With Suj and Michelle Kang at the vanguard, families have banded together over the past several weeks for a morning of touch rugby, a fun, inclusive and competitive format of its contact origin.
From players as young as nine years to adults ‘slightly’ past their prime, family touch rugby allows everyone with an interest in team sports to enjoy the fundamentals of rugby with none of the tackling, but with all of the tactics and tension.
Last Saturday’s tournament certainly breathed life into that overview of the sport, with former players getting an opportunity to show off their once formidable shimmies and side-steps, while those new and inexperienced whet their appetite for glory under the sun’s mid-morning glare.
Following a round-robin schedule of matches, where standards steadily rose with each passing game, both the ACG Aces and the Phuket Pirates finished level on five points, forcing a duel between the two for third place.
However, during the decider, no amount of swash or buckle from the Pirates could upset the deadlock or ACG defence, but with just a minute left on the clock, a well-worked team try finished off by ace-up-the-sleeve, Jim Layard gave ACG victory, forcing Pirates down the plank into fourth place.
Bangtao Bears and Thalang Tigers emerged as grand finalists both with seven points accumulated after three games. A tightly fought encounter between the two titans of touch could not determine a winner in regular time, leading referee Layard to order a sudden-death extra period of play.
Sudden-death in this format calls for the exclusion of two players from each team – opening the field of play - before resuming the game, and following two more minutes of play, an additional individual from each team is removed until a winning try is scored.
It was during this second phase of sudden-death that the Tigers took advantage of some confusion amongst the Bears, whipping the ball out to their left wing, where young Ollie Hudson preyed on the open space and sprinted in for the winning score, ensuring the Tigers would lift the inaugural Family Touch Rugby trophy.
AMAZING GRACE
While it was a great morning of touch rugby for everyone, it was also a privilege to welcome England U-20 international, Grace Layard as part of the tournament. Having landed in Phuket only last week, Grace had recently represented England at the Women’s U-20 European Touch Rugby championship, held in Vichy, France last month, where she helped her national side to secure the overall title.
“It was so much fun playing at the ACG on Saturday. I made some great new friends in a sport I love, and had the chance to play with my little sister and Dad, with Mum cheering us on,” said Grace.
The England star admitted to being nervous about playing in the Phuket tournament, but very quickly found her feet.
“The warm and fun atmosphere made it so easy,” she added.
“The [ACG] ground and surface is great for Touch, and the clubhouse was such a good space for the after event function. The organisers did an amazing job all round. The family-oriented tournament was a very welcome and refreshing change from the intense environments of the UK University, Club, and England National set up I’ve been part of, of late.”
In relation to her playing career, Grace acknowledged her father and brother as major influences, and the ACG was delighted to welcome Grace’s father, Jim Layard to the Touch family recently. Jim also took the reins as lead referee for Saturday’s tournament, while turning out and scoring for the ACG Aces when fixtures allowed.
“I first got into contact rugby at age six, inspired by my older brother and Dad, who were deeply involved in the Singapore junior rugby scene,” Grace explained.
Contact rugby was Grace’s first love and her ability had been turning heads until the ‘sling-shirt’ effect of COVID drove her in a new direction. “Touch rugby opened up quicker [after COVID] and this quickly became my passion. I played touch rugby for my school and university, eventually being scouted for the England women’s U20s team. I’ve loved being part of the national squad, with its amazing coaches and players.”
At just 20-years of age, it seems an exciting future lies ahead for this talented and charismatic young player. So, what are Grace’s hopes for her already luminescent rugby career?
“My next goal is to join the Women’s open team next year, and eventually compete in the 2028 World Cup in New Zealand. But no matter how that all goes I will always grab every opportunity to lace on the boots and have a run with the fun and friendly club at ACG,” she said gracefully!
Family touch rugby is hosted at the ACG in Thalang every Saturday morning from 9am, with the next tournament scheduled for Nov 2. Players of all standards are welcome. Please contact via the ACG website: www.acg-phuket.com