Touch rugby, a different take on the original game, a minimal contact sport that was born from rugby and is now growing in popularity with men and women right here in Falmouth and across Cornwall.

An estimated 50,000 people play Touch Rugby on a regular basis - this ranges from casual throw-abouts in a park or rugby club all the way up to the organised clubs.

Participation figures have spiked since the return to play earlier this spring, with many touch clubs reporting significant increases in numbers at training.

Sessions of O2 Touch are being held at Falmouth Rugby Club every Monday, led by experienced touch player James Bunt.

James got into the sport back in 2007 in Nottingham, having been out of rugby for years after a knee injury playing with London Skolars.

The game was relatively new to the U.K. and had been brought back from Australia.

There he started flinging the ball around and never looked back.

The sessions started last autumn, since then, they have added an internal league and, working with clubs on Truro and Bodmin, set up a county tournament structure.

The popularity of touch rugby has been accelerated by the covid.

Never a massive rugby player, I took part in a recent session down at Tregenver Field (just before the G7) and the numbers there were superb, enough for two separate games of 6 v 6. I really enjoyed it!

What makes touch rugby so good? James Bunt told Nub News:

"Touch allows parents to play with their children, male alongside female. You play 6 v 6 so everyone gets their hands on the ball and that makes it great fun.

"As you progress it gets faster and more intense, which I love, but that spirit of joy generated by fields of smiling players is hard to beat.

"If anyone over 12 fancies giving touch a go turn up at Falmouth Rugby Club just before 7pm on Mondays. It's free and we would love to see you.

"You don't need to have played rugby or be a fitness fanatic. Just turn up and share the fun."

Chris Simon from England Touch added:

"We're really pleased to have this include Cornwall, which is a true rugby county, and thanks to the dedication and commitment of people like James and others like him Touch Rugby has established a real foothold.

"We're also excited about the positive discussions we have had with Cornish Pirates, which we hope will progress further over the next few weeks and months."

Click here to see more information from Falmouth Rugby Club, and any further updates on touch sessions.

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