Best ever facilities for teams and supporters at biggest ever European Touch Championships

In one month’s time the biggest ever European Touch Championships will be tapping off, and England Touch will be giving all 63 participating teams the best possible facilities to help them achieve their potential, including the Red Bull Athlete Experience.

The 1,000-plus players, coaches, referees, administrators and supporters will be heading to the University of Nottingham between July 18th and 21st for four packed days of action to determine the best national Touch teams in the continent.

All of the accommodation, playing fields, catering and medical facilities will be within walking distance of each other on the University of Nottingham’s campus in the heart of the city.

Teams will be based in halls of residence, with the nine playing fields located at the Highfields Sports Complex, which is located alongside an outstanding group of sports facilities which includes the Nottingham tennis centre and Nottingham hockey centre.

Meanwhile the opening ceremony will take over Wollaton Hall on the evening of Tuesday, July 17th, a familiar location thanks to its use as Wayne Manor in The Dark Knight Rises. Furthermore, Nottingham Express Transit is offering a special discount to visiting teams who want to explore the city via its tram network.

All of the games on two fields will be streamed live across all four days, with highlights and photos published throughout the tournament across a number of digital channels.

The tournament’s organisers are also delighted to announce that Red Bull is supporting the European Touch Championships by providing an exclusive energy zone where players can relax between matches with Fatboy bean bags, coolers and interactive tablets, and re-energise with both water and Red Bull, and Barrel Coolers to keep drinks ice cold throughout the four-day tournament.

This is the first time that Red Bull has supported Touch in England, and England Touch Chief Operating Officer Gregg Cropper says that the Athlete Experience is helping the Association stage the best ever European Touch Championships.

“The University of Nottingham is a brilliant location and their facilities are second-to-none,” he said. “Having everything within walking distance was really important when we were putting our bid to host the tournament together, and we know that the teams will appreciate having their rooms so close to the playing fields.

“The University’s staff have been really helpful and proactive, and it’s fantastic that Red Bull have chosen the Euros as their first involvement in Touch. The Athlete Experience will be something that all of the athletes will use and I’m sure it will be one of the most popular areas of the site!

“We’re really looking forward to the tournament.”

European Touch Federation Events Director Kevin Hill says that the England Touch team have put in considerable thought and effort to stage a successful tournament.

“Gregg, Ken [Pollard, Tournament Director] and the rest of the England Touch management have done a massive amount of work over the past year or so to put this tournament together,” he said.

“Because they are players and referees themselves they know what teams and officials will want to achieve their potential and have put a lot of thought into the facilities which will be available.

“From an EFT perspective we’re delighted that Red Bull are supporting the event, and that the live streaming will mean that Touch players and supporters across the world will be able to see the best teams in Europe go head-to-head.

“It’s going to be a memorable few days!”

About the European Touch Championships

The first European Touch Championships was held in 1996 between England, Wales and France competing in two categories

The 2018 European Touch Championships will see 63 teams from 17 countries taking part across 10 categories

Over 1,000 players, coaches, referees and officials will be heading to the University of Nottingham between July 18th and 21st, 2018

There will be live streaming of every game played on Field 1 throughout all four days, including the major finals

England has won the last four overall European Touch Championships, and will have teams in every category in 2018