The 2024 Touch Rugby World Cup took place in Nottingham from 15-21 July and the Ireland teams playing in the tournament featured a number of players from Kildare.

Touch Rugby is a six-a-side, non-contact form of rugby that is very popular.

In Australia and New Zealand, it is the sport with the highest participation rate.

Ireland Women’s 35s Touch Rugby Team: Julie Huxham and Laura Edwards, second and fourth from left respectively, back row. Tonka Selby is far left, front row.

Here in Ireland it is growing in popularity with around 500 players. And here in County Kildare there is a touch club operating out of MU Barnhall RFC in Leixlip.

Two players from MU Barnhall Touch have featured in two of Ireland’s teams at the World Cup. James Smith, who lives in Celbridge, played in the Ireland Mixed 30s team that finished 10th in the tournament with wins over Fiji, China and Italy. James was making his debut for Ireland at this World Cup and scored a try against the Cook Islands.

Another MU Barnhall Touch player from Kill, Julie Huxham, was a member of the Ireland Women’s 35s team that finished 7th in their section. Julie is an experienced touch player having played Touch for Ireland for over 12 years and managed to score a try in the victory over Fiji which secured 7th place.

The Women’s 35 also featured Clane resident Tonka Selby, who is the team’s Head Coach, and Laura Edwards, who was one of the key scorers in the Women’s 35 win over Fiji.

Various matches involving Irish teams can be viewed on the Federation of International Touch’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@internationaltouch.

For anyone in Kildare who would like to try this fast paced and exciting sport, the MU Barnhall Touch club trains on Wednesdays at 7pm and everyone is welcome to join in.