Review of the PINK TOUCH Rugby Salon

16 Girls

With Summer Sun Shining Above

Meeting RUGBY’s Charm for the First Time at PINK TOUCH

That Day, Gentle Wind Blew

Yellow alert rang in the morning, while cool breezes blew on the field.

Forgetting about the dazzling sunlight and heavy sweat, PINK TOUCH Girls Touch Rugby Salon started on time!

Shanghai Roots & Shoots invited SHANGHAI TOUCH’s professional coaches Peter, Eric, and Una as the main coaches of this event. They introduced the basic rules of touch rugby to the participants, and led them practice primary passing, touching, and attacking rules in groups.

• TIPS:

Touch rugby refers to games derived from rugby football in which players do not tackle each other but instead touch their opponents using their hands on any part of the body, clothing, or the ball.

The modern widespread touch rugby uses football similarly, and people of all ages and sexes can participate. There won’t be any direct physical contact like tackling during the game, instead, the defensive players use their hands to touch the body of the offensive player that’s holding the ball.

As soon as one of the defensive players touches the offensive player that’s holding the ball, that player has to drop the ball, and roll it backwards through his/her legs, so that his teammates can continue attacking.

It’s hard to relate this kind of sport to the Rugby League or English Football that are full speed, strength, and physical confrontation; instead, it reminds people of the manhunt game we play when we were young：participants chase each other with laughter, and complete the game during fooling, only that touch rugby adapts the crucial teamwork and discipline of football. Because of its gentleness, touch rugby also attracts a lot of young ladies.

That Day, Energetic Super Girls

Under the guidance of three coaches, 16 girls, who came from different professions but united by their passion for sports, made much effort to understand the rules of rugby. After warming up and learning about the rules, each person started to try more complicated attacking and defensive strategies. This needed the cooperation from all participants. After coaches’ patient guidances, participants performed better that they were able to work together to finish the group strategies. Although some participants were still not familiar with some actions, they were bonded by encouragements.

That Day, We Also Had Exciting Football

Teamwork and discipline are one of the charms of touch rugby. A team sport, a football game is the best time to test one team’s teamwork and collaboration. At the end of the salon, coaches split participants into Grapefruit Team and Orange Team, and organized a mini Touch Rugby game. From the unfamiliarity of rugby in the beginning, to easily passing balls and using teamwork at the end, participants only used two hours to taste the charm of touch rugby.

Shanghai Roots & Shoots also awarded excellent participants souvenirs for encouragements. Many participants said that touch rugby is not just any sport, but also can provide women benefits such as strength, grit, intelligence, and confidence.

This sport salon, organized by young volunteers of Shanghai Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Council, ended successfully. For people who have experienced the infinite charm of touch rugby, they felt the joy of running, cooperating, advancing, and retreating. The sponsor hopes more women will know and learn rugby, and enjoy the charisma of sports.