WHAT IS TOUCH RUGBY / TOUCH FOOTBALL?
Touch Rugby is a minimal contact version of rugby: no scrums, no lineouts and no kicking. It's a mixed gender sport with men and women competing together at all levels from juniors (U15 - U20) all the way through to seniors (30 - 40) and masters (40+).
Touch is a game which does not require strength but relies on fitness.
It is played across half a rugby pitch (50m in width × 70m in length)
Depending on the competition, games can be between 20 - 40 minutes.
How to play Touch Rugby / Touch Football...
Basic Rules
A team consists of up to 14 players, with 6 on the field at any one time.
Touch has rolling substitutions and players can substitute at any time.
Just as Rugby Union/League, the ball cannot be thrown forward.
If the ball falls to the ground, this is a Turnover and possession switches sides
at the Mark where the ball hit the ground.
Each team seeks to score Tries by placing the ball over the Try Line.
The opposition seeks to prevent this by Touching the opposition. A Touch can be anywhere on the ball carriers' body or clothing. In addition, the ball carrier can Touch a defender voluntarily. Once the ball carrier has been Touched they must return to where the Touch was made (the Mark) and perform a Rollball by placing the ball on the ground and stepping forward over it. Once the Rollball is complete another member of their team can pick up the ball.
The player who picks up the ball after a Rollball is called the Dummy Half. The Dummy Half does not have to pass the ball immediately but if they are Touched while in possession before having passed it is a Turnover.
While the Rollball is happening, the defending team must move back seven metres from the Mark to get back Onside. Once Onside the defence can move forward again
If the attacking team fails to score before six Touches have been made the ball is Turned over at the Mark of the last Touch.
