Next generation gets chance to shine at Junior Nationals

There is a new look to the England Touch Junior Nationals ahead of this weekend’s tournament.

England Touch has put one eye firmly on the future in the age categorisation, with teams in the 14s, 17s and 19s age groups being entered mindful of the 2023 and 2024 international calendar.

The categories also reflect the growth of youth Touch across the country, with some regions entering multiple teams into both the Boys 14 and Girls 14 competitions.

In all there are six teams in the Boys 14 competition, who will all play each other in a round-robin before the top two teams face each other in the final. Meanwhile there are three teams in the Girls 14 competition, who will play each other three times each across the two days.

The Boys 17 and Boys 19 competitions have been combined, as have the Girls 17 and Girls 19.

The five teams in the Boys 17/19 will play each other once, with the top two teams playing off for the silverware.

Meanwhile the Girls 17 and Girls 19 competition – four teams in all made up of two in each age group – will be a hybrid of a three-game series between the teams in the same age group and matches against each of the teams in the other age group. There will be a Girls 17 winner and a Girls 19 winner.

In 2021 the trophies were shared between three regions, with the West Wildcats winning the Girls 15, North West winning the Boys 15 and the South East Taipans coming out on top in the Boys and Girls 18 tournaments.

The South East has two teams in both the Boys and Girls 14 competitions this year, with the West Wildcats also having a pair of Boys 14 teams as well as one Girls 14 team. Midland Tigers and the North West make up the Boys 14 teams.

The South East and West Wildcats will have Girls 17 teams, with Midland Tigers and the North West sending Girls 19 teams.

Finally, there are Midland Tigers teams in both the Boys 17 and Boys 19 age categories, with the South East, West Wildcats and North West completing the Boys 17 numbers.

Tap off on Saturday is at 10am, and the trophies will be handed out mid-afternoon on Sunday.

Field 1 will be live streamed across the weekend, and you can watch and keep up-to-date with all the results as they happen on the England Touch website home page!

Saturday