Island Atoll Keeping in Touch

When one thinks of Touch, thoughts generally turn to the traditional powerhouses of Australia and New Zealand, and the myriad of Rugby playing nations such as South Africa, Wales, England & Scotland. The last place to arguably spring to mind is an island nation dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the equator, and bordering the International Date Line at its easternmost point in the central tropical Pacific Ocean.

But such is the global reach of our great game, the island nation of Kirabati is the latest in a string of nations to have recently applied for membership of FIT.

Touch recently came to Kirabati in a big way - as part of their Independance celebrations. Independence is celebrated in Kiribati for one week, and has cultural and sporting competitions of every sort. It is one of the biggest occassions / events for the island nation.

The only higher national competition in Kiribati is "Te Runga", which is held every 2 years. Touch will be a demonstration sport at the next Te Runga, in early 2013, and the Kirabati National Touch Association hope to have Touch established for the following Te Runga.

This years competition was the first time that Mens, Wpmens and Tertiary divisions were added to the traditional Mixed. Punjas, with Anchor Milk, sponsored the prize money and also donated a number of touch balls.

RESULTS:

WOMENS

Blackz (4) def TUC (3)

MENS

BTC (1) def Bairiki Remix (0)

TERTIARY

Kiribati Institute of Technology (6) def University of the South Pacific (4)

MIXED

Temakin (3) def Teaoraereke (2)

Kirabati's application will be voted on at the FIT SGM on 18 August.