New players
Never played touch rugby before? No problem.
Most people who walk up to us on a Monday have never played. This page explains the whole thing, from the rules to the kit to the nerves, so you know exactly what you are turning up to.
Your first session
What actually happens, minute by minute
- 1
You arrive and someone finds you
Get to Hough End Leisure Centre for about 5:50pm. Tell whoever is nearest that it is your first time and they will hand you a bib and introduce you to a few people.
- 2
Someone explains the rules properly
Not a lecture. Two minutes on the touch, the six-touch count and passing backwards, then you learn the rest by doing it.
- 3
You warm up with everyone else
Jogging, passing, a few drills. This is the part where you realise it is not as technical as you feared.
- 4
You play
Small-sided games, rolling subs. You will drop a pass. Someone will shout "unlucky" and pass it to you again thirty seconds later.
- 5
You decide whether to come back
No sign-up, no sales pitch, no commitment. If you enjoyed it, we will see you next Monday.
Bring with you
- Trainers, or boots if it has been wet
- A water bottle
- Shorts and a t-shirt, whatever you train in
- Layers for winter Mondays
We supply bibs, balls, cones and kit, first aid kit, someone to show you the ropes.
The rules
Four things to know, and you can play
Touch has a rulebook like any sport, but you only need these four to get through your first night.
A touch replaces a tackle
Any two-handed touch below the shoulders stops play. You put the ball down, step over it, and your team plays on. That is it.
Six touches, then it turns over
Your team gets six touches to score. Use them up and the other side gets the ball, which is why passing early beats running into traffic.
Passes go backwards
Same as rugby: the ball travels back, you travel forward. It feels odd for about ten minutes and then it does not.
Six a side, subs whenever
You can come off any time. Nobody plays two hours straight and nobody keeps count of who has had the most game time.
Honestly though
The things people worry about
These are the actual messages we get. Here are the honest answers.
- “I will be the worst one there.”
- Someone is always newest, and every single person on that pitch has been. What actually happens is that people pass you the ball more, not less, because they want you to enjoy it.
- “I am not fit enough.”
- You rotate on and off constantly, so you play at whatever intensity you have got. Lots of people arrive unfit and use Mondays to fix that. It works because it does not feel like exercise.
- “I do not know anybody.”
- Neither did anyone else on their first night. You get put into a team immediately, and by the end you will have shouted at least ten people’s names.
- “I have never played rugby.”
- Genuinely does not matter. Touch has no contact, no scrums, no lineouts. The things that make rugby intimidating are all missing. Netball and football players pick it up fast.
- “I am too old for this.”
- Our players run from early twenties to well past forty. Touch is kind to knees, and experience counts for more than pace more often than you would think.
- “What if I hate it?”
- Then you have lost one Monday evening and not a penny, because the first session is free. Nobody will chase you.
FAQs
Beginner questions
What is touch rugby?
Touch rugby is rugby with the tackling taken out. Instead of being tackled you're stopped by a two-handed touch, so it's fast, low-impact and much easier to pick up than the contact game. Six players a side, lots of running, lots of passing, and nobody ends up in a heap on the floor.
Is touch rugby suitable for beginners?
Yes. Most people who come to us have never played before. There are only a handful of rules, someone walks you through them before you start, and you learn the rest by playing. You will not be the only new person on the pitch.
Do I need rugby experience?
None at all. Plenty of our members had never touched a rugby ball before their first Monday. If you can jog and catch, you can play, and if you can do neither yet, that is what the first few weeks are for.
What should I wear?
Whatever you would go for a run in. Trainers are fine on dry ground, boots are better once it turns wet. Shorts and a t-shirt, plus something warm for the walk back to the car in January.
Can I come on my own?
Yes, and most people do. You'll be put into a team within about ninety seconds of arriving and you'll know half a dozen names by the end. Coming alone is genuinely the normal way to join.
Is touch rugby difficult?
The rules take one session to learn. Getting good takes longer, which is the fun bit. Nothing about it is dangerous or intimidating. There's no contact, no scrums, no lineouts.
Come and give it a go
One free session, no commitment, and you will not be the only new person there. Message us and we will look out for you.