Royston Rugby Club’s annual touch rugby tournament last Saturday was hailed a resounding success by the organisers with 11 teams from all over Hertfordshire taking part.

Perhaps fittingly, the cup final was contested by two teams comprised of Royston players, with the team of first 15 members narrowly beating, by two tries to one, the team of Royston U16’s players.

In the plate final, visitors from Chess Valley RFC beat another Royston team.

Touch rugby, or simply “touch”, is one of the fastest growing sports in England according to England Touch, the national governing body for the sport. One of the tournament organisers, Lee Fleming, believes this is due to the game’s inclusive nature.

Fleming said: “Touch is one of the few sports where mixed teams compete at all levels, from grass roots to international matches,” he said.

“Touch Rugby is basically a simplified, minimal-contact variant of rugby - the only contact being the ‘touch’ which is just like a ‘tig’ or ‘tag’ in the playground game.”

Royston Rugby Club offers adult touch rugby sessions on the heath every Wednesday evening from 7-8:30pm and have recently introduced children’s touch rugby and fitness sessions to precede it from 5:30pm. Both are free to participate.

The children’s sessions are aimed primarily at boys and girls aged eight to 12 and are run by qualified and experienced rugby coaches.

Fellw tournament organiser, Hugh Murfitt said: “It’s great fun and I’d encourage anyone who wants a bit of a run-about on a Wednesday evening to come and have a go, or just to watch to begin with if they’d prefer.”

“It’s played in a very friendly, social and fun environment. Anyone who turns up will be welcome.”

For more information on Wednesday sessions, Murfitt and Fleming can be contacted at touch@roystonrugbyclub.co.uk or by visiting facebook.com/RoystonTouchRugby