Last month, gsport’s featured sport of the month was Rugby. But as the
month progressed, we realised that more women are taking to touch
rugby, than the traditional game, and we’ve had quite a few requests
from women wanting to know more.
So
we spoke to Cheryl Whelan, one of South Africa’s most experienced touch
rugby players to find out what all the fuss is about.
How long have you been playing Touch Rugby?
I started playing socially from 1998, but it didn’t take me long to enter the provincial setup from 1999.
Currently, how are you involved with Touch Rugby?
I play touch rugby for various teams in three of the leagues around Gauteng (Jeppe, Sandton, Pretoria), but my “Home Club” is Jeppe Quandam, where the Easterns league is hosted.
From this club we select Eastern Gauteng Provincial players. I captain the Eastern Eagles Touch Rugby Team (Provincial Ladies), and have played 49 provincial games for them, as well as coaching the Eastern Condors (Provincial Mixed).
I also have 24 caps for South Africa, played in Japan in 2003 for the SA Ladies at the World Cup, against England in 1999 on their tour here to South Africa, and in 2007 for the SA Mixed, at the World Cup in South Africa.
How popular is Touch Rugby among women?
Touch Rugby is still a developing sport in South Africa. The sport has, however, become very popular in high schools were most of our development is done.
Women have started to take the connotation of rugby (rough, scrums, kicking, etc) out of touch rugby, and have seen that is not a rough sport as what they thought.
At the moment we have more girls’ teams in our school league than guys’ teams. At provincials we have 8 provincial ladies teams competing.
What kind of people will be attracted to touch rugby?
The great advantage about Touch Rugby is that a person can play it at a social level, or more seriously at a provincial or national level.
Socially you will find many people playing with their friends or partners (mixed teams) and enjoy the fun, yet competitive side of the game.
People who play it more seriously are those who enjoy the fitness side of the game, the pace, ball skills, strategic planning and agility.
Touch Rugby is a very quick sport, where a person has to be able to think and adapt in a split second.
Explain how Touch Rugby works:
A Touch Rugby team consists of a minimum of 6 and maximum of 14 players. Six players have to be on the field at all times.
It works on a rolling substitution system, so whenever you get tired you run off the field and just “sub” with another player.
There are two 20-minute halves in the game, with a 3-minute half-time. There are 3 divisions to play in: Mens, Ladies and Mixed.
In a mixed game ,you have 3 guys and 3 girls on the field at one time.
Attack: Just as the name suggests, a simple “Touch” keeps the game going.
A team has 6 touches (where the defending team has to touch the player with the ball) to advance to their score line and score a try.
If those 6 touches are used up or an offence is committed, then a turnover will take place, and the opposition will in turn get 6 touches.
Once a touch is made, that attacking person has to put the ball down on the floor and step over it, the closest fellow player (called the dummy/scrum half) will pick up the ball, and continue the game moving forward.
Defense: Once a touch is made, the defending team has to move back 5 meters from the point of the touch, before they can advance again for another touch.
If this is not done, that team will be offside. If a penalty is awarded, the defending team has to move back 10 meters from the infringement.
General Offences: Loss of Control; and Ball out of Play.
Penalties Offences: Forward pass, Touch and Pass, Over the Mark, Off-Sides.
What advice do you have for women who would like to start playing touch rugby?
Touch Rugby is a sport for everyone. It is an awesome way to get fit as well as enjoy the company of friends.
Don’t associate Touch Rugby with Rugby, it is definitely not as rough, and it will just take one game to get hooked.
To start off you don’t need to be quick or fit, but you will find that after a few games of Touch Rugby your pace, fitness and skills will improve tremendously.
The only equipment you will need is a pair of running or hockey shoes for more grip.
For more information, log on to these websites:
Touch Rugby
South African Touch Association
Eastern Gauteng Touch Rugby
Cape Town Touch Rugby
Edenvale Touch Rugby
For more information, log on to these websites:
Touch Rugby
South African Touch Association
Eastern Gauteng Touch Rugby
Cape Town Touch Rugby
Edenvale Touch Rugby
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