Women's touch
Women's touch rugby in Manchester
A squad that has taken complete beginners to national tournaments, and still starts every Monday by making sure the newest player on the pitch knows where to stand.
How it works
One session, two routes in
Everyone trains together on a Monday night. Where you take it from there is up to you.
Monday nights, mixed
Our weekly session at Hough End Leisure Centre is mixed: men and women training and playing together, which is exactly how mixed touch is played competitively. It is the easiest place to start and where most of the women’s squad first turned up.
The women’s squad
We also enter women’s competitions at tournaments around the UK, with a squad drawn from the same Monday group. Some of those players had never touched a rugby ball before they joined; a few have since represented their countries.
Why touch suits people new to sport
There is no contact and no physical prerequisite. Touch rewards timing, reading space and passing at the right moment far more than size, which is why it is one of the fastest-growing women’s team sports in the country.
Straight answers
What women usually want to know
- Do I have to play against men?
- In mixed games you share a pitch with them, and the format is built around that: mixed touch has rules that keep it balanced. In women’s competition you play women only.
- Is it rough?
- No. There is no tackling, no rucking and no contest for the ball on the floor. A touch is exactly what it sounds like.
- Can I come on my own?
- Yes, and most do. Say it is your first time and you will be looked after. That is not a line, it is just how the group works.
- What do I wear?
- Whatever you would go running in, plus trainers or boots depending on how wet it has been. Changing rooms are on site.
- Are there enough women there?
- Yes. The women’s squad is a core part of the club, not an afterthought, and Monday nights are always a proper mix.
- Can I play competitively?
- If you want to. We enter women’s and mixed competitions through the year and there are pathways beyond the club for players who want them.
Fancy a go?
Message us, tell us you fancy a go, and turn up on Monday. First session is free and you will not be the only new face there.