England Rugby And O2 Combine Touch And Music To Leave Lasting Legacy

England Rugby and O2 today announced the next stage in its commitment to delivering a lasting legacy around the sport with the launch of O2 Touch and Music, bringing rugby and music together 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 male and females taking part in specifically touch rugby. O2 Touch and Music is the latest development in the hugely successful O2 Touch programme launched in 2013, and already has over 11,400 young people playing across 275 O2 Touch centres nationwide.

O2 Touch is an accessible, highly social and fitness focussed format of the game that can be played by anyone, anywhere. The addition of music to the programme comes after this summer’s highly successful O2 Touch Tour. To celebrate the launch, O2 Touch taster sessions will be taking place throughout London and England giving people inspired by the tournament this autumn the opportunity to pick up a rugby ball and get involved.

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 comments, “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 successfully 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 said: “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.”

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 for those who want to try out rugby, from 16 years up. Every O2 Touch centre will be provided with a new music mixes on a monthly basis, created by up and coming DJ’s and will be a celebration of music and sport.