession must stop and return to the mark to perform a rollball.

2 At the mark the player must 4 perform the rollball without delay. They must face their opponents’ defending scoreline.

3 The ball must not be rolled more than 1 meter and must be picked up cleanly.

4 The scrum half/the half is the person who picks the ball up after their team mate has performed the rollball. The ball must be picked up without delay. 22 Get hands on with The rules of Get hands on with The rules of 23 Touch Rugby engagement Touch Rugby engagement

But please don’t forget that Touch can also be used to give Become a Referee: The referee is responsible for younger players and newcomers ensuring the match is played in a touch rugby can be played a gradual introduction to contact Anyone can referee touch rugby safe and controlled environment, rugby. By replacing the rollballs on a suitable ground and with almost anywhere, as long as in favour of taps, mini rucks, at a social level providing the no player wearing equipment or mauls or scrums, the coach will jewellery that could cause injury. you have two teams and a ball. teach many of the basic skills of basics are understood. The referee communicates rulings contact rugby. Lineouts can also by blowing the whistle, verbal The charm of touch rugby is that be introduced, as well as kicking comands and with common hand it can adapt to meet your needs. in-play or at restarts. signals. The basic signals are: – Starting the match Many variations exist to increase – 5th Touch players’ enjoyment. For example, – 6th Touch beach and street rugby operate – Scrum half/the half similar rules to normal touch but touched in possession usually on a smaller pitch. – Touch & Pass – Try/Touchdown They are fast moving games: – Penalty one version is when the team – Forward Pass in possession has three players – Over the mark on the pitch and is allowed four – Offside touches against an opposition of two defenders. After the fourth touch, the team now defending drops a player and the team in possession brings another on in attack. 24 Get hands on with The rules of Get hands on with The rules of 25 Touch Rugby engagement Touch Rugby engagement

Referee signals 1 Start of the Match 2 5th Touch 3 Scrum half/the half Touched in Possession 4 6th Touch

1 2 5 6

4 7

5 Penalty 6 Forward Pass 7 Touch & Pass 3 8 Try/Touchdown 8 – Consider Safeguarding Children The amount of planning & Vulnerable Adults issues, and structure the event accordingly, depends on the size of the with different changing facilities event but these considerations for adults and children and separate male and female should be included. facilities. Ensure that you have parental/guardian playing & photographic permission for – The venue should be risk – Ensure appropriate event participating children. assessed even if it is at your insurance cover by completing local club or playing field which event notification process via You will want to consider: hosts regular matches. [email protected] Attendance, General Safety & First Aid, Sanitation & Waste – Hold a key staff site visit – Ensure adequate First Aid Management, Traffic Management, to resolve any issues. cover and appoint a qualified Catering & Liquor Licence, Security, First Aider from your rugby Emergency Management, Plans & – Ensure pitch marking club (ideally with the ‘First Maps, Public Liability Insurance equipment does not Aid at Work’ qualification), or and Consultation. create a risk. from a public charity or private company, such as St John’s – Large scale tournaments Ambulance. require local council notification, access routes – Warn all players registering suitable for numbers involved about potential exertions and and sufficient parking. advise GP consultation if they have any doubt about their ability to play, especially if not recently physically active. 28 Get hands on with Running a touch Get hands on with Running a touch 29 Touch Rugby tournament Touch Rugby tournament

Staffing Tournament/Festival Format Entries & Registration On the day Scoring /order of play Ensure there are sufficient A tournament or festival can be – Advertising: will attract – Arrive early, set up before Each team plays 4 games of staff to run the event. You may single sex or mixed, or divided entries. Use the Leisure teams start arriving and revisit 8 mins each way. Overall winner need: Tournament/Site Director, into age categories (open, 30+, Rugby section of rfu.com by risk assessment to ensure decided by game points. Competition Manager, Referee 35+). Catering for all categories contacting: leisurerugby@ nothing has changed. Co-ordinator, Scorer/Timekeeper, will significantly increase the therfu.com with a completed – Win 4 points Pitch Manager for each pitch, tournament size. Event Notification Form. – Have a programme of events, – Draw 2 points Pitch Runners, Announcer, Contact your RFU regional with timings available, even – 5 or more tries 1 point Catering Staff, Photographer, – Open and Social Divisions: press officer (details under if sent out beforehand. Site Media Liaison Officer, Child allow for a variety of playing useful contacts) for pre and signage can help teams find If teams tie: Welfare Officer, First Aid. experience, perhaps with post event publicity advice. their way to key locations. – Winner of the match in which Make staff readily identifiable an Open Division for more the two tied teams played each and if budget permits provide competitive teams and – Team Entries: by phone, email, – Brief team captains at least other is higher ranked; volunteer T-shirts. the Social Division for the post or a combination If you 30 minutes before the first social sides. are charging, it’s advisable game on site and emergency – Team with the best difference Referees to take a deposit so that procedures, tournament between tries scored for and An event needs enough referees – Match Duration: is flexible. teams turn up. Send out structure, game rules and tries scored against in all its to allow them rest time. If using A day long tournament tends game rules and competition competition regulations and pool matches will be higher Society referees, get in touch to have 10-15 minute matches regulations including the event hand out event fixtures. ranked; early or approach your local club, and teams usually expect format. Close entries well in schools or colleges, where to play a minimum of four advance if possible to allow – Games can be controlled using – If still unresolved, an elected sports students may be learning games each. schedules to be finalised. a central timer and hooter, with member from each team may to referee different games. Have a contingency plan to pitch managers keeping time. toss a coin. Consider holding a pre-event – Competition Format: Plan a allow for teams dropping out. training session for less pool format determining the – Team captains can agree experienced referees and appoint number of teams you can – Trophies/Medals: You may each result by signing someone to liaise with referees, accommodate in the time like to award trophies and scorecards avoids dispute. provide rules and regulations and available. Pool stages are to recognise effort as well to assist them on the day. Provide usually followed by a knockout as performance, with a fair – In latter stages having dual a referee rest area and a briefing phase, with different levels play reward. referees can improve the with the referee co-ordinator, who allowing for contest in Cup, quality of officiating. will allocate fixtures ensuring Plate, Bowl etc. rotation and suitable experience for matches. 30 Get hands on with Running a touch Get hands on with Running a touch 31 Touch Rugby tournament Touch Rugby tournament

How many matches? 6 Teams, 3 Pitches 9 Teams 15 Teams The number of matches will be governed Pitch 1 Pitch 2 Pitch 3 Pitch 4 by the number of teams, pitches and time 2 pools of 3 (3 pitches) or 1 pool of 4 and 1 pool 3 pools of 5 (minimum 3, ideally 6 pitches) available. Below are the formats for 3-20 1 v 2 3 v 4 5 v 6 of 5 (3 pitches)5 (3 pitches) team events. 1 v 3 2 v 5 4 v 6 16 Teams 1 v 4 2 v 6 3 v 5 10 Teams 4 pools of 4 (minimum of 4 pitches) 1 v 5 2 v 4 3 v 6 2 pools of 5 (2 pitches, or 4 pitches needed if you 1 v 6 2 v 3 4 v 5 are going to play 2 games in each pool at once) 17 Teams

3 Teams, 1 Pitch 7 Teams, 3 Pitches 11 Teams 3 pools of 4 and 1 pool of 5 (minimum 4, Pitch 1 Pitch 1 Pitch 2 Pitch 3 Team Resting ideally 5 pitches) 1 pool of 6 and 1 pool of 5 (5 pitches) or 2 pools 1 v 2 1 v 2 3 v 4 5 v 6 7 of 4 and 1 pool of 3 (3 pitches) 18 Teams 3 v 1 7 v 1 2 v 3 5 v 4 6 2 v 3 6 v 1 2 v 4 3 v 7 5 12 Teams 3 pools of 6 or 2 pools of 5 and 2 pools of 4 (minimum 6 pitches) 1 v 5 2 v 7 3 v 6 4 3 pools of 4 (3 pitches) or 2 pools of 6 (4 or 4 Teams, 1 or 2 Pitches 1 v 4 2 v 5 6 v 7 3 6 pitches) Pitch 1 Pitch 2 Pitch 3 Pitch 4 19 Teams 3 v 1 4 v 6 7 v 5 2 1 v 2 1 v 2 3 v 4 13 Teams 4 pools of 4 and 1 pool of 3 (5 pitches) or 3 pools 2 v 6 3 v 5 4 v 7 1 3 v 4 1 v 3 2 v 4 of 5 and 1 pool of 4 (7 pitches) 2 pools of 4 and 1 pool of 5 (minimum of 3 1 v 3 1 v 4 2 v 3 7 Teams, 3 Pitches pitches, ideally 4 pitches) 20 Teams 2 v 4 Pitch 1 Pitch 2 Pitch 3 Team Resting 1 v 4 1 v 2 3 v 4 5 v 6 7 14 Teams 5 pools of 4 (5 pitches) or 4 pools of 5 (8 pitches) 2 v 3 7 v 1 2 v 3 5 v 4 6 2 pools of 5 and 1 pool of 4 (minimum 3, ideally 5) 6 v 1 2 v 4 3 v 7 5 5 Teams, 2 Pitches 1 v 5 2 v 7 3 v 6 4 Pitch 1 Pitch 2 Team Resting 1 v 4 2 v 5 6 v 7 3 1 v 2 3 v 4 5 3 v 1 4 v 6 7 v 5 2 5 v 1 2 v 3 4 2 v 6 3 v 5 4 v 7 1 4 v 1 2 v 5 3 3 v 1 4 v 5 2 8 Teams, 4 Pitches 2 v 4 3 v 5 1 Pitch 1 Pitch 2 Pitch 3 Pitch 4 1 v 2 3 v 4 5 v 6 7 v 8 3 v 1 4 v 2 7 v 6 8 v 5 1 v 4 2 v 3 5 v 7 6 v 8 5 v 1 6 v 2 7 v 3 8 v 4 1 v 6 2 v 5 4 v 7 3 v 8 7 v 1 5 v 3 6 v 4 8 v 2 Useful Contacts and RFU Regional Information Details Press Officers

Further information North For touch rugby events: Tony Simpson Visit: rfu.com/O2Touch Contact: 07764 336708 Contact: 020 8831 6510 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Midlands RFU Rugby Development Staff Paul Bolton Visit: rfu.com/rdt Contact: 07966 102495 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Touchline RFU/RFUW Newspaper London and South East Contact: 0208 831 6514 Hugh Godwin Email: [email protected] Contact: 07968 392688 Email: [email protected] Safeguarding information Visit: rfu.com/safeguarding South West Julia Hutton Further Global Game Regulations Contact: 07971 474557 can be found at irblaws.com Email: [email protected]

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The England Rose is an official trademark of the Rugby Funded by Union and is the subject to extensive trade mark registration world wide. Union (RFU), the national governing body of the game in England. Copyright Rugby Football Union. Published 2010. The Rugby Football Foundation is a charity set up to support community participation in rugby and as part of its work is keen to encourage growing participation in all types of leisure rugby.