Shanghaifootballclub

Welcome to the Touch Rugby Page

Touch rugby is played at the SRFC twelve months of the year. Most Saturdays it consists of "pick-up" games where teams are informal and the number of teams playing is dictated by the number of players turning up. Teams are generally seven-a-side with the number of substitute players depending on the weather - when it is cold, everyone wants to keep playing, and in the middle of summer there are often more players cooling off on the sidelines than those on the field.

A large number of contact rugby players turn out for touch in their off-season, as a way to maintain ball skills and have a run, however, there is also a core of permanent touch rugby players who are either too old, too young, too injured or too clever to turn out for one of the Contact Rugby Teams. Even when contact games are scheduled, if you turn up for touch you will get a game. That includes newcomers.

At certain times throughout the year we schedule touch rugby tournaments. These have set teams playing to a tournament schedule - either one or two days on consecutive Saturdays - with referees and timekeepers, and tend to be somewhat more competitive than the normal Saturday pick-up games. The fact that we are normally playing for our touch rugby sponsor The BlarneyStone Irish Pub's products, and for the BlarneyStone Touch Rugby Trophy probably has something to do with that transformation? Tournaments are normally advertised on the SFC website weeks in advance, enabling teams to be formed prior to the tournament, with the balance of players distributed across teams on the day.

If you wish to play touch then turn up at the ground on Saturdays around 1:00 pm. Generally this timing is after kids training and before the contact rugby. In the summer, many players use running shoes, while studs/sprigs are recommended for wetter months. Uniforms are not required. All standards of players are welcome. While the majority have played contact or touch rugby in the past, it is not a pre-requisite, although some very basic ball skills are desirable - unless you have a very thick skin!We encourage more women to play, as touch rugby is completely gender neutral. While some younger children have good ball skills and at times are asked to make up teams when player numbers are short, we would encourage parents to restrict their young children to the children's game, and not have them play with the adults. This is for safety reasons, as well as allowing greater continuity for the touch rugby games. For more please visit http://www.chinatouch.org or http://www.touchrugby.com.cn

Recent Notices:

Simple Rules
1.Touch Rugby is a social sport. While it normally is competitive, it is expected that all participants will enter into the game with a good sense of humor, and a willingness to accept and encourage players of all capabilities. 2.Touch Rugby is called "Touch" rugby for a reason. If you are unable to enter the spirit of the game then stick to the contact game. 3.Everyone is entitled to roughly the same amount of game time. Substitutions are not there just for when you get tired. Play your part by subbing yourself off at regular intervals, and encouraging others to do the same. The game rules that are used in Shanghai are as follows: To Score a Try * Ball to be grounded on or over scoreline - body does not have to be over the line. * Player may dive to score. * Dummy half can score. To Perform a Tap * Place ball on ground * Release from hands * Tap with foot or hand (no more than one metre behind) * Retrieve cleanly * Ball must be taken back to the 5 meter line for tap close to line Offence and defence Change of Possession (Play Restarts With Rolled Ball - Defense Back 5 Metres) * Ball goes to ground * Dummy half touched in possession * 6th touch * Ball/player over or on boundary * Incorrect rollball . i.e. more than 1 meter roll * Incorrect tap * Forward pass Penalty Infringements (Play Restarts With a Tap - Defense Back 10 Metres) * Touch and pass (blatant) * Defenders offside at rollball - 5 metres * Defenders offside at tap - 10 metres * Delaying play * More than allowable number of players * Claim of a touch when contact has not been made (intentional and/or excessive) * Excessive force when effecting a touch * Obstruction (using players or referee) * Misconduct Tap Placement * Tap must be made from point where player is touched. Constant or blatant infringements will be penalized.