Touch in Wales

Touch was introduced to Wales in 1990 by the arrival of Paul Nepia and David Swain - two individuals who had developed a passion for the game in their native New Zealand.

A league was initially set up in Cardiff involving 24 male teams at the Cardiff HSOB ground, running for 10 weeks in May to July. The league quickly became popular in particular with male rugby players looking to improve skill levels and retain fitness levels through the summer months.

The next few years saw continued and steady increases in participation levels, particularly among women with the tournament re-located to the Canton RFC ground.

Elite competition in the early days comprised of the winners of the main competition entering as club teams into the UK National Championships, competing against the best National, Regional and Club sides from all over the world. Welsh success at these tournaments was commonplace via the Kiwi Dragons team of Cardiff coached by Paul Nepia, great nephew of all black legend George Nepia.

The Wales Touch Association (WTA) was established in 1999 to promote the development of Touch in Wales, and to enable Welsh players to represent their country at an international level at FIT sanctioned events. The efforts of the members of the WTA, and in particular Neil Perkins, Dave Swain and Ali Eves in the early years, has seen participation levels and awareness of the sport increase steadily since that time.

A number of affiliated league modules and tournaments run in Wales with the number continuously expanding. This extends from Touch’s traditional heartland in Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taff to Wrexham in the North, Llanelli and Pendine in the West and Ebbw Vale in the East. Primarily events are held throughout the spring and summer months although some opportunities to play exist during the autumn and winter in some areas.

There are currently 2000 registered players in Wales of varying ages and skill levels competing in the various league and tournament modules, with playing numbers growing steadily.

Opportunities exist to compete in Men, Women and Mixed competitions at a senior level. The WTA also organises primary and secondary school tournaments for schools.

Wales have had success at an international level and are currently ranked No.2 in Europe and No.8 in the world standings. Wales have sent teams to the 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups and at every bi-annual European Championships since 1997. Wales also successfully hosted the 2002 European Touch Championships at the Cardiff HSOB ground, involving teams from Europe and the finest teams from the Southern Hemisphere.

Wales operate 6 squads to compete in major championships. Mens, Womens & Mixed Open categories, Senior (O30) Mens & Mixed as well as Masters (O40) Mens.

In 2006, the WTA was recognised as the Governing Organisation for Touch in Wales by the Wales Sports Association (WSA), the body which provides advisory, advocacy, consultative and training services to the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of sport and physical recreation in Wales.

The WTA are currently working alongside the WSA and the Sports Council for Wales (SCW) as well as the Touch Associations of England, Scotland and Jersey to have Touch recognised as a sport in its own right, as is the case in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

For further details on the WSA click here http://www.welshsports.org.uk/

For further details on the SCW click here http://www.sports-council-wales.org.uk/