Man of Kent

You don't want to ram it down people's throats, I get that, and there's inherently some element of promotion merely by playing it. Just interested in how/if the RFL and TTR work together to encourage those thousands of tag players in non-heartland areas to watch RL.

My question would be how much promotion of RL is there by TTR in non-heartland areas, particularly with the World Cup coming up with games in Coventry and London?

800 teams. That’s great.

I'm not sure how it all works really. Our sessions are run by England Touch guys, and we're entering an England Touch-run South East Regional Touch tournament, but the players are mostly union types (grammar school boys and South Africans!). In the end, I'm not sure it really matters all that much which organisation is organising what. Just playing it is what's important. Seems to me the way forward is existing RL clubs - pro and amateur - to run touch sessions, ideally for all ages. Community, participation etc. I think some already do this. Hear what you say that 'touch is a Union thing for union players and League for league players' but I do feel touch could be used as a way to get the union community to open their eyes to league a little bit. It's so much more like league than union. Six tackles, quick 'rucks', similar D etc.

I just think they want to grow Touch. You can understand why they’d want to tap into the union player/fan base to drive up their participation/funding level etc. Cool that you reffed at the Euros. I’m playing in a regional tournament next month. Looking forward to it.

There’s competitive tournaments, it’s great for fitness (my goodness, it’s aerobic!) and the mix of ages & sexes is commendable but, yeah, it’s no substitute for RL. It’s not really a passing game. More like a running game with a ball in your hand occasionally. I enjoy it, though

Touch doesn’t need a PTB, to be fair. Often the ball carrier initiates contact to make a quick rollball for the dummy half to pass to a runner to gain yardage behind the ruck. A proper PTB would slow it down unnecessarily. England Touch seems to be neither fish nor fowl but its own thing. Their 2019 report states ‘the partnership with the RFU and O2 Touch came to an end in 2019, due to our desire to be formally recognised by Sport England as the governing body for Touch in England.’ Their 2020 annual report states, ‘We will continue to work with the RFL (including the Rugby League World Cup 2021) and the RFU on the wider rugby offer and their Touch Rugby products of Play Touch Rugby League and O2 Touch respectively.’ Personally I’d prefer to play League tag but touch is the nearest I’ll get down here.

I'm enjoying playing touch again down here in Kent. Off to play in a minute, actually. It's a weird one because our games are notionally under the 02 Touch umbrella but the sessions seems to be run by England Touch, which works with the RFL (as well as the RFU) and is affiliated to the Federation of International Touch, which in turn is affiliated to the NRL via Touch Football Australia. Also, I notice Wigan Touch Warriors are one of the leading touch sides in England. So touch is not a totally union thing here.

Shouldn’t be losing after winning 31-10 with half an hour to go.

Jake Wardle too.

Chuffed about Farnworth. Barring injury, I’d say he’s a cert for the England squad now. Some quality at centre, at last!

Good column, that. Wasn’t just a ‘I’m buzzin’ banal piece. More, please

As of writing, 1630 comments in support and 8 against.

Done.

I must be playing that. Seven metres is hard work! I really enjoy playing it but it’s slightly limited, formulaic and unsatisfactory. Tag feels more of a real game than a training exercise.

While touch is on my mind...why oh why oh why do onionists absolutely insist on spin-passing, even when standing a metre or two away in wet weather?

I’ve been playing touch during lockdown (now banned with Tier 4, of course) but it’s somewhat unsatisfactory because it doesn’t really reward evasive running. It’s all about rucking up the pitch and interplay between middles. Tag seems to be a better trade-off between non-contact and proper RL. I’d love to try it!

I always recommend Bunnahabhain if you’re looking for a non-extravagant-but-bloody-good single malt, particularly if you prefer Islay whisky that doesn’t taste like a chimney sweep’s overalls. Can usually find it for around £30. https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/bunnahabhain-12-year-old/648948-152903-152904

Herbie Farnworth added to the England EPS. If you’ve got Watch NRL, don’t miss the Matt Nable promo for Titans-Raiders on today’s NRL360. About 30 mins in. All about John Bateman. And Yorkshire...

I heard an Aussie journo compare John Bateman to Shane Warne after the Raiders-Broncos game because the fear his unpredictability instils in opposition defences gives him a psychological edge. Might be overegging the pudding a touche but they love him down there.

Agreed. He’s done.

Half an England team right there. Not Ryan Hall obvs. He's s**t

James Graham admitted he’s lucky to be starting on Monday after his performance against the NZ Warriors. How long before we say he’s done?

Agreed. Looks a bit like a marathon runner in a sprint race.

Google is your friend with this one, mate