Touch Rugby

Non-contact rugby variant — touching the ball carrier instead of tackling, mixed-gender competition.

👥6 per team🌤outdoor

What is Touch Rugby?

Touch rugby (or simply "touch") is a non-contact team sport derived from rugby league in 1960s Sydney. Six-a-side teams score by placing the ball over the try-line; defenders "touch" the ball carrier to force a play-the-ball. Games are typically 40 minutes with rolling substitutes. It is played worldwide across men's, women's and mixed formats.

Quick facts

Category

Ball Sports

Type

Team sport

Players

6 per team

Where played

outdoor

Country of origin

🇦🇺 Australia

Estimated origin

Late 1960s Sydney (from rugby league warm-ups)

Olympic

No

Popularity

major

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-24.verified