Touch rugby and walking rugby are both non-contact versions of the game played across Wales, but they have different rules, and different ways to join a team. Walking rugby slows the pace further, making it the best entry point for many older or returning players.
Touch rugby
Touch rugby's basic rules are simple: a team takes possession of the ball and gets six touches to score a try before possession changes, as the sport's official touch laws explain. Play restarts from a rollball when a team concedes six touches, with the touched player placing the ball down and stepping over it to restart, and teams flip possession at the point of touch, where offside is enforced.
Walking rugby
Walking rugby changes that with two differences: the touches are taken with the ball passed as in touch, but with players walking at all times, one foot always on the ground; and no passing over shoulder height, with all passing kept below the shoulder. So while touch limits contact, walking rugby governs pace and posture to open entry points. Players of all ages and backgrounds can join, from former players to those recovering from injury, and the Welsh Rugby Union has pitched walking rugby for players of all abilities since launch, meaning a true grass-roots starting or restart point.
Who it suits
Walking rugby suits the fullest range of players. The Welsh Rugby Union has said that walking rugby is a non-contact game for "all abilities", where men and women of any age can take part in a game without the risk of injury. Former players and newcomers to the sport are all welcome, making it a game for everyone.
Search Actif Wales or the Welsh Rugby Union's community pages for local listings of touch and walking rugby sessions in Wales.
