Colchester RFC

Friday nights are for touch rugby!

Adult Social Touch Rugby on Friday nights at 7pm.

Everyone - over 16, and under 99 are very welcome, whatever standard or experience!

Basic Rules for touch rugby which we play by
Play starts and restarts at the centre with a “tap”. This is performed by moving the ball on the ground with the foot, free from the hands, and then picking it up. Penalties are performed by the same procedure. On both a re-start and penalty the defending team must retreat at least 10 metres.
A try is scored by grounding the ball on, or behind, the try-line.
A legal touch is a one handed touch on any part of the body, clothing and ball. A player must claim a touch by raising a hand and shouting, “Touch”. An attacking player may affect the touch by deliberately touching the opposition.
When touched, the player in possession must place the ball on the ground at the exact point of the touch. Play is re-started by stepping over the ball. It can be controlled with a hand or foot. This is known as a ROLLBALL. The ball may not roll more than a metre. A player may not perform a rollball unless touched.
The player picking up the ball (the dummy-half or acting half) may run, but if touched a turnover occurs. The dummy-half may not score and a turnover (rollball) will be awarded if this occurs.
After 6 touches possession changes. The attacking team begins play on the “first down”, starting with a “rollball”.
All defending players must retire more than 5 metres in line with the mark of touch. The defending team cannot move forward until play restarts, nor interfere with play whilst retreating. A restart occurs the moment the ball is tapped or the dummy-half touches the ball
If the attacking player, when making a quick start, is touched by an off-side defender, play is allowed to continue. If an attacking side gains no advantage, a penalty tap for the first down will be given.
When a rollball is taken within 5 metres of the scoreline the defending players must retreat with both feet to behind their scoreline before they can make the touch. If a player is touched in the touchdown zone before grounding the ball the touch counts and play is restarted on the 5-metre line.
If the ball is dropped or if a player crosses the sideline before being touched, change of possession will occur. This is by means of a roll ball.
A penalty is awarded for the following infringements; a forward pass, offside play, performing a roll ball over the mark, claiming a Touch when none was made, interfering with the roll ball (running around the ruck).
If the defending team unsuccessfully intercepts the ball or it is intentionally knocked down, the attacking team starts from a “first down” roll ball.