On Saturday 19h October 2024 Zug Touch Rugby hosted a charity tournament in aid of My Name’5 Doddie – a foundation focused on research for Motor Neuron Disease. One of Zug Touch’s founding members – Ben Lighting, is currently fighting MND and we are raising money on his behalf.

We had fantastic support from the entire rugby community, with over 70 players competing for 6 different teams. The ages ranged from 10 years old to 59. We had at least 6 families who competed together. Many of the players were in fancy dress. We also had lots of supporters who watched their friends and family competing, enjoyed a BBQ and a few drinks.

We managed to raise over CHF2,500 for charity, and expect to raise another CHF1000 with the sale of special MND playing shirts.

What is Touch Rugby?

Touch rugby is an exciting and inclusive game played by teams of six players that promotes the fundamental skills of running, passing, catching, evasion, and support play. It is played by participants of all ages and genders, Touch Rugby develops basic attack and defence skills in a minimal contact environment. Unlike other football-related codes such as Rugby Union, Rugby League and Soccer Football, Touch is also played in mixed-gender formats as well as men’s and women’s teams.

Touch Rugby has a European Championships every 2 years and a World Cup every 4 years. One of the unique things about Touch is that it is played competitively at different age-grade levels. For example, at the last World Cup, Switzerland sent a Mixed Open team, a Women’s Over 27s team, a Mens Over 30s team and a Mens Over 45s team. The Mens Over 45s team got to the semi-final, beating Ireland, Wales and England along the way. In the last European Camps in Vichy, France, the Swiss Womens 27s and Mens 30s teams both won the Bronze medal. 13 members of the Swiss teams came from Zug in the World Cup.

Zug Touch is part of Zug Rugby Club which has one of the largest player base in Switzerland (over 300 players aged from 5 to 58). Many of the Zug rugby team play for Switzerland at age-grade level.

Author: James Weston (Touch President)