The England Touch Association (ETA) is delighted to welcome you to Bristol for the 2010 European Touch Championships. The Tournament will take place from Thursday 22nd July until Sunday 25th July at the Bristol Academy of Sport, Filton College. This will be the eighth time the biannual European Touch Championships will be contested, and the third time the event has been hosted by England - the last was in 1998!

The competition will involve, amongst others, European nations England, Jersey, Scotland, Wales, Guernsey, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland; who will all compete for the coveted European trophy. Invitational teams travelling from New Zealand and Australia will also be present, including an Australian School rep side.

The 2008 European Championships were held in Massy, France. These Championships involved 700 players, 45 teams, and 50 referees from across Europe. It is anticipated that these numbers will increase for the 2010 Championships as countries look to send additional teams, and more countries get involved.

The European Touch Championships event has developed over recent times to become the most important competition for national representative teams in the European region. From both a global and Federation perspective development of the sport in Europe has become more significant than anywhere in the world. This clearly reflects the commitment to the sport of many volunteers in regional Member countries. That dedication, support and effort is acknowledged and appreciated by the FIT Board and the wider international Touch community.

I have had the privilege of meeting many office bearers, team officials, players and other participants from competing European countries over the past two years and I am aware of the planning, preperation and training effort that is required to ready your national teams for this elite competition. I look forward to renewing and establishing friendships in late July and wish all involved a sound and successful preparation for the 2010 European Touch Championships.

Dennis Coffey (dc)
FIT Secretary General
January 2010