WRU Launches Touch Rugby

On Wednesday the WRU launched a glossy new touch rugby initiative to help encourage more people into the game of rugby. I was invited down to the launch and invited to play in a few games. There was a real mix of talent on show, with employees from insurance company Admiral who had never played before, all the way up too the top level internationals.

Little and Large. George North helps one of the younger players

The WRU offered up their finest talent to help launch the new touch leagues with Rhodri Williams, Alex Cuthbert and George North all taking part. There were also members of the Wales Women's, Sevens and Under 20's squad for the chosen few of the general public to play with. These chosen few were workers at Admiral, players in the existing Touch leagues and a few members of the media.

Rob Howley even got in on the action!

The sheer variety of the players who took to the field at the Centre of Excellence shows what is great about Touch rugby. It caters for any age, gender and ability. It is one of the few sports where men and women can compete together, even at the elite level which means that families or work mates can join and play together at the WRU's new Try Touch events.

If Wednesday is anything to go by then the new initiative is set to be a success. The vast majority of the players had never played the game before but it s simple structure allowed everyone to have a good run out with the big stars. The simplicity of the game meant that players picked it up so quickly that they began to use the experience internationals as dummy runners! There was a great moment in one of the matches when a fourteen year old boy thought hard about passing to George North before deciding he had a better chance than the Wales wing and ran it himself.

Before being beaten on the outside by Alex Cuthbert...

There are camps in Cardiff, Colwyn Bay, Newport, Swansea and Ammanford. It is a great way to get into rugby and it is equally as intense with many of the Welsh national players breaking a sweat as the games got quicker.

The leagues begin in May and run throughout the Summer, the top teams from each league will earn the chance to play at the Millennium Stadium. It is a great opportunity to get into rugby for all ages so go to www.wrutouch.co.uk to register for this Summer.

George North passes under pressure