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Souths, Manly, Bulldogs to field women’s and men’s teams in NRL Touch Premiership

A trio of NRL clubs from NSW will field both women’s and men’s teams in this season’s NRL Touch premiership.

Action during the 2019 women’s touch grand final between the Eels and Bronocos last year. Pic: Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
Action during the 2019 women’s touch grand final between the Eels and Bronocos last year. Pic: Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

The NRL Touch premiership will be bolstered by men’s and women’s teams from the powerhouse Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles clubs entering the competition this year.

The trio of NSW clubs will take on the best of Queensland players from the Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland Cowboys along with a teams from New Zealand Warriors.

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“As I’ve said before, because of the speed of elite touch football, the phenomenal footwork, long balls, dives and fast-paced try-scoring each NRL Touch Premiership game day is like watching an hour-long Kalyn Ponga highlights reel,” said NRL Touch Football CEO Jamie O’Connor.

O’Connor said the three NSW clubs all boast a large pool of talents to draw on.

Action during the 2019 women’s touch grand final between the Eels and Bronocos last year. Pic: Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
Action during the 2019 women’s touch grand final between the Eels and Bronocos last year. Pic: Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

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“Touch Football has huge participation and popularity in the regions of all three clubs,” he said.

“The Rabbitohs have great history in touch as the sport’s very first club established more than 50 years ago in 1968.

“Canterbury Touch Association is thriving, both in juniors and seniors, with their women’s team winning NSW elite domestic competition last year. Things look bright for the Dogs this year.

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“The Northern Beaches is NSW’s touch football heartland – at Manly touch you’ll find 330 junior teams playing every Friday night during summer and the area continues to develop some of the game’s most elite players.”

The NRL Touch Premiership consists of 30-minute games played at major stadiums around Australia and New Zealand ahead of NRL fixtures.

The competition schedule is still to be released.

Originally published as Souths, Manly, Bulldogs to field women’s and men’s teams in NRL Touch Premiership

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/more-sports/souths-manly-bulldogs-to-field-womens-and-mens-teams-in-nrl-touch-premiership/news-story/19972044552eccf6834032230695630b