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| 8 July 2003, 2:56 pm |
| Touch Rugby Is Coming To A Club Near You |
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Premier Rugby was delighted to announce today that they have secured sponsorship from Gilbert Rugby and support from Sportsmatch to run 24 touch rugby festivals during the summer.
The festivals will culminate in finals at 11 of the Zurich Premiership clubs in September. Teams are able to win kit and equipment grants from Gilbert, the official ball supplier to England Rugby and Premier Rugby.
The one-day festivals will be run at local rugby clubs and public places across the country including Mandela Park in Leicester and Tynemouth Beach in the North East. They are open to mixed sex adult teams and the emphasis is on the fun, social side of rugby. Teams are restricted to three regular rugby players per squad of 10, thus encouraging new participants to the sport via the non contact version of the game. The events are being run in conjunction with touchrugby.com who have pioneered the introduction of touch rugby to the UK.
Touch rugby is a non contact version of rugby that is now played the world over. It is particularly popular in Australia and New Zealand with more registered touch players than the 15-a-side game.
Commenting on the forthcoming touch programme Premier Rugby's community marketing manager Mick Hogan said: "It is thanks to the continued support of Gilbert and the backing once again of Sportsmatch that we are able to launch our touch rugby festivals. There are benefits all round to the game through this scheme. We hope to introduce rugby to a sector of the community who previously may not have considered playing. The non contact aspect is a great way of introducing new players and to re-engage those whose involvement may have lapsed. They will enjoy a great social occasion at each festival and the chance to play in the finals at the Zurich Premiership grounds. The host clubs will benefit from potential new members and the equipment very generously contributed by Gilbert. It will also allow the Premier Rugby clubs to work with the adult age group and provide opportunities to involve them as they already do with young people."
Jamie Hassard, brand manager at Gilbert said: "Gilbert is delighted to be sponsoring the Premier Touch Rugby Festivals. As an international rugby brand Gilbert has been involved with the development of touch in the southern hemisphere through the production of specialist kit and equipment. We see touch rugby having a massive future in the UK and we are sure everyone that gets involved will see what a fast, enjoyable sport it is."
The Northampton Saints festivals dates and venues are as follows:
09.08.03
Bletchley RFC, Milton Keynes
16.08.03
Brackley RFC, Northamptonshire
To register at one of the festivals please go to www.touchrugby.com.
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