One Year On: The Legacy of the 2024 Touch World Cup in Nottingham

A year ago, Nottingham welcomed the world to the 2024 Touch World Cup. Over 180 teams from more than 39 nations came together to compete, connect, and showcase the fastest and arguably the most skilful version of rugby that continues to grow in both reach and relevance.

Twelve months later, the legacy is clear. Touch has never been in a stronger position on the pitch, in schools, and in communities across the globe.

The Growth of Touch

Touch offers something rugby has long needed: a fully accessible entry point. A simple version of the game. No scrums, no tackling, no need for protective gear. It’s fast, skilful, and inclusive. Players of all ages and backgrounds can pick up a ball and play, often on the same team.

Since the World Cup, there has been investment in youth programmes at all levels. Participation numbers are up, particularly among women and girls. Mixed-gender formats are now standard in many leagues. Countries that were once fringe players in the sport are now winning games against traditional powerhouses.

Building a Better Base for Rugby

The impact goes further than just growing Touch itself. This is about building a broader base for the rugby family as a whole.

Touch teaches the same core skills as contact rugby: passing, evasive running, defensive structure, communication, without the physical barriers that often discourage newcomers. It creates a larger, more diverse pool of players who understand and enjoy the game. That’s good news for both codes of contact rugby.

Players are staying in the game longer, trying different formats, and returning as coaches, officials, and volunteers. In schools, Touch is often the first exposure to rugby, helping young people develop confidence and core skills before deciding whether to pursue contact versions.

A Smarter Future for Rugby

With concerns around injury and long-term safety rightly front of mind in contact sport, Touch offers a smart path forward. Not as a replacement, but as a partner.

We’re already seeing elite contact players turn to Touch in the off-season for skill development. Clubs are using Touch in community outreach to attract new players. And what should come next is governing bodies recognising that success in the contact space won’t come just from elite pathways, it will come from mass participation, deeper engagement, and smarter development.

Looking Ahead

The 2024 Touch World Cup in Nottingham wasn’t just a great tournament - it was a turning point. It showed what the sport can be when it puts accessibility, inclusion, and skill development first.

If the last year is anything to go by, Touch will be central to the future of rugby. Bigger. Broader. Smarter. And better for everyone.