England Rugby & O2 Form Legacy Event

England Rugby and O2 have announced the next stage of their grassroots-focused campaign, with the launch of O2 Touch and Music, which aims to combine the two in a bid to drive participation of the game across the country.

The launch, based around scientific research carried out by Dr Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University, looks at the positive effect music has on both males and females taking part in touch rugby.

O2 Touch and Music is the latest development in the O2 Touch programme launched in 2013, and already has over 11,400 young people playing across 275 O2 Touch centres nationwide. The addition of music to the programme comes after this summer’s O2 Touch Tour.

As part of the launch, O2 Touch taster sessions will be taking place throughout London and England giving people inspired by the Rugby World Cup the opportunity to pick up a rugby ball.

Stuart Lancaster, England head coach said: “Rugby is a unique sport that brings communities together and creates a unique bond. There is a place for everyone in the rugby family regardless of age, ability or background. For the legacy of the game to live on, inspire and unite communities, it’s important that we continue to focus on important grassroots initiatives like O2 Touch. There is no better time than now to get out and get involved in one of the O2 Touch taster sessions taking place throughout the country.”

Gareth Griffiths, head of sports sponsorship at O2, commented: “Grassroots rugby is a massive part of our England Rugby partnership. The O2 Touch Tour this summer was fantastic, and in such a huge year for rugby, participation at this level has never been more important. O2 Touch provides an entry point to the sport no matter what your ability, and by introducing music at the heart of the programme, we’re aiming to inspire even more people to start playing beyond 2015.”

To help integrate music into the programme, research has been carried out looking at the effect music has on touch rugby. The research has shown that music makes touch rugby more enjoyable for women in particular and encourages more women to get involved in the game.

Dr Costas Karageorghis added: “The findings of the O2 Touch music project have enabled us to understand just what a potent motivating force music can be for the women involved in the sample. Women appeared to derive clear and measurable benefits from the music mix.

“It therefore shows that coordinating a music mix with O2 Touch can influence a range of motivational outcomes, making the activity more enjoyable and increasing the likelihood that people will stick to a structured programme of physical activity.”

Bringing O2 Touch and Music to a pitch near you, the taster sessions are designed to be as much a fitness activity as a rugby one, with fitness expert Richard Tidmarsh being one of the many sporting influences behind the programme.

The O2 Touch taster sessions will be happening across England with new O2 Touch taster sessions running in London during September and October in Regents Park, Clapham Common and Richmond.