Safe, competitive and engaging rugby sessions are taking place at a Monmouth school, despite the current restrictions.
Players across all year groups in the A and B squads at Monmouth School for Boys have been involved in specialist Touch Rugby coaching.
Master in Charge of Rugby, Mr Jon Despontin, is excited about the prospect of pupils gaining representative honours in Touch.
“Given the current measures and restrictions in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection, we are having to adapt what we are offering to ensure our rugby sessions are safe but remain engaging and fun,” said Mr Despontin.
“Touch Rugby played at the highest level is a fast-paced, all-action game with an emphasis on strong handling and spatial awareness, all skills we hope our boys will take into both the 15-a-side format of the game and our 7s programme once we are able to return to normal.
“Our sessions are being run by an Old Monmothian, Adam Thomas, who understands the importance rugby and sport plays in school life at Monmouth.
“We are particularly excited by the prospect of our boys potentially gaining representative honours in Touch and developing our rugby programme to incorporate more of this in the near future.”
Touch rugby derives from rugby football in which players do not tackle each other but instead touch their opponents using their hands on any part of the body, clothing, or the ball.
A formal, competitive variety, known as Touch, developed from rugby league and now exists as a sport in its own right.
Old Monmothian Adam Thomas, the founder of the Wild Bunch Touch organisation, said: “We are extremely grateful to Monmouth School for Boys for allowing us to deliver specific Touch sessions to their pupils.
“We hope this will enthuse them to take up the game competitively, pushing for representational honours on both sides of the border. We exist to give players at all levels the platform and the opportunity to develop.”
Mr Thomas added: “It has been fantastic to see the way with which the boys from all year groups have quickly taken to the principles of the sport and we hope Touch at this level continues to grow in schools, both in Monmouth and beyond.”
