UNIVERSITY of Limerick has been chosen to host the 2025 Atlantic Youth Touch Cup next summer (July 31 to August 3).
The international underage touch rugby competition is for national teams (Under 15 to 20) from Europe, the Americas, and Africa.
It will attract around 30 teams from up to a dozen nations to the venue.
UL previously hosted the Tag Rugby World Cup in 2023, which was a great success.
Touch rugby is a six-a-side non-contact version of rugby where the emphasis is on skills, speed, and awareness of space. It is very popular in Australia and New Zealand where the game has long been recognised for its benefits for developing rugby players.
Here, the sport is governed by the Ireland Touch Association (ITA). Locally the Munster Touch Rugby Cub play in Parteen.
ITA director Michelle Mulcahy, of Askeaton, enthused: “I’m so delighted to be selected to host this event in Limerick. We want to share our Irish hospitality to all the teams that will travel from across Europe, South Africa and the USA. It’s a great opportunity to showcase Ireland, especially the Wild Atlantic Way, to the nations that will travel to the event.”
“As a growing sport in Ireland, we in the ITA are so proud to be selected to host this event with some of our most talented juniors partaking from across Ireland. Personally, I’m really looking forward to giving all teams an Irish welcome and give all athletes a great experience in Limerick. It will be the highlight of the summer.”
