Media Release – 28 February 2010

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 2010 New Zealand Community Trust National Touch Championships

Moire Park, Massey, Waitakere, Auckland

Youth and Opens Finals – The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere Sat March 6th

Masters - Mon 1st March – Wed 3rd March

Youth and Open -Thurs 4th March – Sat 6th March

2010 NZCT National Touch Championships in association with Waitakere City Council and ZM – Today’s Hit Music

This is the pinnacle of Touch in NZ and over the next 6 days (March 1 – March 6) 75 teams from all over the country will battle it out in various grades for the coveted title of National Champions.

This year we have over 30% more teams entered and this is a result of the reinstatement of the international programme between NZ and Australia. Touch NZ and Touch Football Australia have developed a Trans Tasman Series that will see our two countries meet every year in the Open grades and every second year in the Youth and Masters grades.

There is a lot to play for at these Nationals with 3 key international tournaments coming up

• Masters Trans Tasman June 2010 – Townsville Australia
• Youth Trans Tasman January 2011 – Australia
• Open World Cup June 2011 – Edinburgh, Scotland

The selectors will be naming

• 6 Masters teams from over 30 years age groups to Over 50 year age groups
• 3 Under 19 Youth Squads – Boys, Girls, Mixed
• 3 Under 21 Youth Squads – Boys, Girls, Mixed
• 3 Open Squads (30 in each initially) – Men’s, Women’s, Mixed

Those selected will be announced and posted on the Touch NZ website the week after the tournament.

Provincial Title Holders

Canterbury took the overall title last year, but there are provinces nipping at their heals to take that away this year.

Defending title holders are

• Under 19 Men – Counties Manukau over Wellington
• Under 19 Women – Counties Manukau over Manuwatu
• Under 21 Men – Canterbury over Auckland
• Under 21 Women – Canterbury over Waikato
• Open Mixed – Bay Of Plenty over Counties Manukau
• Open Women – Canterbury over Waikato
• Open Men – Canterbury over Auckland
• Over 30s Men – Canterbury over Bay Of Plenty
• Over 35s Men – Wellington over Canterbury
• Over 40s Men – Kapiti Horowhenua over Counties Manukau
• Over 45s Men – Auckland over Wellington

The Provinces attending are:

North Harbour

Counties Manukau

Auckland

Waikato

Bay of Plenty

Hawkes Bay

Kapiti Horowhenua

Manawatu

Wanganui

Wellington

Nelson

Canterbury

Otago

Southland

NZ Defence Force (invitational)

If you would like to follow the progress daily with draws and results, plus news of the day you can do so at www.touchnz.co.nz and follow the link on the home page. Should you wish to interview any of the participating athletes please let me know, Julie Monaghan, and I will arrange it for you.

There will also be a professional photographer on site, so if you would like photos for any articles this can also be arranged.

This tournament is being proudly partnered by Waitakere City Council and ZM & includes support from NZCT, Radio Sport, & Touch NZ preferred suppliers SAS, Skins, Avaro and Douglas Pharaceuticals.

For more information please contact

Julie Monaghan

Marketing Director

julie@touchnz.co.nz

ph 021 633 537