What is Touch Rugby

The origins of touch rugby can be traced back to Australia in the 1960's where it was used as a warm up game for rugby codes. The simplicity of this game is unique; all you need is a rugby ball, a space to play and a group of friends.

Touch rugby is a fast moving minimal contact evasive game that is played throughout the world by men and women of all ages and skill levels.

The game is similar to rugby but without the tackling, scrumming, rucking, mauling, lineouts and kicking.

This fast, simple and exciting game promotes the fundamental skills of running, handling, evasion and support play, whilst developing basis principles of attack and defence, without the fear of getting hurt.

Why Touch rugby

Flexibility:
Touch rugby is suitable for both beginners and experienced players. You can play in either men's, women's or mixed divisions.

Touch rugby is a minimal contact recreational sport that is about playing the game on the field and also the social atmosphere afterwards.

Touch rugby is a fun game for the local park or even the beach, it is easy to learn and a great way to get in shape.

Touch rugby can also be used for simple dodging, chasing and warm-up activities.

The Basics

The Touch:
Players of both defending and attacking teams are to use the minimum force necessary to affect the touch. A touch can be made on any part of the person, their clothing or the ball.

After a touch has been affected, the player in possession is required to stop, return to the mark where the touch occurred if the mark has been over-run, and perform a Rollball without delay.

After being touched 6 times the ball is handed over to the other side.If a touch is considered to be too strong a penalty will be awarded against the offending team.

The dummy half (the person who receives the ball from the player starting the game) is not allowed to be caught while in possession of the ball. If the dummy half is caught with the ball, possession is handed over to the opposition who will recommence play with a Rollball.

The Rollball:
The Rollball is affected by the attacking player positioning on the mark, facing the defenders scoreline, standing parallel to the sidelines, and rolling the ball backwards along the ground between their feet. If the ball is rolled more than 1 meter a penalty will be awarded to the opposition.

Voluntary Rollball is when the player is not touched and rolls the ball between their legs, this is not allowed and will result in a penalty to the opposition.

The Penalty:
If someone is penalized there team must retreat 10 meters. A penalty is taken by placing the ball on the ground, letting go of the ball, touching the ball with your foot and picking up the ball.

Passing:
A forward Pass is when the ball is passed in front of the player who possessed the ball. In this situation the ruling will be a penalty.

A Touch and Pass is when the person who is touched then passes the ball. Again the ruling will be a penalty.

Offside:
An attacking player is offside when that player is forward of another attacking player who has possession or who last had possession of the ball.

A defending player is offside when that player has not retreated the required 5 meters (Rollball) or 10 meters (Penalty and restart of play after touchdowns) at recommencement of play.

For all offside incidents the opposition will be awarded a penalty.