That boat has sail I'm afraid, RFU and o2 have it wrapped up now, they have the bulk of the teams playing "o2 touch"
that is associated with RFU, the balls, team bibs, flags to be placed around the pitches all display "RFU o2 touch"

Annoyingly touch has been largely ignored by the RFL and the clubs have been built up by ehnthusiastics and along come the RFU throw some money at the clubs and get them signed up to only play "o2 touch" so now the RFU can happily claim that their games playing figures are even bigger

Check out the website that mustn't be named and search

Untouchables - Introducing the Team

Its more like a hollywood blockbuster used to promote o2 touch, I wonder who people will associate this rapidly expanding game with ????

Wouldn't take much for the RFL to scupper them and let the world know touch rugby is in fact a variation of RL. It will happen in Oz now and there will be clear and obvious link between touch and RL. It is a variation of RL and I'd be making sure the country knew that if I was the rfl. In fact could you imagine the choking on the pims if the rfl ran "play RL" adverts with touch rugby website link!

Is there anything to stop the rfl from calling it touch rugby?

No nothing. It will be interesting to see if the name in oz changes from touch footy to include league or RL. Reality is rfu's touch "rugby" is the same game and rules as touch footy which is a variation of RL rules. I find it highly amusing that the RFU ate running a RL competition!

The rfl should jump on the band wagon and start to push touch rugby heavily.
It sounds like touch rugby is more akin to RL so if childrens first involvement in rugby is through touch rugby then the natural progression would be to play RL nor RU

Only if an RL pathway is available and pushed. If there's no RL club nearby or if the local RU club is more friendly and welcoming then they'll go down the Union route. Especially as that'll be the code they know from off the TV.

I agree the rfl need to be there to join everything together but would there really be a problem finding an amateur RL club 'with varying age groups, anywhere in England these days?

I'm sorry, have I missed something here...?

rlhttps://www.playtouchrugbyleague.co.ukrl

In fact I was led to believe that the reason the RFL got £30 million in 2008 was largely due to the push and emphasis of Touch RL where participation numbers counted towards the overall figure which secured the funding.

So which of the touch rugbys are affiliated to the international organisation and send a team to the World cup?


Some more on the NRL touch footy agreement signed today

The National Rugby League (NRL) and Touch Football Australia have today launched an historic sporting partnership representing the biggest boost to participation and game development in the history of either sport. The two sports will work together as part of a strategic alliance to create the largest sporting community in the country which will reflect the wider support that exists for Rugby League and the game’s commitment to ensuring there is a ‘place on the field’ for everyone.
The new agreement will bring more than 1.03 million participants together playing in competitions under a joint NRL-TFA banner. This is in addition to the 844,000 girls and boys who currently take part in NRL Development programs each year.
The alliance delivers significant benefits for both sports

It's a great what to say RL has a 2 million people player base now. As touch footy players will be included as "Rugby League players". Smart thinking from the Welshman. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 2rujo.html

It's a great what to say RL has a 2 million people player base now. As touch footy players will be included as "Rugby League players". Smart thinking from the Welshman. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 2rujo.html

Why not just have TR as a stand alone sport separate from RL & RU YET tied into both, surely it's just beneficial to introduce the game to people, then after that what ever path they choose is up to them.

Create their own body and draw from both?

Haha wow, are you serious?


Touch footy was explicitly created by RL people as a non-tackle version of RL. Why does RU even need to become part of the conversation? Oh right, they've outright lied about the origins of Touch Footy in order to boost their own link to the game.


Do you think there are Unionites on RU forums talking about how they should open up 7's so both RL and RU players can compete at the Olympics? Seriously now...

Maybe if we [the whole rugby community] grew up a little we'd all benefit, instead we all play silly games, i hate union for it's history and the way it's belittled our game but maybe we should all grow up, let bygones be bygones and work together.

After all we might have created Touch rugby but RU created rugby and RL spawned from that.

TR could be the glue that helps brings us together, rather than get into the politics of who created what and blah blah, work together.

Do you think we played modern RU back in the 1800's and then in 1895 the NU breakaway clubs suddenly introduced limited tackles and the play-the-ball?

RL and RU have a common ancestor game, and neither RL or RU resemble that original game in any shape or form anymore. Saying RL spawned from RU is as fallacious as saying RU created Touch Football.