Sunday’s Well brings touch rugby to the county
Cillian Ferry
A Ballyphehane-based rugby club have introduced touch rugby to Cork for the first time last week, making the game available to both men and women and welcoming players of all experience levels.
Sundays Wells RFC are known for being one of the most progressive and inclusive rugby clubs in Munster. The club currently caters for boys, girls, men and women from under 6 up to adults and they also started the first mixed ability rugby team in Ireland - the Sunday Wells Rebels - who continue to thrive.
On Friday 11 September, touch rugby was added to the list of options available at the club, making them only the 12th formal touch rugby club in the country.
Touch rugby, or touch as its more commonly known, is a fast and exciting non-contact version of rugby where the emphasis is on fun, developing rugby skills and increasing fitness. It is the number one participation sport in countries such as New Zealand and Australia, with over one million players across the two nations. A number of high-profile rugby union players including Rieko Ioane, Richie Mo’unga and Charlotte Caslick credit the sport for helping them make a career in professional rugby.
Sunday’s Well RFC Chairperson, Dave Edgar, is looking forward to the development of touch at the club. He said: “Launching touch rugby is another important step in making Sunday’s Well a club where there is a genuine form of rugby for everyone, alongside all our men’s, women’s and mixed-ability teams. It provides a fun, social and accessible way for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the game.”
Touch rugby at Sunday’s Well RFC will run every Friday at 7.30pm at the club’s grounds in Ballyphehane. Kelsi McGrath will be offering experienced coaching, having played at a provincial level in her native South Africa. She coached the Ireland Women’s Open team in the 2024 Touch World Cup and played with them in the recent 2026 World Championships.
Touch is open to males and females from 14 years old up to 60 years and above, with no previous experience necessary and new members are all welcome to play. For more information or to sign up to try touch, email kelsijohnston1@gmail.com.