Touch rugby's place in the sporting life of Aotearoa is being celebrated and formally recognised through a landmark partnership between Touch New Zealand and New Zealand Rugby.
The exclusive partnership recognises Touch Rugby as the official non-contact summer form of the game of rugby, with both organisations sharing a common purpose to grow participation in rugby in all its forms across New Zealand.
The partnership will create one of the largest participation footprints in New Zealand sport and a stronger year-round rugby ecosystem, from non-contact summer Touch Rugby through to junior rugby, school rugby, club rugby and performance pathways.
For Touch New Zealand and New Zealand Rugby, it provides a platform to work more closely across participation, community engagement, events, marketing, commercial partnerships and digital growth.
As part of the partnership, Touch New Zealand will begin the process of becoming an Associate Member of New Zealand Rugby. That process includes an application culminating in a membership vote at the 2027 NZR AGM. Associate Members are organisations that provide rugby or rugby-related services.
New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Officer Steve Lancaster said the announcement was a major moment for the game.
“Touch rugby has always been part of how New Zealanders connect with rugby. It is played in schools, parks, local modules, tournaments and backyards across the country, and for many people it is one of the first ways they experience the speed, skill and enjoyment of the game.
“This partnership formally recognises that connection and creates an exciting opportunity to grow the game together.
“By working alongside Touch New Zealand, we can create more ways for people to play, more ways for communities to connect and more opportunities to keep people involved in rugby throughout the year.
“This is a proud moment for rugby in Aotearoa. It recognises the strength, history and scale of touch, while opening the door to new opportunities across participation, events, content, sponsorship and community engagement.”
Touch New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Joe Sprangers said the partnership was an exciting step forward for touch rugby.
“Touch rugby has a proud history in New Zealand and has been built over many years by players, coaches, referees, volunteers, schools, associations, whānau and communities across the country.
“This partnership recognises that history and the strength of our game. Touch rugby is already loved and played by thousands of New Zealanders, and the opportunity to become part of the New Zealand Rugby whānau gives us a stronger platform to grow, promote and support the game into the future.
“We are excited to work alongside New Zealand Rugby on opportunities that will benefit our community and help more people experience touch rugby.”
Lancaster said the partnership reflected the changing way New Zealanders engage with sport.
“People want different ways to play. They want formats that are social, accessible, competitive, non-contact, family-friendly and fun. Touch rugby delivers all of that and more.
“Rugby is strongest when people can see a place for themselves in the game. This partnership gives more people that opportunity, whether they are playing touch rugby over summer, junior rugby at school, club rugby in winter or simply staying connected through their whānau and community.
“We see this as a partnership built on respect, shared ambition and a commitment to creating more ways for more people to play.”
