Intro

Touch Austria was formed in 2009 and has become an Associate FIT Member country. Started by expats in 2007, the current 80 player base is largely young native Austrians, which is reflected in the 80% native born Austrian Mixed Open squad participating at the 2010 Euros - which is something that Touch Austria is particularly proud of.

Austria has participated in the 2009 Mainland Cup with a Mixed and Men's team and contributed members to a Central Eastern European Barbarians team at the 2008 Euros. A 4-Team League, several qualified local FIT Referees and a children's Touch programme are all recent milestones that have helped boost the level of the game played in Austria and set the base for the future growth.

A goal of Touch Austria at the 2010 Euros will be to gain valuable experience playing Touch at a competitive level.

We look forward to meeting you all in Bristol and sharing this great sport together.

Website: www.touchrugby.at

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Mixed Open (13)

Euros History: No previous history. This is the first time Austria is competing as a seperate country at a European Championships.

Intro

To follow.

Website: http://touch-belgium.be/

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Mixed Open (12)

Euros History:

Intro

Growing from humble beginnings, Touch in England now has over 20,000 players, making it the largest Touch playing nation in Europe. Having hosted the first European Championships in Halifax 1996, England Touch have entered a record 8 squads into the 2010 event, reflecting the growth and popularity of the game in England across all age categories. Formalised Touch originated in the north of England, however in the early 2000's London became the games power base, with formalised leagues and a strong Southern Hemisphere influence boosting the sport. Over the past few years, the game has flourished, with numerous towns and cities across the country developing Touch activities.

In 2008, England Touch launched the National Touch Series (NTS), designed to bring together affiliated member tournaments to provide a stronger national competition structure for player and referee development. The results of the NTS are being seen with an increase in formalised Touch clubs, more participants in events and a greater depth in the playing base for National sides. The popularity of the NTS will see a number of new initiatives launched by England Touch to continue to grow the game, and ultimately attain Sport England status.

Ranked 4th in the world, following the World Cup in 2007, England Touch are ranked 1st overall in Europe, having won the overall title in France 2008. 2010 will see a slight 'changing of the guards' as the flagship Men's and Women's Open sides will have a number of international debutants in preparation for the World Cup 2011. New age categories for Euros 2010 will see a Women's 30s, Men's 35s and Men's 40 team join the 3 Open sides and Mixed and Men's 30s side.

Website: www.englandtouch.org.uk

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's Open (1), Women's Open (1), Women's 30's (11), Mixed Open (2), Senior Mixed (15), Men's 30's (1), Men's 35's (4), Men's 40's (5)

Euros History:

Men's Open Winners -2002, 2004, 2006, 2008

Women's Open Winners -1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008

Mixed Open Winners -2006

Senior Men Winners -2008

Masters Men Winners -2000

Intro

The French Federation of Touch was born in 2003. Its purpose is to encourage and develop the practice of TOUCH in France, in accordance with the rules and regulations set down by the Federation of International TOUCH (F.I.T.). TOUCH France is the sole member of the F.I.T. in France and is actively involved in the programs of the FIT European Regional Development Committee. It is also an affiliated member of the French Federation of Sport in Companies (FFSE).

Since  2008, Touch France has grown quickly and the federation now has  associations members spread throughout France. Regional championships have been set up as well as a Coupe de Province, a yearly national competition between regional selections.

TOUCH France since its inception  has already participated in the previous three European Touch Championships and had an over 40's men's team in the last TOUCH World Cup 2007 in South Africa.

France is proud to be able to enter 6 teams in 2010,  and we look forward to meeting up with everyone in Bristol. .......................    Vive le touch!!!!!!!

Website: http://touchfrance.fr/

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's Open (3), Women's Open (6), Mixed Open (4), Men's 30's (4), Men's 35's (3), Men's 40's (2)

Euros History:

Intro

To follow.

Website: www.touchdeutschland.de/touch/

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Women's Open (4), Mixed Open (8), Men's 30's (7)

Euros History:

Intro

Guernsey Touch was founded in 2004 with the first league starting in summer 2005. From our first days as a group of Antipodeans playing for fun, we now have around 400 people taking part in our Summer and Autumn Leagues, teams representing the island at international tournaments, an annual inter-insular against Jersey and this June, we will host the third CISX Channel Islands Club Championship which is open to teams from across Europe.

Euros 2010 will be Guernsey's fourth European Championship and this year we are planning to bring four teams to Bristol to compete - mixed, mens, womens and mens over 30.

We wish all teams a successful and enjoyable Euros 2010 and look forward to meeting old and new friends - both on and off the pitch!

Email:

Website: www.guernseytouch.org.gg

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's Open (7), Women's Open (5), Mixed Open (7), Men's 30's (8)

Euros History:

Intro

To follow.

Website:

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's Open (9), Mixed Open (10), Men's 35's (5), Men's 40's (1)

Euros History:

Intro

Touch in Italy started in 2006 and Touch Rugby Italia became a member of FIT in 2009.

Italy sent two teams to the 2008 European Champs and enjoyed some successes in both the open mixed and mens >40 categories. Since then Italian touch, under the leadership of President Riccardo Brizzi and his team, has grown from strength to strength.

In 2009 the first Italian Championship for clubs was held - played over 4 tournaments covering the length and breadth of Italy.

In 2010 Italian Touch supported by technical sponsors LEGEA is having a bumper year. The second Italian championship has started, a series of test matches against Germany are being played as part of the warm ups for the Euro's, the NZ academy will be playing and coaching for a week in Italy and Dennis Coffey will be making his second return to our fair land to help with coaching at Both a club and national level. Legea Italia will be fielding two teams this year at the 2010 Euro's, an open mixed team and a mens >40 team.

Whilst victory in the tournament may be a long shot with our technical sponsor Legea we aim to be the best equipped team and this years Euro's.

Website: www.touchrugbyitalia.it

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Mixed Open (9), Men's 40's (4)

Euros History:

Intro

To follow.

Website: http://jerseytouch.com/

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Mixed Open (5)

Euros History:

Mixed Open Winners -2000, 2002, 2004

Intro

Touch in the Netherlands has been steadily on the rise since participation in Euro champs in 2006 and 2008. 2009 saw the official establishment of the NTRB as well as a high quality performance in the Mainland Cup with the Mens team losing a tight final to the Swiss. The Netherlands has also performed well in the lowlands region, winning the Benelux cup on the last 3 outings. 2010 also marked the major milestone of the Netherlands being admitted as a member nation of FIT. On hearing this news Queen Beatrix was said to be "stoked".

This tournament sees the Netherlands entering Mens and Mixed and expectations are high. After the drama of the world cup football, the entire lowlying nation now turns it attention to Touch where the Netherlands reignite old rivalries with Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France and Wales. Hup Holland!

Website: www.touchrugby.nl

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's Open (6), Mixed Open (11)

Euros History:

Intro

After Portugal competed in the Rugby World Cup 2007 interest in rugby took off in a big way. Touch rugby naturally followed and 3 years later there is a highly committed core of players spreading the word through Portugal. With its great all year round climate and beaches Portugal has the potential to be a touch rugby heaven.

Website: http://touchrugbyportugal.com/

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's 40's (6)

Euros History:  No previous history. This is the first Euros appearance by Portugal.

Intro

To follow.

Website:

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's Open (8), Mixed Open (6), Men's 30's (5)

Euros History:

Intro

To follow.

Website: www.scottishtouch.org.uk

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's Open (4), Women's Open (3), Women's 30's (9), Mixed Open (1), Men's 30's (2), Men's 35's (2)

Euros History:

Mixed Open Winners -2008

Masters Men Winners -1996

Intro

The Swiss Touch Association was formed in 2006 in response to the growth of the game in Switzerland, originally introduced by the RC Geezers (Zurich) club.

Switzerland has entered teams in the last two Euros, the World Cup in S.A. and two Mainland Cups (in 2009 featuring our first ever Women's team).

Current membership stands at over 80 players with new clubs being founded in Basel, Geneva and Lausanne all of which contribute players to the national squads.

The primary goal is to grow the Swiss born playing population, and to achieve official recognition for the sport within the country.

Website: www.touchrugby.ch

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's Open (5), Women's Open (7), Men's 30's (6)

Euros History:

Intro

Touch was introduced to Wales in 1988 by the arrival of Paul Nepia and David Swain - two individuals who had developed a passion for the game in their native New Zealand. The Wales Touch Association (WTA) was established in 1999 to promote the development of Touch in Wales, and to enable Welsh players to represent their country at the 1999 World cup in Sydney.

Following our establishment, Wales successfully hosted the European Touch Championships at Cardiff in 2002, and through the continued efforts of the WTA, we have seen participation levels and awareness of the sport increase steadily since.

Wales will be taking its highest ever total of squads (seven) to the Euros 2010 Championships, including Men's Open, Women's Open, Mixed Open, Men's 30, Men's 35 and Men's 40 categories.

The WTA would like to congratulate all those selected and wish them well at the tournament.

Website: www.walestouch.co.uk

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Men's Open (2), Women's Open (2), Mixed Open (3), Men's 30's (3), Men's 35's (1), Men's 40's (3)

Euros History:

Men's Open Winners -1998, 2000

Women's Open Winners -2000

Mixed Open Winners -1998

Masters Men Winners -2006, 2008

Intro

Cavendish Road State High school on Brisbane’s southside conducts the only Touch Football Excellence program that is endorsed and accredited by the National Sporting Organization, Touch Football Australia.

Students at the school study touch football as a subject and the results are outstanding. The girls are especially successful and they are the current World All Schools Champions having first won the title in Singapore in 2006 and then successfully defending their title again in 2008. Last year the under 15 girls won the prestigious Qld All Schools title from almost three hundred competing schools.

The school contributed no less than three girls to the successful Australian under18 team, which won the Trans Tasman series in Auckland last year.

In July of this year the under15 girls team will travel to Bristol, UK to compete in the European Championships where they will play in the Open Women’s division against teams including England, Scotland, Wales and France. This in itself will provide a very real test for the young Cavendish Road students.

The school team has a number of talented indigenous students including Qld representative and team captain Tracy Hill, who it is hoped, will one day emulate Bo Dela Cruz the Australian Women’s indigenous superstar.

The girls are coached by former Australian Women’s team, triple World Cup winning coach, Peter Bell. Mr Bell, a PE teacher at the school and coordinator of the touch excellence program says, “The girls have been training and fundraising for some time. They are really focussed and looking forward to the experience. While we are reasonably confident of doing well, this is more about contributing to the development of the sport of touch in Europe and importantly in schools in the UK.”

The team will tour around Britain and France in a lead up to the Euros and will conduct clinics as well as play games in British schools.

Website: http://cavroadshs.eq.edu.au/wcmss/

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Women's Open (8)

Euros History: No previous Euros appearances.

Intro

The TouchNZ Academy is the global development arm of Touch New Zealand.

Spearheaded by Peter Walters - the man affectionately known across the globe as "Mr Touch" - the NZ Academy comprises selected individuals who tour the World mainly within developing touch nations facilitating specific touch coaching. NZ Academy have toured Asia, America, Pacific Islands, Europe and the UK regularly since 2004. They have assisted in the development of players and coaches alike through the management of sessions, clinics and tournaments providing the opportunity to play against the Academy team, which is generally made up of experienced (masters & open) players and coaches and a sprinkling of talented up and comers. The Academy is a fully user pays setup - highlighting the passion and commitment of it's members to the global development of the sport.

This year the team will tour Italy, England, Jersey, Spain, Wales and USA. One of the tour highlights will be competing at the prestigious European Touch Championships in Bristol, England in July.

 The NZ Academy team for 2010 comprises three World champions and six current or previous New Zealand representatives in the sport of touch and most are current or previous provincial representatives.

Website: www.touchnz.co.nz

Teams entered into 2010 Euros (Seeding in brackets): Mixed Open (14)

Euros History: