Friday, March 15, 2013
By BEN HARRIS
Scotland, the host nation of the 2011 World Cup, have brought over their strongest possible squad to the 2013 X-Blades National Touch League at Coffs Harbour.
They have taken the best players from their men’s, women’s and mixed opens divisions, and put them in the one team in the mixed opens division.
At last year’s European Championships, where 20 nations participated, the kilt-wearing Scots were overall winners of the opens division - a first for the country.
But with a World Cup in two years, Scotland coach Robbie McKenzie says the NTLs act as a warm-up event.
“Not only is there an requirement to develop in terms of touch physicality and mentality but it is getting over to this environment, getting to see how it works and getting used to the temperature and all that. It’s a no brainer,” McKenzie said.
“We have done a lot of hard work in terms of analysis. The style that we are seeing is not a surprise for us because we know how we should be playing against that type of style but we don’t have the quality of opposition in Europe to actually do it.
“We have the knowledge but it is a case of coming over and applying that knowledge on the field. It has taken a little bit longer to do it but each game we are going up and up.”
Since the 2011 World Cup in Edinburgh, McKenzie said the Scotland Touch Association has been busy promoting the sport.
“It has enabled us to get into schools a little bit more,” he said.
“We are in a constant battle with other sports obviously in Scotland, even Scottish Rugby Union we are in a battle with them to try and have touch as a main developmental tool for the game.
“We are fighting those battles but to have that spotlight on us in Edinburgh in 2011 has absolutely helped us. It created a lot of money and investment in the game as well. It is working well for us.”
You can keep up-to-date with all of the latest news and information from the 2013 X-Blades National Touch League in the following ways:
Websites
Social Media
Facebook – www.facebook.com/touchfootballaustralia
Twitter – www.twitter.com/touchfootyaus (be sure to use the hashtag #NTL2013)
Instagram – search for ‘Touch Football Australia’
YouTube - www.youtube.com/touchfootballaus
Touch Football Australia will be live streaming matches on their YouTube page.
- Links:
Scotland touch
