touch rugby

British

noun

a limited-contact version of rugby in which players seek to evade being touched (rather than tackled) while in possession of the ball

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I'm feeling pretty angry," said Sarah McPherson whose son was meant to compete with England's under 15 boys international touch rugby team in Ireland.

From BBC • Jul. 30, 2025

David still plays touch rugby, and he represented the U.S. last year in the 55-and-over category at the 2024 Touch World Cup in England.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025

It used to follow a Boxing Day game of touch rugby on the beach, but was later moved to New Year's Day to avoid clashes with other local swims.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2017

In October, in what was supposed to be a fun exhibition of touch rugby in Japan, he flattened Toki Sekiguchi, an astonished 10-year-old, by charging him with his shoulder.

From New York Times • Apr. 9, 2016

Prince Harry playing touch rugby in Rio de Janeiro.

From The Guardian • Mar. 8, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023