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About Touch
History of Touch around the World.
The game itself had very humble beginnings, being initially developed in Australia in the 1960s as a training tool for rugby league teams.
The minimal degree of contact and simplicity of the game made it an ideal activity to be played by men, women and children of all ages and skill levels – whether as a recreational sport to improve activity levels and flexibility, or played as a competitive sport.
The first official game of Touch was held in the traditionally strong rugby league area of South Sydney in 1968. The game quickly developed within Australia, New Zealand the surrounding Islands, culminating in the formation of the Federation of International Touch (FIT) in 1985, by the founder member nations Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Fiji.
At about this time the sports name was officially changed from ‘Touch Football’ to ‘Touch’ though to many the sport is known as ‘Touch Rugby’.
Whilst kicking is not a feature of the game, the term ‘Touch Rugby’ is often avoided as it conjures images of a sport of a hard physical nature, which is far from the truth.
The formation of the FIT has promoted phenomenal international growth in participation, spectator interest and awareness over the past 20 years. This ranges from increased participation in established countries in the southern hemisphere to the introduction of the sport to a whole host of nations throughout the world.
Touch is now one of the largest participation sports in Australia and New Zealand. It is integral in the Primary and Secondary School curriculum such that it takes precedence over any other sport in the school system.
Today the FIT consists of close to 40 nations and Touch is played in over 65 countries around the world.This ranges from countries such as New Zealand (306,000 registered players) and Australia (500,000+ registered players) to Tokelau (total population 1,400).
In particular, development has been significant in Asia and in Europe. There are currently 12 nations in Europe who are members of FIT including Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy.
The major event on the FIT calendar is the World Cup of Touch which is staged every four years. Other senior events staged, or assisted, by the FIT in which Wales participates includes the European Touch Championships, the Home Nations, the Celtic Cup & the Mainland Cup.
Junior events include the Youth World Cup and the World Schools Championships.
For more information on the Federation of International Touch website http://www.international-touch.org/
To download a data sheet on the benefits of Touch please see the WTA data sheet.
To download a data sheet on a comparison of Touch to rugby see the data sheet below
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