Pershore Rugby’s “pioneering” new team has got its first taste of competitive ction.
The club’s Third Age Touch team was founded in 2021 with the aim of offering retired and limited-fitness players a chance to get back in the game.
At the end of February, the team took to the pitch at Piddle Park in their first tournament with an external club, Worcester Warriors Foundation’s inclusion team.
David James, 78, and the founder of 3AT at Pershore said: “Since we started in September 2021, we have steadily attracted more and more players: men and women of a wide range of differing abilities; some who can, and do, run and others who can only walk; some who are completely new to the game and others who are former rugby players with a lot of experience.
“We all enjoy the exercise out in the fresh air together and enjoy a coffee and a chat in the clubhouse afterwards. We all have a lot of fun together.
“The social aspects of 3AT are just as important to us as all the benefits we get from staying active.
“And now that we have got some opposition to play there is added fun to be had!”
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Using the slightly adapted rules of Touch, devised by Pershore, and with the club’s newly acquired high viz balls, some thirty players enjoyed a morning of non-contact 3AT action and fun, with no one interested in the score.
Such has been the success of 3AT at Pershore Rugby, that some 21 players now regularly train on Wednesday mornings from 11am and the section has decided to offer an additional day for training for any further recruits – on Mondays at 11am.
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In February, the players learned from the governing body, the England Touch Association (ETA), that their work to roll out third-age touch using the model developed by Pershore, is paying off.
The ETA will be showcasing third-age touch at upcoming civil service events; Maidenhead rugby club has received funding to start up third-age touch at their club, and Reading RFC are looking to get 3AT started at their club too.
The first three 3AT tasters at Pershore on a Wednesday or Monday are free after which it is £3 a month.
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