Federation of International Touch announces partnership with China Rugby Football Association (CRFA)…

On 29 January, in Wanning, on Hainan Island, FIT COO, Chris Simon, attended the CRFA’s Annual General Meeting of the Committee, meeting with President Mr Wong, and Secretary General Mr Liu, who oversees Touch Football through China Touch. As part of the ceremony, Mr Wong and Chris Simon discussed how they would work together, with the meeting culminating in the signing of an MOU between the two parties.

The partnership’s overarching objective is to get a million people playing Touch Football in China by 2030. The five year agreement covers three core areas of focus:

1. Growing the game of Touch by improving the skills and knowledge of the players, referees and coaches through a structured programme of delivery across China. Over the next five years the partnership will help equip thousands of referees and coaches with the skills to be able to introduce and develop the game of Touch across schools, universities and clubs.

2. Developing the structure of competition at a domestic level as well as helping China to attend international events, culminating in an increased number of teams at the next Touch World Cup in New Zealand in 2028. In addition, FIT will work with the CRFA to enhance the nation’s event hosting capabilities, with a view of hosting an international event in the next five years.

3. Create an industry for Touch Football in China. From players paying to play the sport they love to introducing commercial partnerships and sponsorships with Chinese and international companies.

On agreeing the partnership, FIT COO, Chris Simon said:

“On behalf of the Federation of International Touch, I’d like to thank the China Rugby Football Association and especially the President for hosting me in China. It was a privilege to attend their Annual General Meeting and to be present for such a significant event in Touch Football’s history.

“We have a wonderful opportunity to make Touch a core part of the health and wellbeing of the Chinese people in education and at the heart of local communities, as well as providing support to China Touch to become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. We feel the game of touch fits the Chinese culture. It has less conflict, it is the most inclusive and based on the core values of respect, trust and teamwork.

“Touch will play a key part of building the wider rugby participation across the Chinese population helping to expose the oval ball to more and more people and for China to achieve more sporting success on the global stage. I would like to thank the CRFA and China Touch for the opportunity to work together to grow the game of Touch over the next five years.”