Touch Rugby Tournament

Last Friday, a group of enthusiastic First and Second Year pupils took part in a Touch Rugby tournament organised by TrySport and England Touch Rugby. For the majority of the pupils, this was a completely new and exciting experience.

In the lead-up to the tournament, the pupils had only participated in a handful of introductory sessions, during which they explored the basic principles and key differences between Touch Rugby and the traditional rugby union format. Despite their limited exposure, they approached the event with great enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.

The day itself was exceptionally well organised. The morning featured a carousel of three focused workshops designed to introduce core elements of the game: progressing up the pitch, agility and movement, and the “roll ball” – a fundamental skill unique to Touch Rugby. These sessions, led by England Touch players, culminated in a series of small-sided games that gradually introduced the rules in an accessible and progressive manner.

Following the workshops, the players were grouped with pupils from Bohunt School, Wokingham, and took part in a number of coached games against a mixed Cokethorpe/Bohunt side. These matches provided an excellent opportunity to consolidate their understanding of the rules and gain confidence with the game’s fast-paced substitution system.

In the afternoon, the pupils played their final match – a full game of four ten-minute quarters. Here, they truly demonstrated the progress they had made. Managing their own substitutions and responding dynamically to the pace and flow of the game, they showed significant development. Communication was noticeably improved, players began to find and exploit space with confidence, and their defensive organisation was impressive, sliding cohesively across the pitch and consistently supporting one another.

Although narrowly defeated 4–3 and missing out on a place in the final, there was much to celebrate. Notably, five of the fourteen pupils were invited to join the England Touch Rugby development pathway – a fantastic achievement and testament to both their natural ability and rapid improvement. With Touch Rugby being considered for the Olympic Games in Brisbane 2032, this marks an exciting opportunity for them.