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International calendar gives England Touch space for strategic planning
The new international calendar of events published this month (December 2024) by the Federation of International Touch (FIT) will give the England Touch greater opportunity for strategic planning throughout the Association’s player pathways, according to High Performance Director, Ben Powell.
FIT’s new events structure sees a gradual building of intensity within a World Cup cycle so that teams can peak at the global sport’s next showcase. In 2024 this was in England, where c.4,000 participants represented 187 teams from 39 nations, and in 2028 will be in New Zealand.
England capitalised on their first World Cup on home soil to record the nation’s most successful ever campaign, winning medals in 10 out of 13 categories.
2025 will see Opens and Seniors categories have their own competitions within Europe. The European Touch Championships will then be held in 2026 in Vichy, France, while in 2027 an Atlantic Touch Cup will provide an opportunity for teams from further afield than Europe to compete against each other. There will be similar tournaments in Asia and Pacific & Oceania, also in 2027.
At Youth level the second Atlantic Youth Touch Cup (AYTC) will be staged in Limerick, Ireland, in July 2025, with another AYTC in 2027. European Youth Touch Championships will be held in 2026 and 2028.
“This announcement from FIT is a huge step forward for the global Touch community,” Powell said. “The release of a defined four-year international events calendar is not only a testament to the growth and professionalism of our sport but also an invaluable tool for nations like England as we strategically plan for the full cycle.
“Having a clear roadmap allows us to build towards the 2028 World Cup in New Zealand with purpose and precision, while also providing our players, coaches, and referees with opportunities to test themselves in varied and high-quality competitions along the way.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for England Touch, and we look forward to engaging with this global calendar to ensure we continue to grow and thrive on the international stage.”
As with England as a nation, FIT is growing, too, welcoming Oman, Indonesia, Thailand, Tonga, Iran and Ukraine as new member nations in 2024 alone. These developing nations aim to participate in regional events to provide their players, coaches and referees with more opportunities to grow with the sport.
FIT Board Director, Michael Abramowitz, commented: “It has been fantastic to see the growth of the game across the globe and the increased interest in our sport from new countries joining FIT over the last few years.
“We are really happy that we are now able to provide members with a defined four-year FIT Events calendar, around which they can plan their regional and national tournaments and development.”
The England Touch High Performance programme is now recruiting Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches to lead the national squads in 2025 and beyond.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the roles
CLICK HERE to apply for a role
Deadline for applications is December 16, 2024.
