thirty-two - issue 4

thirty-two

photo Warren-Chapman Photography

photo Touch Football Australia/NRL

photo Touch Football Australia

photo Glen Eaton/Aisle 5 Photography

photo Touch Belgium

photo Deej Chill

In a couple of days we will hit the "less-than-threemonths-til-World-Cup" benchmark. The biggest Touch World Cup in history. Exciting! The next two issues of thirty-two will be dedicated to pre and post TWC.

As the northern hemisphere slowly awakes from their Winter slumber our friends in the south have been busy with some quality, and I mean top-notch, touch: NZ Nationals, NTL, Indigenous and Māori All Stars. As always, 7th Touch has been the greatest collaborator, either writing about them, or finding the right people to do it.

For this issue we also get the welcome contribution of friends in Italy and in Belgium. Hopefully this will be the first of many European contributions (we want to hear from you!). Looking forward to see what the next few months will bring.

Susi

2024 INDIGENOUS ALL STARS –FOR THEM, NOT US

By Karley Banks Photos Touch Football Australia and NRL

“It’s about them – not us…”

These words were uttered by arguably the greatest Indigenous Touch Footballer of all-time, Bo De La Cruz Maclean, to inspire her Women’s Rugby League Indigenous All Stars teammates back in 2017. These sentiments are what fuelled the 2024 TFA Indigenous All Stars Team in their campaign against the NZ Touch Māori All Stars in Townsville in February.

In the eighth edition of the All Stars Touch Football game, and the fifth time the Indigenous All Stars have faced off against the NZ Māori combination, this game meant so much.

The overall win/loss record leading into 2024 was the Māoris leading with two series wins to the Indigenous All Stars one series win and a thrilling 10 - 10 draw in 2023.

The TFA Indigenous All Stars of 2024 wanted to square the overall series win ledger and did so off the back of a cohesive and dominant on field performance that was platformed by a fulfilling week of cultural expression, enrichment, and experiences that bound the group together uniting our crew to collectively prioritise Mob, team, and self in that order.

In 2023, in my first year of co-coaching the Indigenous All-stars team with Mel Mitchell, the women’s contingent of our Mixed All Stars Team were invited to participate in “secret women’s business” by our NRLW sisters. One of the NRLW All-stars coaching staff and former player Rebecca Young told the story of Bo famously screaming ‘It’s about them, it’s not about us’ at her teammates in a break of play at the scrum base of the 2017 Newcastle game. Up until

that game, the Indigenous All Stars had never won the Women’s Rugby League All Stars trophy. Bo’s words struck a chord with her teammates that day at a critical juncture of the game, and they came from behind to record a famous victory for the Indigenous All Stars.

That story stuck with me, too, and as we prepared for the 2024 All Stars campaign, I really wanted to press home to our team that in everything we did in the All Stars week, we would keep in the forefront of our minds and embedded in our hearts that we were representing our past, future and emerging peoples. We were striving to showcase our culture, bring smiles to faces, foster a sense of belonging, and make “Our Mob” proud on and off the park.

We are just that; many smaller mobs from different Indigenous parts of the nation coming together as “One Mob” and everything we do is about our collective people and culture, not ourselves. We understand and cherish the collective culture we belong to that is more important than anything we can measure or articulate.

I asked the players to lead our internal jersey presentation and one at a time share their thoughts with our families and special guests about what “playing for them not us” meant to each person individually.

There weren’t too many dry eyes in the house that night as each player spoke from the heart honestly and openly about their journeys as young Indigenous people - the highs and lows, the loved ones that inspire them, the culture they belong to and are learning more about, and above all the absolute pride in representing “Our Mob” and doing it for them and not us.

To have Bo De la Cruz Maclean on hand to share her

journey with and present the jerseys to our athletes was beyond special and it was an evening those present will never forget. For myself and Mel - proud Indigenous women who had come from an era where opportunities to represent and celebrate our culture were few and far between- it meant the world to see how proud, confident, and grateful these young athletes were to be front and centre representing our people on such a big stage .

Phil Gyemore, Australian Emus Men’s Open Coach and member of the Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council (ARLIC) said it best when he addressed the players at the Jersey presentation: “Remember, game, not shame”.

Historically, and for too long, Indigenous people in all walks of life and fields of endeavour have felt marginalised, disrespected, and in a lot of ways not good enough for many reasons. Platforms like the All Stars game build confidence in black fullas young and old, and encourage us to express ourselves and celebrate our culture safely and unapologetically. We are so grateful to Touch Football Australia, the NRL and ARLIC for the opportunity to be involved in the All Stars event.

The opportunity to learn more about and immerse ourselves in our culture, and express our passion and pride for our mobs alongside our NRL and NRLW brothers and sisters, was an experience that has filled our cups endlessly.

Whilst I’ve talked about our motivation to square the overall series ledger and play the type of football we are proud to own, the truth is the game itself is secondary to the week-long cultural experience and learnings that brings so much enlightenment, joy, and pride to everyone involved.

It is without a doubt mine and many other people’s favourite week of the year.

I really can’t say it better than NRL Indigenous All Stars Rugby League Captain Latrell Mitchell,

“Culture first, then family, then footy…”

Mel and I could not be any prouder of the 12 amazing young men and women who donned the Australian Indigenous jersey during the event.

The team was led beautifully by Jarrad Rotumah in his eight All Stars appearance and three time Bo De La Cruz Medallist Rebecca Mi Mi who along with the entire team proved themselves to be exemplary role models for our people, outstanding ambassadors for the sport, and above all, quality human beings whose “Mob, Team, Self” attitude frame worked an incredible team performance full of quality, passion, and joy that showcased all that is beautiful about Indigenous Touch…

Despite incessant rain during the game in the ‘Ville we stuck to our plan to play the sort of footy we were proud to own and honour our promise to “play for them, not us” and it was a real treat to see the smiles on our players faces as we recorded an emphatic 7-2 victory over our great rivals and friends the NZ Māori All Stars.

I coach a lot of different teams at the Elite level and love them all, but coaching this team with Mel- well, it is next level special and means so very much because it is for our culture and mob - where we go one, we go all…

We pull on that jersey knowing our past, present, and emerging people are taking every step with us on the journey and it’s the biggest privilege to step forward and honour them by bringing our very best to the contest.

A massive thankyou to TFA Chair Erin Taylor, CEO Jamie O’Connor, General Manager of Participation

Brad Mitchell and relevant staff for your leadership, support and commitment to indigenous pathways – we are so grateful and appreciate your support.

The NRL and NRLW teams and staff were incredible in the way that they embraced and included both the Indigenous and Māori teams all week.

From the Indigenous Touch perspective, the way the NRL and NRLW players, coaches, and support staff got around us touchies and made us feel a part of the family was very humbling and awesome to see…

We are of course very proud of the Rugby League Men’s and Women’s teams for their wins, but more so for the quality people they are and the sharing of our culture we experienced with them on so many levels. Whether it was sharing time and culture off field through yarning, traditional song and dance, going on country, attending functions or jersey presentations, or the war cry and dance experience on the big stage arm in arm with the elite in the men’s and women’s games for both the boys and girls in our crew, - there were so many priceless goose bump moments that will never be erased.

Our own Jaymon Bob was the clear off field star with the NRL boys with his soulful voice and guitar efforts winning everyone over, and NRL pin up boy Nicho Hynes is definitely a team favourite of ours after volunteering his down time to help us perfect our pregame team dance and war cry.

So grateful to Samantha Bliss, Team Manager of the NRLW Indigenous All Stars whose energy and passion for footy and inclusivity for those who play it is amazing

and to respective Indigenous Head coaches Jess Skinner (NRLW) and Ronnie Griffiths (NRL) and their staff for being fantastic coaching role models for Mel and I. To Katrina Fanning and the rest of the ARLIC, thank you for seeing the value in touch football and giving our athletes opportunities that inspire and motivate and offer so many quality outcomes.

Thanks to Craig Lowe, Head Coaches Mita Graham and Te Aroha Paki, Captains Takoha Ropati Marama Thomas and the entire Māori team. We love these two proud and intrinsically linked cultures melding together on and off the field and the battles we have with you guys always do our respective peoples proud and spotlight the immense talent, skill, and passion of our Indigenous and Māori touch collective.

Finally, to family and friends, our mobs, our regions, our affiliates and our clubs who sent so many messages of support and love during the Indigenous All Stars week - we did it for you all and hope we brought a smile to your face in the way we carried ourselves.

We played for you, not us and if this mantra remains the primary motivation for those who wear the Indigenous jersey in the future, then the game and our culture will be in the best hands possible.

Here’s to next year’s All Stars battle and the opportunity to further celebrate and immerse ourselves in a rich cultural and athletic experience.

#weplayforthemnotus

#gamenotshame

#onemob

Kreative Customss

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TFA/NRL

TFA/NRL

Kreative Customss

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TFA/NRL

2024

MĀORI ALL STARSCULTURE & CONNECTION

By Takoha Ropati, Māori All Stars co-captain (Ngāti Hine/Ngāti Ranginui/Ngāti Hāmoa)

It has been such a blessing to be involved in this kaupapa1 ever since Māori Touch NZ (MTNZ) were invited to take part in it in the lead up to last year's event in Rotorua. I view selection into these two teams as one of the highest honours in our sport - and I don't make that comment lightly. Don't get me wrong, representing your country is a great achievement, but playing for your people is another level entirely. It is so much more than a representative bestowmentwe are Māori All Stars representatives, yes, but more importantly we are also representing our whakapapa2, our iwi3, our hapū4, our whānau5, our tīpuna6 and our mokopuna7. It is something larger than ourselves.

The overall experience of All Stars this year was amazing, right from the Welcome and Whakatau8 upon touching down in Townsville. The experiences shared, camaraderie and bonds forged are all aspects I appreciated coming away from All Stars camp, and I always enjoy the time away with our team, particularly our Australian-based whanaunga9 Māori. They represent communities of Māori that aren't often engaged in their culture of heritage, so it was awesome listening to them and observing as they expressed their emotions and thoughts around what being Māori means and looks like to them. It definitely highlighted the need for more kaupapa like this for our whānau living abroad.

Culture and connection were big themes throughout the week, and our preparation focused a lot on having the freedom to express ourselves on the field.

Unfortunately, by the time tap off rolled around, the Townsville heavens opened up and we had to navigate the rain as well as a strong Indigenous side. In the end, it simply wasn't our night on the field, going down 2-7 in those tough conditions.

While the end result may have been disheartening, the game itself is always a bonus. To me, the purpose of the event will always outweigh the 40 minutes on the field - the All Stars event is all about the platform we are given across the week to be able to engage, empower and positively impact our Māori and Indigenous people.

That platform is often the biggest thing for our people. That platform gives us the opportunity to display kotahitanga, or oneness, with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. That platform gives us the opportunity to express our mana of being leaders from our different nations. That platform gives us the opportunity to promote reconciliation and share respect and appreciation for both Indigenous and Māori culture within our broader communities. That platform gives us the opportunity to elevate and represent our people. We are role models and there are some pressing issues that the wider communities of both Indigenous and Māori peoples face that we can both relate to as tangata whenua10, and we can use that platform we are given through Touch to address those issues.

Both our nations face the same dilemma: we are tangata whenua alienated from our taonga11 and we fight eerily similar battles to gain, or more accurately re-gain parity in a predominantly Western world. It was fitting

Photo Kreative Customss

then that we got to witness the cultural performances, ceremonies and initiatives aimed at raising awareness about Indigenous issues and celebrating Indigenous heritage which was another highlight of the campaign.

As indigenous peoples, both of our cultures share common views and outlooks on whānau, respect, hospitality and our environment. We partook in an authentic greeting outside of the intended schedule being welcomed on to country by local mobs, an act that embodied all of those cultural aspects and really highlighted some of the similarities between both of our cultures.

Being able to articulate all of those components through haka, a means that is inherently Māori, was special. Within my composition of the haka the messaging was clear: it wasn't about rivalry between the nations, but a shared understanding of the issues we both face and how we can utilise the platform we are given through Touch and the All Stars event specifically to celebrate and elevate both peoples.

I'd love to see and listen to more Māori voices tackle real life issues for our people within the sport. If the sport is providing a positive outlet for our communities and Māori are amongst the highest represented within our game, then why not provide more meaningful kaupapa for these players and communities to express their autonomy as Māori? It shouldn't just be a Māori Touch NZ thing to provide that space, but it should also be a Touch NZ thing. If they use our taonga, then they should also create that space and positions of influence for Māori.

Finally, a few mihi and acknowledgments to send out.

Firstly, to Matua Finney Davis. Matua Finney is our leader, both in title and in spirit, and he showed those leadership qualities a hundred times over at All Stars week. On behalf of our entire Māori All Stars contingent, we send our heartfelt condolences to Matua Finney and acknowledge his dear Māmā who sadly passed in the week preceding the All Stars match. Being the rangatira12 that he is, he still fronted up in

Townsville and was at the forefront of our campaign when it would have been completely understandable for him to remain at home surrounded by whānau and loved ones. For that, we are extremely fortunate and blessed. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe, Matua.

To Whaea Paula Wanakore. A dearly loved and widely respected wāhine13 within our Māori Touch whānau both in Aotearoa and Australia. Your passion and advocacy for Māori Touch has beared many fruits, and we hope that this team makes you proud. Moe mai ra e te rangatira.

To MTNZ board representatives who were present in Townsville, Matua Finney and Pat Spellman, on behalf of the entire MTNZ board. For your commitment to this kaupapa and representing us so passionately and with vigor at the top. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

To our Aotearoa NZ Māori Rugby League whānau. For welcoming us into your space and the manaaki14, whanaungatanga15 and aroha16 you showed us throughout All Stars week. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

To our coaches, Mita Graham and Te Aroha Paki. Two widely respected figures in their own right. For not only your knowledge and expertise, but for holding space on the field, on the training paddock, in the classroom and everywhere else in between. Ngā mihi nui ki a kōrua.

To our playing group. It was a privilege and an honour to be able to lead such a talented and humble group as co-captain alongside Marama Thomas. I hope the opportunity for us to be unapologetically Māori as part of this important kaupapa continues to solidify and grow with each season. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

To the Indigenous team and coaching staff. I love the battle between our two cultures on the field and love the respect even more. We'll take up the wero17 and be back next year to go 1-up in the ledger. Ngā mihi.

To the NRL and Touch Football Australia for the opportunity. Ngā mihi.

As a contingent, I know we are committed to supporting this kaupapa and looking to grow the opportunity to showcase both cultures alongside TFA. I can't wait to see what kind of impact this event is having on our people next year, in five years' time, in ten years' time, and hope there will be more opportunity in the future for us to acknowledge and celebrate our Māoritanga. Kia ora koutou.

To translate Māori terms:

Kaupapa: purpose, cause

Whakapapa: ancestry, lineage

Iwi: tribe

Hapū: sub-tribe

Whānau: family

Tīpuna: ancestors

Mokopuna: grandchildren, future generation(s)

Whakatau: a form of welcome

Whanaunga: relatives

Mana: prestige, status, spiritual power

Tangata whenua: people of the land

Taonga: property, instrument

Rangatira: Chief, leader

Wāhine: woman

Manaaki: care

Whanaungatanga: kinship, sense of family connection

Aroha: love

Wero: challenge

By 7th Touch

Photos Warren-Chapman Photography

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2014, TOUCH NEW ZEALAND (TNZ) MADE THE DECISION TO HOST SEPARATE EVENTS FOR THEIR SHOWPIECE COMPETITION, THE NATIONAL TOUCH CHAMPIONSHIPS. SO, OVER 100 TEAMS WERE DIVIDED INTO MASTERS AND OPEN GRADES. THE MASTERS TRAVELLED TO PALMERSTON NORTH IN LATE FEBRUARY AND THE OPEN GRADES WENT TO ROTORUA A FEW WEEKS LATER IN EARLY MARCH FOR THE 36TH EDITION OF THE NATIONAL EVENT.

Masters Nationals

A huge portion of Masters players would have been no stranger to Ongley Park which has hostedmany a Nationals since the first time the tournament was held there in 1994.

The overall vibe of a standalone Masters Nationals is a lot more relaxed. Players are afforded more opportunity to reconnect with old mates, spend time between games with their whānau and have the freedom to relax and have a bit of fun on the field without the high performance-type atmosphere that naturally comes with the Open grades. Add to that the fact that the workload of referees is essentially halved, players that are able to can go and play Masters and then also play/ coach/manage in the Open grades, and our rangatira having their own space to shine on the field, and the event was enjoyed by all who attended.

But don't be fooled: just because it's a more chilled environment doesn't mean the competitive spirits of our Masters players are any less. They enjoy a decent game of Touch as much as any. The skill level is pleasantly high, the Touch IQ is off the charts and the on-field results don't necessarily dictate the moods of players for the weekend!

Some of the highlights of the weekend included:

• Rugby World Cup winner and former All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder making his anticipated provincial return to Touch with the Manawatū 30 Men's (who won silver)

• Former Black Fern and Kiwi Fern, Honey Hireme-Smiler, running around for the Waikato 40 Women's (also silver)

• King Country entering a Nationals competition as a province for the first time in over 20 years

• Mr. Touch, stalwart Peter Walters, enjoying what seemed like his 1000th Nationals gold medal

• The 40 Men's final between Canterbury and Waikato which was (personally) the best match of the weekend

• And the NZ Defence Force also making a welcomed return to Nationals.

Masters Finals:

27 Women's: Waikato 5-4 Hawkes Bay

30 Men's: Canterbury 10-9 Manawatū

40 Women's: Counties 10-1 Waikato

40 Men's: Waikato 7-6 Canterbury

45 Women's: Auckland 9-1 Counties

45 Men's: Bay of Plenty 6-5 Counties

50 Men's: Auckland 5-4 Bay of Plenty

55 Men's: Auckland 6-2 Counties

60 Men's: North Harbour 6-1 Canterbury

Open Nationals

This year's Nationals for the Open grades was held in Rotorua, just as it was at the inaugural National Touch Championships back in 1986. Rotorua International Stadium played host to its third Nationals in the last six years and provided an amazing venue for players and spectators alike. There were a whopping 50 teams at this year's tournament competing across four grades: the U21 Mixed, Open Mixed, Open Women's and Open Men's.

The competition started early with an 8am round tapping things off on Day 1. The weather was sublime; warm and dry with a welcome breeze here and thereperfect conditions for Touch which made for some great action on the field. The standard of play was exactly what you'd expect: three days of intense, entertaining, high quality Touch Football. You also couldn't help but feel the impending World Cup selection looming, with Touch Blacks squad members wanting to put their best foot forward and show the national coaches and selectors on the sidelines why they should be on the plane to Nottingham later in the year. It added an extra layer of atmosphere to a Nationals already brimming with anticipation.

Some of the highlights included:

• USA Touch Open Men's and Open Mixed teams getting the opportunity to battle against provinces in some much-needed World Cup preparation.

• King Country entering their first Open grade teams since 1997

• Tūranganui-a-Kiwa entering their first Open grade team ever (they were previously known as Te Tairāwhiti which last had an Open team in 1999)

• Nelson Open Mixed showing their 2023 title run was no fluke

• Waikato revisiting their Open Women's glory days, winning their first Open Women's title in a decade

After 30+ years, the tournament continues to be a highlight of the Touch calendar here in NZ. Like most Touch gatherings, the best thing about Nationals is that every year brings new memories, friendships and opportunities. This year's event(s) in particular was an important one for the High Performance unit with coaches keeping a close eye on players and referees jockeying for TWC positions, and as the penultimate stop on the road to TWC 2024 (NZ's Premier Touch League set to tap off at the time of writing), here's to hoping Nationals has also played its part in contributing to some stellar performances in England from the guys and girls in black.

Open Finals:

U21 Mixed: North Harbour 10-9 Canterbury

Open Mixed: Nelson 9-7 Auckland White

Open Women's: Waikato 10-5 Counties

Open Men's: Counties 9-7 North Harbour

REIMAGINED

By Mark Tipple Photos Touch Football Australia

The Championships concluded in Australia on Sunday, March 10th after three days of high intensity touch football. A record 165 teams and over 7,000 attendees embarked on Coffs Harbour for the new-look National Touch Championships of Australia.

For the first time ever, clubs (officially referred to as affiliates) were allowed to enter the event in any of the 23 divisions on offer alongside the regional, state and international teams permitted previously.

Since its inception in 1997, Touch Football Australia made the most changes to the ‘National Touch League’ event this year. Normally a 4-day event (beginning on a Wednesday, concluding on Saturday, with 20 minute halves), the 2024 edition was reduced to a 3-day event, from Friday to Sunday with 16 minute halves.

Although feedback for the new-look NTL/Championships may vary, on paper the event was an outright success; 20% increase on team numbers, 44% uplift in referee numbers to a record 230, well-received emphasis on ‘fan-zone’ areas (which are thankfully increasingly common at touch tournaments), and affiliates and regional teams blending together rather seamlessly to produce an outstanding level of play as always.

The Sydney Scorpions region sent more teams than ever before and took home the ‘Golden Boot’ for overall champion permit for a record-equalling tenth time. Eight of the 18 Scorpions teams featured in Grand Finals, taking gold in four divisions. Fellow powerhouse region South Queensland Sharks were right behind them, equaling the Scorpions on points but claiming fewer division titles (three Grand Finals to the Scorpions’ five). Ultimately, we’d see the Scorpions equal their record of ten Golden Boot titles.

The Hunter Western Hornets, led by Dylan Thompson and his band of young guns, claimed their third Men’s Open title in six years. A tough matchup saw them overcome two-time defending champions Central QLD Bulls in the semi-final after being down 0-3. They then followed that up with a dominant Grand Final performance, winning 7-3 over South West QLD Swans, coming back from a 0-2 deficit to beat the Swans in their first Grand Final. A Herculean effort from Australian Men’s Open & Hornets link Jack Edwards saw him named Player of the Final and Player of the Series.

The Women’s Open final was an all-time classic, with the defending champion Sydney Scorpions coming back from the brink multiple times against QLD State Champions UQ Rebels, who ultimately won 6-5 after a 3 on 3 drop off. The University of Queensland Rebels, led by skipper Sammy-Jo Curtis and featuring 7 Australian Opens players heading to the World Cup, completed the treble; the first team in touch history to claim the Metro Cup in Brisbane, QLD State Cup and a national title to stand outright as the #1 Women’s Touch team in Australia. Scorpion link Mackenzie Davis was named player of the final in a losing effort, keeping her team in the match with amazing attacking raids. Rebecca Mi Mi from UQ Rebels was named Player of the Series after another fantastic tournament.

The Mixed Open category saw pre-tournament favourites Southern (formerly Sydney) Rebels dominate their opposition to claim a record tenth title in this division. Recently named Australian Mixed debutants Zach Bouzounis and Brittany Rudd were named Players of the Final in a 9-4 victory over their traditional rivals Brisbane Cobras. Experienced campaigner Roy Prasad masterminded a complete performance for his side with no team getting within two tries of the Rebels after a first round draw with Cobras.

Fair to say the major format changes bemused some, concerned others and were vocally welcomed by few leading into the event. Following the event, it will be interesting to hear the opinions of those formerly against the new structure to see if many minds had been changed. Equally, it will be interesting to see what Touch Football Australia do with the event moving forward - given the positive results on and off the field, it would not surprise if this inspires more innovation in their events moving forward.

The Championship matches can be viewed on YouTube outside Australia and on Kayo Sports inside Australia.

ANOTHER CLUB SEASON DONE AND DUSTED IN NEW ZEALAND

By 7th Touch Photos Warren-Chapman Photography

The club scene in New Zealand is the breeding ground for the next Touch superstars coming out of Aotearoa, an important step in one's Touch journey. When you look at New Zealand's best players, a lot of them are synonymous with their club team. You think of the likes of Peter Walters and Galaxy, Mita Graham and Wairere, or Jean Marsh and Bulletz. They are the teams that mold these players, build their foundations and catapult them to representative honours.

Clubs and their supporters here can be fanatical. Rivalries are fierce, the competition between the best clubs around the country is intense and there's no shortage of tournaments if you want to lay claim to being the best in New Zealand. In the past, traditional powerhouses such as Galaxy, Frezin Hot, X Factor, Dustys and Reds were considered the best in the country while more recently that mantle can be claimed by teams like Wairere, Bulletz, Playin Up, Pearl Jam or Loaded. Each of those clubs have had some all-time battles over the years and 2024 was no different.

Here's a quick snapshot of the club season here in NZ:

Whakatāne Touch Tournament

The Whakatāne Touch Tournament is a prestigious one-day tournament that has been held since the late 1980s. The 2024 edition was held on January 6th and featured the absolute best club teams from around Aotearoa. This year's tournament also saw a few teams make the trip across the Tasman as well as some of Europe's premier players in France's Maël Pin and Italy's Giacomo Allaria turning out for the Huskies Open Men's team.

At the end of a hot day of intense Touch, Pearl Jam took out the Men's competition overturning last year's result against defending champs Wairere, while Playin Up did the exact same to Bulletz on the Women's side of the draw - both teams winning their first ever official 'Whakas' title.

Kaiawa Invitational Club Championships

In only its second year of operation, the Kaiawa Invitational Club Championships has quickly established itself as the South Island's premier club competition. This year's event, held on January 19th20th, attracted elite North Island teams Loaded and Bulletz to compete against the best of the south as well as the New Zealand 30 Men's preparing for the World Cup later this year.

For the second year in a row, the Women's final between Dunedin-based Southern Stealers and Bulletz from South Auckland went down to a thrilling drop-off with the Stealers going on better than last year's result to win. On the Men's side of the draw, home team Kaiawa's pair of Australian imports Kingston Lamberg and Raydyn Haeata weren't enough to help them overcome defending champions Loaded in the final, with the East Auckland-based outfit winning their second Kaiawa Invitational trophy in as many years.

Te Tuia 10K

A highlight on the club calendar since its launch in 2020, Te Tuia Sports club ran their fourth annual 10K tournament on February 17th. It has only grown bigger and better in its four years of operation and this year had 10 of the best Women's and Men's teams on hand to battle it out for their share of (you guessed it) $10,000.

The Men's final was fought between last year's finalists Pearl Jam and Loaded, a fiery rivalry that has really developed over the last few years. In a great game of Touch, the spoils went the way of Pearl Jam. Over in the Women's section, archrivals Playin Up and Bulletz wrote yet another chapter in their storied rivalry as the girls in purple (Playin Up) prevailed in the final to win back-to-back 10K titles and end their season undefeated. An incredible feat.

The club scene is pretty competitive here in NZ to say the least. And that's a good thing. That drive to be the best has lifted the quality of club competition to the point where the top 6-10 teams can win any given tournament. It has a domino effect as well: strong clubs equal strong provinces, which equals strong national teams. And in a World Cup year, that equation could be the secret to toppling our Trans-Tasman rivals.

GROWING THE SPORT IN BELGIUM

EXPANDING THE CHAMPIONSHIP OVER TWO DIVISIONS

By Stéphane Collignon Photos Touch Belgium

When Jane Gimber took over the role of president of Touch Belgium eight years ago, she had one goal in mind: help grow the sport. As she prepares to pass on the torch to Samantha Verbois, she can look back with satisfaction as for the first time this season, the championship will host two divisions, nearly doubling the amount of teams battling it out over six legs.

In a small touch nation such as Belgium, one of the difficulties has always been to manage the different levels of expectation. For some players, touch is a leisure sport; to be enjoyed with friends and family about once a week, and with the all important postpractice social aspects we all know and love. But for an increasing number, the sport is becoming more and more competitive. At the 2022 European Championship, Belgium sent four squads, with the Men's Over 30 finishing fourth. Last year, it was the Women's Open shining on the European stage with another fourth place finish. This year, three squads will carry Belgium’s ambition to be the biggest of the small European nations. As these international ambitions are reflected in the drive and progress felt in the top domestic clubs, they can sometimes create friction in a still small Belgian Touch family. How do you face teams clearly bent on playing at the highest level, when you are a social club? How do you manage expectations within your own squad when you have both social and competitive players? Théo Aguilela, Head Coach of the Brussels based expat club BBRFC - Celtic explains, “As a coach, it’s challenging to build an environment where both competitive players and more social players can thrive. Even more so when our club is the only one with

both female and male mids”. However, the creation of a series of new touch sections across the country would provide the possibility of a solution.

Starting out of its original Brussels region cradle, Belgian touch has, over the last years, extended throughout the country, from Soignies and La Hulpe to Liège in the south, from Ghent to Oudenaarde in the north. The championship even spreads to neighbor Luxembourg. With now 14 actively participating clubs in total at the time of writing (and a couple more gestating here and there), and the top five clubs able to provide two squads each, it was decided to expand the Belgian championship to two divisions for the first time ever. While the top eight teams would face off in what is now known as the “Competitive Division”, no less than ten squads would compose the new “Challenge Division” solely focused on developing and growing the sport.

Among the squads composing this new league, five are thus development teams from competitive clubs. Theo Aguilela explains that there is “ a sense of pride that comes to mind first: being an attractive club and having enough players to compose two full squads is amazing and a luxury in such a small community”. For Laurent Bondon, Head Coach of repeat champions Brussels University Club (BUC) “this challenge division gives us the chance to develop the next generation of young talents, as young as 10, and that is a massive opportunity”. On the subject of developing youth in Belgium, the Challenge division is also the home of the Brussels Buffalos; Belgium’s first youth only touch rugby club and solid purveyor of the junior national

squads with BUC.Undefeated repeat champs and clear favorites to retain their title, the Brussels University Club, or BUC, has been at the forefront of the recent development of touch in Belgium. The foundation of the team’s success? Developing youth…

But the division is also providing a fertile environment for the creation of new clubs. Three brand new sections: Soignies, Kibubu and Brigandze, have joined the championship this year either on their own or in association with other clubs. For Pierre Laffont, Captain and Manager of Kibubu Rugby Club’s touch section, the challenge division provided “a great opportunity to fix an objective and therefore motivate not only the players but also the club as a whole”. The division also provided a strong but not inaccessible

learning curve. As Laffont confides: “the first matches were very complicated as our players’ level was quite heterogeneous. But eventually we managed to find our balance, refine our tactics, score points, and eventually, garner some victories”. And that’s probably the major lesson to be learned here. Whether young new touchies, confirmed but more socially minded players or retired xv’s ruggers looking for a good excuse to keep lacing their boots on the weekend, this inaugural Challenge division has proven a real field for developing the sport in Belgium.

If you happen to be around, the final leg of the championship (both divisions) will happen on the 26th of May in Brussels. Join us for a full day of touch, and maybe a beer or two… this is Belgium after all.

THE SUCCESS OF THE YOUTH

Undefeated repeat champs and clear favorites to retain their title, the Brussels University Club, or BUC, has been at the forefront of touch’s recent development in Belgium. The foundation of the team’s success? Developing youth.

Head Coach Laurent Bondon recalls: “I started involving kids from the club’s rugby school I was coaching in 2017. I had them participate in "Spring into Touch”: a Belgian social tournament organized every Wednesday from late May to June. Under Bondon’s guidance, a handful of young XV’s players were able to get a taste for touch and would eventually provide the frame for the future team. Quickly sisters, girlfriends and even moms joined in making it quite a family affair. The team, led on the field by Corentin, coach Bondon’s son and one of Belgium’s top players, burst onto the Belgian scene during the 2021-22 season with a nearly flawless record, suffering only one draw. Many of these young players would then form the first junior mixed team ever sent by Belgium to the European Junior Touch Championship held in Vichy the following summer.

Today, as the youth of yesterday have gradually taken over the Open national teams, Laurent Bondon is fostering the next generation, with half a dozen players under the age of thirteen joining training. “The secret of our success”, explains coach Bondon, “is that we have joint practice sessions every Sunday and for half an hour every Wednesday. This allows the experienced players to remember where they come from, while showing the younger ones what they can achieve”. The apples sure don’t fall far from the tree as Corentin Bondon not only leads by example in his club, but started coaching the junior national squads with Joséphine Fallon (one of Belgium WO’s young rising stars), both of whom recently stepped up to become Youth Development Directors for Touch Belgium.

Belgium's Men and Women International (BMWI)

Brussels on April 27th (MO and WO categories)

tournament contact: tournament@touch-belgium.be

STRIVING FOR A LEVEL PLAYING FIELDA VIEW FROM ITALY

By Ian Bransfield Photos Deej Chill

Touch rugby during the Italian winter isn’t always an easy sell.

Last weekend we travelled to Milan for a championship round and spent yet another full day toiling in pitches that resembled mud baths with incessant rain teeming down. For those who signed up to life in Italy, it wasn’t meant to be like this. When the sun comes out, of course, there are few countries that can compete with the beauty on offer on this glorious peninsula. Trouble is, it comes out a great deal less than one might expect from November to March, at least in the north.

Or maybe this writer just didn’t get the memo…

It’s worth mentioning, by the way, that we won the tournament, biblical conditions notwithstanding.

And when I say we, I’m referring to a multi-cultural team called Scambio di Lingue, which in English translates simply as “Language Exchange”. We’re based in Padova, in the northeast of Italy, close to Venice. About 50% of our players are Italians from the local vicinity while the other half is made up of expats and foreign students from all around the world who have chosen to make Padova their home, at least for the time being.

Hence the exchange of languages.

We’ve been hot on the heels of perennial champions Brianza Toucherz for the last couple of years, finishing 3rd two seasons ago and 2nd in last year’s campaign. We’re hoping to go one better this season, but it won’t be easy. Brianza have won the title for the last 7 years in a row and give nothing away cheaply.

The real success for our team, however, is that we manage to exist at all, let alone be competitive.

Fund-raising for touch isn’t easy in a country obsessed with the round-ball game. All other comers are literally fighting for crumbs once the footballers have had their share. Rugby Union will undoubtedly gain in popularity if the Italian national team can build on its heroics of this year’s Six Nations, but even that is considered a minority sport when viewed through the prism of the nation’s favorite pastime.

Touch, in the minds of many, has many miles to go before it could even aspire to be called a minority sport. For some, it is as obscure as toe-wresting or cheeserolling.

Fun to play? Perhaps, yes.

To be taken seriously? Absolutely not.

It is the aficionados of rugby union, somewhat absurdly, that are most opposed to touch gaining a foothold round these parts, a regrettable outlook given the common ground shared by both disciplines.

Much like tennis partisans scoffing at padel, most union die-hards dismiss touch as casual exercise, a perception that needs to be challenged in a hurry if traction is to be gained. Touch, for now, is reliant on union for a myriad of reasons, from infrastructure to permissibility and a whole lot in between.

But it also has a lot to give, most notably in term of vitality and alternative player pathways, as the Irish Rugby Federation has discovered since welcoming Ireland touch under its umbrella. A symbiotic working relationship between the two would almost certainly prove mutually beneficial, but as things stand in Italy there doesn’t as yet appear to be any real willingness to forge such an agreement.

And so we plough on, making the best of what we can, always flirting with the prospect of Insolvency. That recent win in Milan consolidated our place at the top of the league standings but despite our lofty rank we have to consider the very real possibility that this season will represent our last unless we pull another rabbit out of the hat.

A sobering thought, especially given the World Cup ambitions of the Italian national team, of which we are bulk suppliers. Alas, such is the landscape of Italian touch rugby. Oblivion lurks, no matter how big the giant. A quick glance through the recent annals of final league standings throws up so many team names that no longer exist.

When we first came on the scene just a few short years ago we played most of our competitive matches against teams in our province, likes Verona, Bandiga, Orange, Dolimiti, Toccai and Tiki Anzak.

Of the above sextet, only Verona and Orange still ply their trade in the championship.

The covid pandemic certainly didn’t help, but touch in this country will always struggle to make progress until it starts to sell itself better. Sure, nothing can be done about the seasonal rain, but the facilities rationed out to the touch community have got to be improved. As winter gives way to spring and, the swamps that we now play on will soon transition back into cramped, dusty battlefields for the business end of the season.

For a sport in which the act of diving is so critical, the arid playing field is an unattractive proposition, and a dangerous one too. But space is in short supply and the ravaged playing arena is simply a natural consequence of overuse. It’s all a far cry from the glossy, satin-like highlights of the Australian NRL that flash up on our social media feeds. Bronze, sculpted bodies gliding majestically on pitches that look like billiard-tables.

Now that is league that knows how to sell itself, and perhaps our greatest hope is that it can sell itself all the way to the summer Olympics.

Were that to be the case, then the cynics and naysayers might just have cause to reevaluate, and perhaps recognize touch for the wonderous sport that it is. Until that happens, the biggest challenges for touch in Italy will always be off field, where conditions are even more precarious than those underfoot.

ABBY GUSTAITIS: THE INCREDIBLE TRANSITION FROM RUGBY TO TOUCH

By Nico Whiteford Photo Susi Seitz

The feeling of entering a tournament; that adrenaline rush before the clock starts counting down from 7:00, 6:59… blood flowing to your frontal lobe, urging you that it’s time to begin. The muscles react swiftly as the joints begin to move. One, two, three, steps forward. Pass, catch, punt, kick. Where am I? Where are you? Chest heaving, heart pumping, throat burning, I’m here now. Go go GO, she breaks the line, exploding into open space as the body slams into the try line. Three, two, one, only the sound of the breath until the cheers from the 2021 Olympic rugby stadium shatter the silence.

It’s a strange sensation being in the realm of “professional athlete”. When you run with the top players, then realize that you’re one of them, It’s an odd yet humbling moment. To know that you got here because of you, with your body, with your mind, is something different. “It takes a bit of luck to achieve anything in life, [but it doesn’t mean] I didn’t work my ass off”, Abby Gustaitis, an American rugby union player, stepped into the rugby world when she was a student at the University of Maryland. Taking a stroll at her college “first look fair” she was approached by a fellow student with the simple and straight forward approach of:

“You look big enough to play, ever heard of union rugby?”

Shrugging her shoulders and taking a leap of faith she joined her first practice and immediately fell into the flow of the game. It felt natural coming from a family of two older brothers, commencing in power play and

tackle strategy. Apart from the game, what really kept her coming back was the seamless transition into the rugby community, carrying her forward for the next 12 years.

The Touch community found the joy of Abby’s presence in 2016 when she had her first touch experience in Washington DC. For those of you who haven’t scrimmaged with the DC community, taking your first few steps on the field wakes you up to the clear presence of rugby players on the squad. The fast feet, long passes, and infinite endurance leave you bent over backwards and panting with your hands on your knees. Despite the different level of play, there's a good reason rugby players include touch in their dayto-day practice. As a rugby player it’s easy to brush off touch as “fake” rugby. This rugby player defense mechanism is due to the fact that it’s a bit of a bust to the ego when you can’t just use physical prowess to win a play. Knowing a sport at such a high level can be frustrating when suddenly you’re on the same field, with the same ball in your hand, but you can’t quite seem to comprehend the rules.

Today Abby is thrilled she stuck with the game of touch, with some patience and practice she was able to understand how rewarding it was to level the playing field with touch skills. “It’s the mental aspect I enjoy”; combining that with physical attributes such as footwork and acceleration is what makes touch rugby attractive.

The touch community remains consistent and welcoming; with experienced players teaching the

newcomers until the basics come swiftly and the strategy begins. It’s like a chess game, manipulating and exploiting through patience and tactics. Especially in the mixed game, placing men and women strategically adds another layer to the sport.

“The journey has been a long one, how do you manage to stick with the sport when you don’t get selected for a global level tournament?” I ask.

Rio 2016, Rugby 7s, Abby wasn’t selected, “Mentally, I was done.” All that work just to get cut felt like having your dream ripped up and destroyed right before your

eyes. It’s easy to feel resentment but at the end of the day, you let yourself back onto the field and it all melts away. “It’s the sport that keeps drawing me back in, the challenges there. I remind myself that it’s not the coach's decision if I pursue this passion or not, they might dictate the roster, but when I look back I’m happy knowing that my love for the sport and 100% personal effort was what counted.” Such a circumstance forces a mental shift, to take an experience and recognize it as a teaching moment, to face it with an open mindset, is what determines whether you get up, and try again.

BEYOND THE SCORELINE:

A GLIMPSE AT WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES OF SPORTS ADMINISTRATION

Text and photo Bianca Arco

After several years of Zoom meetings, “nice to e-meet you” greetings, and countless e-mail exchanges, representatives from FIT and its member nations finally held an in-person member forum in Singapore last February 23-25, 2024. National Touch Organizations (NTOs) represented at the forum included Australia, China, Cook Islands, England, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and Tonga. While it was unfortunate that representatives from the Americas, Africa, and Europe (with the exception of England) could not attend the forum, it was nonetheless a productive weekend buzzing with energy, ideas, and optimism for our sport entering a new post-COVID era.

I joined the FIT Member Relations Commission for Asia in late 2020 - during the height of COVID and lockdowns, when contact sports were severely impacted across the region. The job at hand seemed fairly straightforward on paper: build relationships with Asia NTO representatives, and figure out how to keep nations engaged and connected with FIT. Connecting with touch people across the region was something that I was already sort of doing at that time because looking for touch development outside Philippine borders seemed like the best way to elevate the game domestically back home, so I thought I’d give the opportunity with FIT a shot.

Little did I know that it would take almost four years to actually meet my colleagues in touch (if you can call them that) in the flesh!

Being in attendance at the 2024 FIT Member’s Forum on the flipside as a FIT administrator (I had previously attended similar conferences as an NTO representative for the Philippines) was a totally new experience for me. I wasn’t sure how the workshop sessions would be received, or what kind of personalities I would be dealing with. What I was certain of, however, was that each person in that room who invested precious time and resources to be present, had a singular goal in mind: how do we grow the sport of touch?

It was intriguing to table-hop amongst the different breakout groups to listen to each NTO’s insights. We had a good mix of established and emerging NTOs in attendance so the coming together of perspectives was something that could only truly be achieved by having those face-to-face conversations.

From lessons learned from the 2023 FIBA World Cup to building strategic partnerships, reflecting on best practices and figuring out how to get to the Olympics, there was always something that delegates could pick up and bring home to their respective nations. Even as certain topics evoked… passionate responses in the ballroom, there was nothing that couldn’t be discussed over a bowl of laksa or a pint of draft beer afterwards. I’d even say that some of the best ideas were borne out of happy hour conversations!

While the state of touch football has definitely come a long way from where it began, there certainly is a long way to go with where we want our sport to be. With the upcoming 2024 Touch World Cup in England this July, participation is at an all-time high. Each iteration of the past four TWCs was bigger than the last, and this year’s 189 teams is a 3.6x increase versus the 53 teams in 2011. Two new senior categories will be introduced this year (Men’s 55’s, and Women’s 40’s), also affirming not just an increase in participation, but also in longevity.

As I reflect back on this year’s International Women’s Day theme of #InspireInclusion, I became curious about women’s participation in the 2024 Touch World Cup. If we look at the representation of teams in this year’s opens division, we generally have gender parity between the Men’s & Women’s Opens teams at 29% and 30% respectively, with the Mixed Open taking up the remaining 41%. However, taking the senior grades into account, we see the men’s teams ballooning to 52% of all participating teams, while the women’s share is diluted to 23%, and mixed closing out the group at 25%. Zooming out further and looking back at the past two TWCs, we see that the women’s overall participation remains stagnant at an average of ~22% since TWC 2015. This statistic remains true even at the administrative level where most of our representatives are male leaders. Just at the 2024 FIT Member’s Forum alone, women’s participation was less than 20% with only 6 out of the 35 attendees being female. Though women’s participation at the TWC level isn’t necessarily indicative of an NTO’s overall female engagement rate, it serves as a good benchmark to gauge where we can improve as a sport.

While we all have ambitious plans to increase our player participation, let’s also make a conscious effort into being more inclusive of women’s participation in every aspect sport be it as a player, coach, referee, or administrator – most especially in leadership and decision-making roles. These type of opportunities would encourage more women to be involved, which would greatly benefit the sport overall.

With the steady increase of participation in our sport, administrators are faced with a new set of both opportunities and challenges that come with growth. That’s why these few days where leaders come together and gather insights or network with other similarly positioned NTOs are so invaluable for the development of touch globally. What starts out as a tiny ripple of an idea can evolve and snowball into winds of change especially for fledgling touch organizations that are barely scratching the surface of their journey.

MY WAYTOO-EARLY 2024 TOUCH WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS

By 7th Touch

Photos LK_Sportsphotography | Howard Goldberg | Glen Eaton/Aisle 5 Photography

In mid-March, the Federation of International Touch (FIT) released the preliminary list of divisions and nations set to battle it out at Touch Football's showpiece event, the 2024 Touch World Cup. The quadrennial tournament is quickly approaching and with less than four months to go, teams are dotting their i's and crossing their t's to put themselves in the best position to compete come July.

Let's quickly recap: there are 13 divisions on offer (three Open grades and 10 Masters grades) with over 7,500 participants (players, coaches and support staff) from 188 teams across 38 member nations set to descend on Nottingham, England for the tournament. It's set to be the biggest Touch World Cup in history by quite a considerable margin - a fantastic achievement already earmarked for our sport.

So, let's grab the crystal ball and make some way-tooearly predictions for TWC 2024!

Prediction #1: Pacific teams will make a statement

The last World Cup to be held in Europe was in the 2011 event in Edinburgh, Scotland, where only five teams from the Pacific participated. This year, 24 teams are set to head to England - and I guarantee they'll make a splash when they do.

Papua New Guinea were heralded as the undisputed kings and queens of Pacific Touch back in 2019 after placing 4th (Men's), 6th (Women's) and 7th (Mixed) at the TWC, as well as winning all three Pacific Games gold medals that year. Four years later and Samoa have surpassed them, also winning all three gold medals at last year's Pacific Games. And that's not because PNG's level of play has declined, but rather Samoa has made great strides throughout the World Cup cycle.

On top of that, the Fijian sides have benefitted from coaching legend Tony Trad and have improved immensely; the flexibility of FIT's eligibility laws has resulted in the Cook Islands expanding their playing roster and being able to field Australian and NZ-based players; and Tonga is sending their first team to a TWC

since 1999. The Pacific nations are on course for a successful campaign and I'm predicting one Pacific team to come away with a bronze medal, and a top 8 finish for at least half the teams entered.

Prediction #2: Ireland will be the biggest movers in the Men's Open

As much as nations like England, Samoa and USA have only gotten better since the 2019 TWC, it's the Irish who I'm expecting to improve the most and be the big movers at this year's event.

After finishing a disappointing 12th out of 16 teams at the last World Cup, the lads in green have been on a warpath since, winning 20 of a possible 30 tests on their way to qualifying for back-to-back Euros finals. They've had some strong coaching and have been led well by the likes of Sean Ballance, John Ennis, James O'Donnell and Mark Phelan over the past few years.

Their biggest challenge will be whether they can win the big game matches when the pressure is on, and I would expect them to pass with flying colours on their way to a quarter-final finish at the very least.

Prediction #3: South Africa and USA will show why they deserve more international exposure

It must be so difficult and frustrating for South Africa and USA to get some international game time. On top of the financial hurdles that all member nations face, these two countries in particular struggle to attract any meaningful international competition due to their geographical isolation. This means that outside of a World Cup, both nations must rely heavily on developing a strong local product to improve. But they've somehow made it work.

From their first TWC in 1995 in Hawaii, South Africa have taken to Touch like fish to water. They are perennial achievers at each World Cup with a bunch of bronze medals shared across each of the Open grades as well as a handful of silver medals in the Masters grades to show for it. The South Africans have a distinct style of play, so imagine what they can do with that style if they can get some regular tests under their belt in between World Cup competitions.

USA on the other hand has been more of a slow burner. In saying that, they've slowly developed with each World Cup cycle and that development matches the growth of the sport in the States. For context, USA will go from entering a single team at the inaugural TWC in 1988 to entering a staggering 10 teams at the event 36 years later - a great representation of that growth and development. Their ace-in-the-hole is the contribution of legendary Australian coach Tony Trad who will have his fingerprints all over the US performance.

A TWC 2024, both nations will put on some eye-catching displays to show why they deserve someinternational competition in between World Cup cycles.

Prediction #4: 2019 Bronze medalists to struggle to retain, England to win at least one

Such is the dominance of Australia and New Zealand, the coveted number 3 spot is, respectfully speaking, a goal on the minds of every team. To be able to say

you’re the third best Touch nation in the world in your grade is actually a flex, not something to be ashamed of. At the 2019 TWC in Malaysia, Japan nabbed a bronze medal in both the Men's and Women's Open while Scotland created history by becoming the first European nation to win a TWC medal in any Open grade. All such incredible achievements.

However, I do think that they'll struggle to retain their bronze medals. Japan's Men's Open team have suffered from losing stalwart Hideaki Nara. They're still rediscovering their feet and although there's plenty to like about their new crew such as the play of livewire Takahiro Hori and veteran Daichi Yago, do they have it in them to win back their bronze medal?

The Japanese Women's team are in arguably better shape, spearheaded by the ever-so-dangerous Kuraishi Kana. But that's one player. Japan will need more than a one-woman gameplan to fend off the stiff competition. Do they have that variety within their ranks while nations like England and Singapore snap at their heels?

Scotland's 2019 effort was the culmination of years and years of hard work and sacrifice from a talented bunch of players. A lot of them have moved on, with veteran Mikey Short one of the few players to stay on for another cycle. Does Scotland have enough pieces of the puzzle to get back to a third-place finish in a 28team division?

The country I'm predicting to grab at least one of those bronzes? The home nation, England. Their Open sides look the goods and have dominated Euros for the past two years. Their Mixed side – despite falling one hurdle short at both Euros – have a distinct style of play that is building nicely. The Men's team are well-led by captain Dom Tripp and have some fantastic surrounding pieces, but it's the buy-in to their culture which is their biggest asset. And their Women's team are undefeated since 2021, have won 29 tests on the bounce, and contain weapons all over the park. Any one of those teams are good enough to win England's first ever Open grade medal at TWC.

Prediction #5: The finalists in the Open grades will be...

2023 was such a bumper year for International Touch. For a handful of nations, it had been four long years since their last test. Some had improved while others regressed slightly, but two nations that hadn't skipped a beat? Australia and New Zealand.

The Trans-Tasman neighbours have been at the forefront of Touch since day dot, constantly innovating, moving the bar and setting the standard in terms of the way Touch is played worldwide. So, it's hard to see any other country unseating the Emus and Touch Blacks for a spot in each of the Open grade finals.

I see both Men's teams getting through to the final relatively unscathed, although they'll no doubt face some strong opposition throughout the competition.

The Women's grade is the Emus to lose, such is their dominance at international level. The Touch Blacks on the other hand are probably the team that is most under pressure to qualify for the final. A relatively inexperienced lineup plus an improvement in Women's Touch worldwide makes them vulnerable to an upset.

The Mixed teams should dispose of the competition. They went at it tooth and nail at last year's TransTasman and I expect them to do it all again in the final - and here's a bonus prediction: it'll go down to a dropoff to decide the winner.

To conclude, England Touch has hosted two hugely successful Euros events in 2018 and 2022 at the same venue this TWC is being held - the University of Nottingham. That all suggests to me that TWC 2024 will follow suit and the proof is in the pudding. A 60% increase on the number of teams from the 2019 TWC. Member nations in general have improved in the last five years. The new 5th Edition rules will be used at a World Cup for the first time ever and will make for some entertaining Touch Football. This will be without a doubt the biggest and most successful TWC ever. And that's not a prediction - that's a spoiler.

thirty-two

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