Stagholt Touch Rugby has its origins in 2003, when a bunch of rugby die-hards got together for a game of touch rugby to celebrate England's victory in the Rugby World Cup. Having played the 15 a side game and missing the camaraderie, fitness and sheer fun of throwing a ball around - they decided to play on a regular basis. With typical tongue in cheek rugby humour they called themselves 'The Dodderers'! The name changed to Stagholt Touch Rugby when we moved to a new ground, and we now play at Laburnum Park in Stonehouse (see under 'Location').

The club has now grown to include members of all ages - from teenagers to current 15s players, and includes several former Gloucester and local rugby players. We have members from all 4 home nations – and have had various Kiwis, Aussies and South Africans join us over the years - thus guaranteeing plenty of banter during the Six Nations and Lions tours! Also, being non-contact means men and women can play together - so we are very much an open, mixed club - daughters, wives and partners are all welcome! The one thing we all have in common is a competitive spirit, a love of rugby and a sense of humour - in other words we're just big kids at heart!

We play for five trophies during the year, and hold an Annual Dinner and Awards night in November. We have had fixtures with other Touch Clubs, as well as entering local competitions - with mixed success! In 2014 we organised a charity touch tournament to raise money for the rehabilitation of one of our former players (Rob Camm) who was tragically paralysed in a car accident. Called 'Touch4Rob' the tournament was held at Dursley Rugby Club and involved 10 teams from all over the south west, raising over £5,000 for the Cammpaign4Rob (see video below).

We welcome new members - even if you have never played rugby - if you can run, catch and pass you can play! Just turn up at 8 a.m. any Sunday morning for a taster session and you will be assured of a warm and friendly welcome. We have a saying "we never close" - whatever the weather - reflected in our motto Conservare Contagio (which means 'Keep on Touching'!).

For details of how to find us - see under Location. Come and join in the fun - enthusiasm is more important than ability! You will need studded footwear (boots with moulded plastic studs are fine) and a sense of humour!

The young men fall off on days like this:
Nobody shows at first in the teeming hail, as headlights illuminate the vacant pitch.
Slowly a handful of cars start to show.

Drivers stare out at the January gale then exchange looks through their windows.

Nobody in their right minds would play ball on a morning when not even the dogs would stir,
But a car door opens and slagging voices call.
Men clamber out with strapped ankles and bad backs to stretch, warm up, laugh at the downpour,
Knowing they won’t always enjoy Sundays like that.

Dermot Bolger

Touch Rugby is a fast, skilful “evasion” game using the handling skills of rugby – but without the tackling! It is not the same as “Tag Rugby” which is a game used to introduce rugby to children. “Touch” (as it is called “down under”) is an established sport in its own right, with a European Championship and a World Cup every 4 years. It is governed by the Federation of International Touch, and each country has its own governing body – e.g. In2touch, England Touch and Wales Touch.

Check out the videos on our YouTube Channel HERE to see what it is all about!

Disclaimer: Though Touch Rugby is a non-contact sport – all participants take part at their own risk. Stagholt Touch Rugby cannot accept any responsibility for injuries incurred while taking part.

We meet every Sunday morning at 8:00am at Laburnum Park, Laburnum Walk, off Regent Street, Stonehouse GL10 2AA.

For those with SatNav the post code is GL10 2AA.