Regional UpdatesEdinburgh Retains Title
“Edinburgh retains national touch rugby title against tough competition”
Edinburgh’s touch players retained their place as national champions but faced stiff competition as the quality of the sport continues to rise across Scotland.
The capital’s sides won both the men’s and the women’s titles at the Scottish National Touch Championships (SNTC), held at Stirling University on Saturday 23 August 2008, to repeat the clean sweep they achieved last year.
However, the growth of the sport and the rise in standards across the country was reflected in the close games and tough competition throughout the day, in contrast to Edinburgh’s domination at last year’s event. About 110 players and 15 referees from Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Stirling competed and officiated on the day.
Glasgow’s men improved on a fourth place finish in 2007 to come second in the men’s competition this year, briefly leading Edinburgh Men’s Blue in the final before the Edinburgh team ran out 6-2 champions.
In the women’s division, Edinburgh Women’s Red overcame Aberdeen 6-1 in the final. The northern side came away with one award though, with Monica Coyle named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the women’s division. Stirling’s Stuart Smith was named men’s MVP, capping a day in which the city’s side won its first game at this level.
Scottish Touch Association president Peter Faassen de Heer said the tight scorelines and high quality play throughout the day was a pleasing end to a successful year for the sport.
‘This event has a number of aims; to determine Scotland’s national champions; to further develop the sport across the country; and to identify new players who are worthy of selection into the Scotland national squad. I’m thrilled that the tournament has achieved all three aims,’ said Faassen de Heer.
‘It caps off a really good year for Scottish touch. We started 2008 by signing a Partnership Agreement with Scottish Rugby, which will see continued growth and development of the sport here. During the summer, the growth in the domestic leagues across the country continued. And in July, our national squad won the mixed division at the European Championships and also won two silver medals and a bronze to give us our most successful performance at an international tournament yet.’
Edinburgh’s touch players retained their place as national champions but faced stiff competition as the quality of the sport continues to rise across Scotland.
The capital’s sides won both the men’s and the women’s titles at the Scottish National Touch Championships (SNTC), held at Stirling University on Saturday 23 August 2008, to repeat the clean sweep they achieved last year.
However, the growth of the sport and the rise in standards across the country was reflected in the close games and tough competition throughout the day, in contrast to Edinburgh’s domination at last year’s event. About 110 players and 15 referees from Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Stirling competed and officiated on the day.
Glasgow’s men improved on a fourth place finish in 2007 to come second in the men’s competition this year, briefly leading Edinburgh Men’s Blue in the final before the Edinburgh team ran out 6-2 champions.
In the women’s division, Edinburgh Women’s Red overcame Aberdeen 6-1 in the final. The northern side came away with one award though, with Monica Coyle named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the women’s division. Stirling’s Stuart Smith was named men’s MVP, capping a day in which the city’s side won its first game at this level.
Scottish Touch Association president Peter Faassen de Heer said the tight scorelines and high quality play throughout the day was a pleasing end to a successful year for the sport.
‘This event has a number of aims; to determine Scotland’s national champions; to further develop the sport across the country; and to identify new players who are worthy of selection into the Scotland national squad. I’m thrilled that the tournament has achieved all three aims,’ said Faassen de Heer.
‘It caps off a really good year for Scottish touch. We started 2008 by signing a Partnership Agreement with Scottish Rugby, which will see continued growth and development of the sport here. During the summer, the growth in the domestic leagues across the country continued. And in July, our national squad won the mixed division at the European Championships and also won two silver medals and a bronze to give us our most successful performance at an international tournament yet.’