Keep fit, have fun and register now to play Total Touch this summer

Are you looking for a way to stay fit over summer, enjoy time with your friends and teammates and prepare for the 2014 season of rugby all at once?

Our cousin sport Touch is the perfect way to do all of that. The 2013-14 season starts on 29 October with registrations closing 22 October go to www.totaltouch.org.nz to register.

Total Touch Wellington run the majority of touch modules throughout the Wellington Region? which cater for both juniors and ‘seniors’ wanting to play this fun, easy and fast paced sport.

Games are played at Wakefield Park, Hugh Boyd Wilson Field, Anderson Park, Hutt Park and Fraser Park either at lunch time, after school or after work.

Referred to often as the base sport that improved the skill levels of many of our top level sportsmen like Shaun Johnson, Glen Osborne, current Ricoh Wellington Lions and Oriental-Rongotai star Ardie Savea, playing Touch is a great way to work on your jink, wax, step and dive. Similarly, current Old Boys University and Wellington Development first five-eighth Hamish Buick is a New Zealand Touch representative.

Total Touch has been running the competitions in Wellington for over eight years however this year sees the start of a new era with New Zealand Touch representative George Albert-Jahnke and his fianc?e Bronwyn Jones taking over the reins with the promise of a professional, quality and fun tournament for all.

“George has played for New Zealand for longer than he would like me to admit to you and he roped me on to the field about six years ago,” said Bronwyn. “After a couple of games on the wing, I got a taste for the sport and moved myself in to the middle for more action and loved it.”

“With both of us having a passion for touch, we jumped at the opportunity to run the modules and are not looking back. With our history in Wellington and the sport we have a huge amount of support from players, referees and supporters as well, so it’s going to be a cracker year!”

Last Saturday, 5 October, Total Touch ran a pre season tournament which maxed out at 24 teams. One bit of feedback on their Facebook site - www.facebook.com/totaltouchwgtn - was: “That tournament was awesome, not used to touch comps being so organised and on time!?!” A prelude of what is to come.

There are mixed and men’s grades available with a number of women’s teams also competing in the mixed grades.

It is also a fun game to referee if you want to test yourself in this area. Some rugby union referees also referee Touch in the summer time and new referees are always welcome said Bronwyn.

Rules at a glance:

• 6 on the field (Max of 3 guys for mixed grades)
• 6 touches before it is a hand over
• When touched you dump the ball between your legs on the ground for the ‘Dummy Half’ to pick up
• Dummy Half cannot score and if they are touched it is a turnover
• If you are touched and pass the ball it is a turn over
• If the ball hits the ground it is a turn over
• Defensively- once you make a touch you must retreat 5 metres or to the tryline.

Competition and Registration details:??? ?

• Several men’s, women’s and mixed grades and competitions run at Wakefield Park (Monday-Thursday evenings), Hutt Park (Friday evenings) and Anderson and Boyd Wilson Parks (city lunchtimes).
• Junior competitions run at Wakefield Park (Wednesday afternoons), Fraser Park (Thursday afternoons) and Hutt Park (Friday afternoons).
• Registrations for all competitions close on 22 October. Season starts on 29 October.
• To register for the season visit: www.totaltouch.org.nz

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