Wednesday, 19 June 2024
The largest ever international event for the growing sport of Touch Rugby, and the first world championships to be hosted at the University of Nottingham, will kick off next month.
The 10th edition of the tournament will be hosted in England for the first time by the 2024 Sporting University of the Year*. Running from 15–21 July, more than 1,000 fixtures will take place across Highfields and Riverside sports complexes with a dedicated athlete village at University Park. It is also set to be the greenest ever World Touch event with sustainability a key driver in the competition set up.
More than 190 teams will be taking part across 13 categories, with 39 different nations represented and in excess of 4,000 spectators expected to head to Nottingham to enjoy the atmosphere. Hot favourites to take the title in the Open categories (Men, Women and Mixed) are southern hemisphere sides New Zealand and defending champions Australia.
Buoyed by recent results, the England teams will also be looking to make the most of their home advantage. Representing them will be University of Nottingham student Tom Penniceard, who straight after finishing his first year of his BEng in Product Design and Manufacture joins the England camp for their pre-World cup preparations. Tom will be the youngest member of the 16-member English Men’s Open squad and makes the jump from the England U20s, after impressing at recent training camps.
A fast-paced, non-contact version of rugby, Touch is fast growing in popularity across the world. After a touch, the attacking player must roll the ball backward with their foot to initiate play. Each team is allowed six touches to try and score a try. After six touches, the referee will signal a turnover.
We’re delighted to be welcoming such an exciting world event onto campus here at the University of Nottingham. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our students to watch, and be inspired by, global top athletes. We look forward to welcoming all the competitors and ensuring they have an enjoyable and memorable stay here with us in Nottingham.
The city of Nottingham has seen huge growth in this format. The new University of Nottingham Touch Rugby Club, led by students, offers an inclusive and welcoming environment with sessions for all abilities and experience levels. They have excelled competitively placing 4th in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rankings in their first season. Several of these club members will also be joining an army of over 250 volunteers supporting the World Touch championships, fulfilling roles in events, marketing and physiotherapy.
Local schools can also join the fun from 16 -19 July with free taster sessions organised by England Touch, followed by the opportunity to stay and enjoy the games.
For more information about the event, which is open free-of-charge to spectators, please click here.
* As awarded by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide and the Daily Mail.
As Touch players, it’s an incredible opportunity to have such a prestigious event at our home venue. Not just to be able to watch the top players in action, but also for our members to gain experience volunteering at a major international competition. We’re also so proud of Tom [Penniceard] and we can’t wait to cheer him and the England team on in July.
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The 2024 Touch World Cup will take place from 15 – 21 July. For more information, visit: www.englandtouch.org.uk/touch-world-cup-2024/.
The University of Nottingham is a leading destination for major national and international sporting events. For more information on the facilities and services we can offer to event organisers, please contact Christine Bailey at christine.bailey@nottingham.a.uk or click here.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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