For some, touch rugby provides a bit of fun with whānau and friends at the beach or in the backyard. For others, it’s their favourite summer sport.

As the touch rugby season gets under way around the country, ACC is challenging all players to ‘Have a hmmm’ before they get stuck in.

In 2024, ACC accepted 9698 touch rugby-related injuries which came at a cost of $22 million to help people recover. This was the highest number of injuries and cost in the past five years.

ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said staying injury-free is an integral part of performance and enjoying any sport – this includes touch rugby. Often the most successful teams are the ones with the fewest injuries.

Whitaker said touch is a dynamic game where ankle and knee injuries are most common, particularly early in the season.

“You have to look after your body and warm up properly, particularly as you get older,” he said.

“In your head you might be thinking, ‘yeah I can pull off my classic sidestep’, but your body might be saying something different.

“If you do dynamic warm-ups before every practice session and game, and take time to rest and recover, you’ll be fitter, faster, stronger, and this will reduce your risk of being sidelined with an injury.”

The 10-14 age group (2205) had the most touch rugby injuries in 2024 ahead of the 15-19 age group. Photo / ACC

Whitaker said that by completing the TouchFit360 warm-up twice a week players will have 37% fewer training injuries and 50% fewer serious injuries during the season.

The warm-up is based on the Fifa 11+ warm-up programme. It covers the three key elements of effective injury prevention for sport: core strength, muscular control and balance, and plyometrics and agility.

The 10-14 age group (2205) had the most touch rugby injuries in 2024 ahead of the 15-19 age group. There are also a significant number of injuries as people get older – 30-34 (837 claims), 35-39 (837), 40-44 (800) and 45-49 (714).

More than 80% of all touch related injuries in 2024 were soft-tissue injuries and males had twice as many touch rugby injuries as females.

ACC data shows that 29,805 New Zealanders were off work after a sport or recreation injury in 2024. That resulted in 2.7 million days of weekly compensation being paid last year.

“Getting injured is a rough way to start the season,” Whitaker said. “It’s not fun hobbling off the field with a pulled hamstring, knowing that you are out for the season and injured for summer.

“That injury has a big impact on your family, your work mates and your holidays – and you don’t get the enjoyment of playing the season with your mates.”

More than 80 per cent of all touch related injuries in 2024 were soft tissue injuries and males had twice as many touch rugby injuries as females. Photo / ACC

Whitaker said he is proud to promote the TouchFit360 injury prevention programme.

He said touch is a unique sport that includes players of all ages and backgrounds.

“Touch is a sport that can engage with participants across their lifetime,” he said.

“It is a game that plays an important role in our communities across Aotearoa, and we want people to enjoy their touch season this summer and get the benefit of connecting with their mates.”

TouchFit 360 is based on ACC SportSmart which includes the nine principles of player profiling, physical conditioning, psychology, skill and technique, food and fluid, player wear, athlete environment, injuries, and target groups.

For more information: www.touchnz.co.nz