International Touch Rugby comes to Bristol

If the World Cup has left you feeling a bit flat, fear not, there is a tournament coming to Bristol that is set to provide spectacular performances and thrilling entertainment from an entirely different sport – Touch Rugby.
A record 900 Touch players from across Europe as well as New Zealand and Australia will descend upon Bristol for the European Touch Championships (Euros) and spectators are invited to be part of the record-breaking spectacle for free!

The Tournament, which will take place from Thursday 22nd July until Sunday 25th July at Filton College, is set to be a magnificent display of the world’s top-quality touch athletes competing to lift that all important European Champion Cup.

Spectators can expect to be enthralled by fast and dramatic 40 minute games throughout the day from approx 8am to 7pm whilst being fully satiated with food and drink available all day at reasonable prices – including a full bar, a Pimms Tent, a Bath Ales Tent, BBQs, Hog Roasts and candy floss and ice cream stands.

Six matches will play at a time and spectators can wander between each so they can take in a bit of each country and attempt to work out who will be lifting the coveted cup on Sunday 25th July. 

53 entries from various men’s, women’s and mixed teams have been submitted from 13 European countries - England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Holland, Jersey, Guernsey, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Switzerland and 2 invitational countries - New Zealand and Australia.

This will be the eighth time the biannual European Touch Championships will be contested, with the last one in Paris 2008 won by England, who have held it for the last four years, with Wales coming second for the last three. Who will do it this time?

The last time England hosted it was in Nottingham 1998 so Bristol is aiming to make this Euros the largest and most successful tournament and have employed a host of enthusiastic volunteers to do so.

The aim is to provide a thrilling competition for the top touch teams as well as a fun and exciting showcase of touch rugby to those not so familiar with the sport.

 

What is Touch?

 

Touch rugby is a thriving sport in many countries around the world, particularly Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, but now England and many European countries are following suit. With leagues all around the country being played ,the Euros seeks to search for the elite of those teams. Less of the big tackles than full contact rugby but no less of the drama, touch is a thrilling and skillful game that is drawing in more and more players.

 

 

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