WHAT IS TOUCH RUGBY
Touch rugby refers to games derived from rugby football in which players do not tackle in the traditional, highly physical way, but instead touch their opponents using their hands on any part of the body, clothing, or the ball.
A formal, competitive variety, known as Touch, developed fromrugby league and now exists as a sport in its own right. In addition, touch rugby games are played as training activities for rugby league and rugby union; as safer variants of rugby, particularly in schools and junior clubs, and as an informal social sport.
FEATURES
Touch rugby has a number of differences from the traditional games, including its simplicity (requiring very little equipmnent or even goalposts), its ease of learning and the decreased likelihood of injury. As a result it is a popular social game; mixed-gender and women-only games are also very popular. Touch Rugby League is a growing competition in Brisbane, Australia.
Beach touch is also popular. Social touch games inSouth Africa (predominantly the single-touch version) are often played barefoot and as sponsored tournaments at popular seaside holiday sites.
RULE VARIATIONS
The most popular, codified form of touch rugby is derived fromrugby league and features two teams of six players. Played under the auspices of the Federation of International Touch(FIT), it is officially known as Touch, and is also called touch football, particularly inAustralia, and sometimes 'six down' or 'sixes' inSouth Africa. FIT rules have become the most common rules used both in FIT-sanctioned competitions and informal games of touch rugby. A version of the FIT rules known as one touch in South Africa features a change of possession after a single touch rather than the six in the league-derived game.
League tag is a semi-contact version of rugby league. It was used initially as a coaching aid to get players new to rugby league in Ireland used to the play-the-ball, retreating to an onside line, and upperbody tackling that stops the ball being passed in the tackle. It was formally codified in 2008 at University College Cork, it allows ball carriers to hold off defenders, and defenders to grab the ball carrier in their bid to touch the ball. Touching the ball affects a tackle
Other versions of touch rugby are not fully codified. For example, as an activity for fitness and skills training, and to reduce the risk of injury, rugby players will sometimes play touch rugby based on modified rugby rules. One common variation is that a fair touch must be below the waist, or, to encourage rucking, a small non-contact ruck may be formed when a player is "touched". The "touched" player must fall to the ground as he would if he were tackled, and then two players from the attacking team must "ruck" over him within three seconds to keep possession of the ball. A scrum-half then recovers the ball, and play continues.
Touch rugby is often played informally, rather like a pick-up socceror basketball game. In addition to tackles being replaced bytouches, the rules of both rugby codes are simplified, removing elements such as scrums, rucks, mauls, line-outs and kicks.
In the United States, touch is usually played following pre-1967 rugby league rules, minus kicking.Players being touched with two hands must place the ball down or play the ball at the spot of the "tackle," and the defensive team must retreat 5 yards or meters. There is often no tackle count, meaning that almost the only way that the defence can obtain the ball is through offensive mistakes. Whenever an offensive infraction occurs (ball into touch, knock-on, or forward pass), the defence receives a tap-kick at the spot of the infraction. Teams switch sides after each try is scored, and the team scoring the try kicks off from the half point.
Until 2003/2004 the English RFU in its junior development program called The Three Stages of the Rugby Continuum encouraged the playing ofNon-contact/touch rugby in its under-eights competition, although now promotes Mini Tag instead.
QUICK RULES OF TOUCH RUGBY
1. The rules as laid out by the F.I.T Rules will apply, unless otherwise stated below.
2. The fields are a reduced size from the international standard.
3. The attacking team must start with a tap from the middle of the field.
4. The defending team must be back 10m for the start of play, and after each touchdown.
5. After a team scores the play begins again with a tap in the middle.
6. The person who takes the role of dummy half can cross the try-line but not score.
7. If the dummy half is touched while possessing the ball it is a turnover.
ROLL BALL
8. After being touched, the player touched must roll the ball between their legs.
9. The attacking team continues play until they have had 6 touches.
10. After being touched 6 times the ball is handed over to the other side.
ROLL BALL
11. After touching the attacking player with the ball, all defending team members must retreat 5m.
12. Ball to ground: When the ball is dropped on the ground it is a turnover.
13. Turnover: When the attacking side looses the ball to the opposition.
14. No control: When the ball is thrown, dropped, knocked on, in a touch.
ROLL BALL
15. When someone is penalised their team must then retreat 10m.
16. Offside: If the defending players do not retreat they are offside.
PENALTY
17. Strong Touch: If a touch is considered to be too strong.
PENALTY
18. Forward Pass: When the ball is passed in front of the player who possessed the ball.
PENALTY
19. Touch and Pass: When the person who is touched then passes the ball.
PENALTY
20. Voluntary Rolled Ball or No Touch: When the player is not touched and rolls the ball between their legs.
PENALTY
21. More than a Meter: the ball must not be rolled more than one meter.
PENALTY
22. Shepherd or Obstruction: Obstructing a touch from the defending side.
PENALTY
23. Deviation: When a defender changes their direction before retreating straight back 5m.
PENALTY
24. Minor offences: Bickering with refs, shouldering, leg trips etc... the referee will initiate an automatic.
