Middle East Touch Championships returns on October 22-23

Rugby fever will continue after the World Cup in the UAE with the Middle East Touch Championships to be held on October 22-23 at Al Ghazal Golf Club, Abu Dhabi.

More than 40 teams from the Middle East and beyond - male, female and mixed - are expected to take part in the two-day competition.

The deadline for team entry is September 28.

Two former international rugby league stars, Scott Prince and Apollo Perelini - who represented Australia and Samoa respectively - will also be on-hand to provide expert tuition for younger fans of the game in a dedicated Daman Kids’ Skills Clinic.

The game of Touch is a combination of rugby league, basketball and union, but minus the tackles and hard knocks of traditional rugby. 

It continues to grow in popularity in the region thanks to its outstanding social and fitness credentials.

With an estimated 610 calories burned per hour and covering an approximate distance of more than 3,000 metres per 20-minute fixture, it’s easy to see why more and more people are turning to the sport.

John Larkins of Middle East Touch, said: “The Middle East has really taken to Touch. Teams from the region participated in the Touch World Cup in Australia back in April and only last month many attended the European National Championships in the UK. It’s highly inclusive and as a result uptake is growing fast, particularly within schools - more than 40 schools across the region are taking part in Touch programmes throughout 2015-2016.

“This year’s Middle East Touch Championships highlights just why Touch is such a great, community-driven sport and has so much to offer. Most importantly, I firmly believe that all sport is good, no matter what the discipline. That’s what makes Touch so great because all the skills involved in the game are easily transferable to other sports. And that is why this year we have teamed up with a variety of sports clubs, offering spectators on the day the chance to try their hand at activities such as basketball, netball, football and Jiu Jitsu.”

This year, participants are expected to take part from all over the region, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India and Sri Lanka.

Rory Young, Operations Director at Al Ghazal Golf Club, adds: “We are thrilled to be hosting the Middle East Touch Championships this year and look forward to welcoming both teams and spectators to our friendly club which boasts top of the range facilities. Al Ghazal Golf Club will provide the perfect setting for a good fun, family day out.”

For more information and to register a team, contact victoria@corporateaffair-me.com / www.MiddleEastTouchChamps.me