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2012 Summer Tournament

Letter from Dave Swain

Welcome to Touch Rugby Wales' Cardiff comp

Thank you for your interest in organising a touch rugby side this year.

Touch Rugby Wales' Cardiff competition has been running for 18 years.

This year's venue Llandaff North's Hailey Park ( Radyr Rd) From Cardiff, just before the llandaff North train station and road bridge over the train tracks turn left at the post office. At the end of that street turn left then right into Radyr Rd. Park is at the end of that street.

It's all about having fun. The ethos of our competition is enjoyment. Most teams are social sides who are work based, rather than serious rugby club sides. The mixed divisions are very popular as it is one of the very few sports where men and women can compete on equal terms. Age is no barrier either although youthful pace is a genuine asset in this game.

Fixtures

Fixtures
Days Div Div
Monday nights Mens divisions 1 – 4 Womens divisions 1 – 2
Thursday nights Mixed divisions 1 – 4 Mens division 1 – 2

Times
  Kick off Kick off Kick off
Games begin at: 6.30 p.m 7.15 p.m 8.00 p.m

Friendly games can be arranged in addition to your league match.

We have a fun intro night prior to each league so that new sides can find the venue, learn the game and the method of organisation without the added pressure of competing for points at the same time.

Because of the Bank Holiday Monday, we move the playing night to a Tuesday on that particular week and then revert back to a Monday the following week.

Thursday 2012
Intro night May 3,
May 10 ,17, 24, 31
break
JUNE 14, 21, 28
JULY 5 Semis and finals
July 12 contingency
Playoffs & finals July 2

Monday 2012
(Tuesday) May 8, 14, 21, 28
break
June 11, 18, 25, July 2
July 9 Playoffs and finals
contingency July 16

Monday
Dates Break Dates
(Tuesday) May 5, 11, 18,
June 29 Playoffs and finals June 6		 break June 1, 8, 15, 22,
June 6 (July 13 contingency)

What happens if it rains or the touch is cancelled?

  1. Tournament organiser Dave Swain, will e mail the captains of each team or phone those without e mails that the evening's play is postponed.
  2. That night's games will be tagged on at the end of the league games moving the finals back by one night to the contingency night.
  3. The fixtures for the rest of the season remain as printed.

When do we get our fixtures?

A preliminary league fixture list will be drawn up prior to the intro night but this is not the final draw. Changes and editing will be made after seeing results from the intro night as sometimes some new teams are placed in the wrong division. I will send out the finalised season draw to all captains on their internet e mail address and also place it on the Touch Rugby Wales website.

Team Kit

You are responsible for arranging you team's kit. Depending on sponsorship, some teams have elaborate kit, whilst others simply ensure that everyone in their team has a similar coloured T shirt. Numbered shirts are encouraged as it makes it easier for the referees to communicate with players.

Referees

As in all sports, there is always a need for more referees. If any players from your team have an interest in refereeing we would welcome them with open arms. Referees do it for fun as well so please assist their enjoyment by accepting decisions and respecting their authority.

Players who are sent off for dissention will be required to referee two matches before they are able to resume playing. Perhaps they will then have more appreciation of and empathy with the referee.

Changing facilities

The changing facilities are ten lockable changing rooms with showers.

Socialising afterwards

Llandaff North RFC is next to the car park and would offer a warm welcome to touch rugby players to their bar facilities.

Injuries

You as the captain sign a waiver acknowledging that touch is a sport and that all players in your team are aware that each player is responsible for their own injuries and should have their own insurance cover. Touch Rugby Wales does not have insurance for players or referees and is not responsible for accidents or injuries that may occur.

We encourage each team to have its own first aid kit, physio kit, water and ice. When we have had injuries that require calling out an ambulance we recommend that players do not move the injured person but wait for the professionals. Consequently we keep the entrance to the field clear so that the ambulance has access.

Letter from Dave Swain

Hi and God Bless

Thanks for playing your part in making the tournament another successful one in 2009, our 19th year of organising touch tourneys in Cardiff.

Well it's playoffs and finals time this Monday. If you have not made the top 4 then you are most welcome to come down and arrange a friendly on any of the 12 pitches that aren't in use. I used to play 5th v 8th and 6th v 7th but many teams lost interest in the bottom 4 playoffs and it became a bit messy with teams not fronting for their game and leaving a side in the lurch. So it is best if you arrange friendlies with teams either from other divisions or someone in your div from the bottom 4.

The TV cameras may be here as Non Evans of Welsh women's rugby fame has arranged with a sports show to pop down for a spot of filming. So have your best make up and hair gel on..that goes for you women as well. Referees will probably iron their shorts.

Congratulations to all those teams that made the top 4 in their division. Now comes the interesting part. Teams placed 1st will play 4th. Teams placed 2nd will play 3rd. The winners of the playoffs meet in the finals at 8 on the same night. If scores are tied at full time, a drop off will occur in extra time. This means teams will each drop off one player.

Read carefully as it can be confusing......

  • Winners of the playoffs go through to the finals at 8.00 p.m. If scores are tied, then a drop off procedure will follow. Extra time restarts with each team having one player less. (i.e. five a side) The first team to score wins on a golden try system.
  • Q What if the team that re starts extra time scores a try within their first six touches and the other team hasn't even had a touch of the ball yet? That doesn't seem fair.
    A The “right of reply” system will operate for the team (b) that concedes a try within the first 6 touches of the extra time restart. The team (b) will have the opportunity to score within 6 touches. If it does not do so the team A that scored within the first 6 touches of extra time will be deemed the winner after the six touches have been used or a non penalty infringement occurs. (This is to ensure fairness in extra time, that the team (b) does not lose without even having possession of the ball.)
  • Q What happens if team A concede a penalty in those first 6 touches?
    A Team B takes the penalty tap and once again tries to score within the first 6 legitimate touches. But if they don't score, the game is over with team A deemed the winner.
  • Q What happens if team b drop the ball on their 3rd touch during their right of reply?
    A Game over ... Team A win
  • Q What happens if B team scores within their first 6 touches in their "right of reply?"
    A The scores are tied again and the next try is the golden goal.
  • Q What happens if no team scores in extra time.
    A Every 2 minutes the ref will whistle to stop play and ask each team to drop off another player, so the team is now down to 4 players a side. Play re starts with the whistle at the point of which the match stopped. e.g. If team A were on their 3rd touch 20 m in their own half, play restarts with a roll ball on the the same mark touch count three.
  • As you are now beginning to see, with only 4 a side, there are far more gaps and a try is usually forthcoming. If the defences hold tight, then after another 2 minutes play stops again, another drop off and we are down to 3 a side. Try time and what a finish! It's only happened once and that was a women's final.
  • After the finals, the presentation of team and individual trophies will be made in the Bar of llandaff North RFC at 9 p.m.. Winning teams will be presented with 12 individual plates, whilst, the losing finalist team will be presented with one plate for their captain. I will fumble around with a stumbled speech thanking the usual suspects and referees will present the plates to each team. Captains will be expected to make a typically eloquent yet brief rugby speech and then we all go home after the final presentation.
  • Please remember to pick up your litter and drink bottles from the field on your way to the car park, and remove any rugby boots before going in the bar.

Thanks so much for organising your teams this year and doing so well. You make it happen.

Dave Swain