Touch rugby is a less intense version of rugby played without piling tackles. Learn how to play rugby, including rules and skills, in this video rugby lesson.
Touch rugby is not full contact
Touch rugby improves skills
Communication is important
Mark is the coach of the Austin Rugby club. He plays out in Burr Field in Austin, TX.
MARK BREWERTON: Mark Brewerton of the Austin Rugby Club. One of great ways to develop skills for Rugby is a game called "Touch Rugby" which we're going to show you a small example of which has some of the similar characteristics of Rugby but it is not full contact; it is touch, generally like playing football. Over here, we are going to kick the ball off. The game starts off the same. Ball is being kicked off. The ball is in play again. Defensively, the defensive team has to be back five yards give the offensive team a chance to run with the ball. As you can see, they're backing up very quickly, numbers are involved, back it up. Guys have to keep getting back to 5 yards before they can come forward on defense. As you can see, it is good yardage through the middle and we have a runaway try. This is a great opportunity for Touch for guys who do not obviously get to run with the ball a lot in the game to run with the ball. You will also see that it's a great opportunity for guys to use these skills which sometimes they do not get to display in the field so much. What happens a lot of the time is in Touch, it gives you an opportunity to experiment, do a lot of things you would not do in the game of Rugby where there is a lot more high stakes and risks and contact involved. Touch is a perfect opportunity for a guy--boom--to take the ball into contact without him worrying about the repercussions of throwing the ball away. Turnover ball is good for transition defense, a lot of communication and ball skills. The defense still has to get organized and the offense still has a chance to run with the ball. As you can see in some of the examples here, just quick hands, moving it through, good running and defense without so much of the consequences of being hit. Communication skills are worked upon. We have a whole lot of people talking up their defense and their offense. And here's a perfect example of hands getting to the outside, inside ball. Another one finishing wide, all the way through for the try at the other ring. That is a great example of good hands, good skills, and a good opportunity for the ball to be touched by everyone. It does not matter your space, your size, or anything in Rugby. Everyone can play the game and Touch Rugby is just a hybrid of Rugby in itself.
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