The No.1 Football Code in Australia

[Fred]

pretty sure NRL split touch and Tackle in different ways.
and registered for Clubs is only tackle

In saying Tackle will never be high >> most athletes struggle with contact than having to work after>>
this also effects AFL stats too>> for its contact.. Imagen RL or RU

be interesting to see the latest reports AFL AND NRL>

Tackle is a different sport - didn't realise RL counted people playing touch or tackle or oz-tag etc. RU would have the same claim lol. I think RU partner with Touch (Federation of International Touch) in Europe to cross promote - like touch does her.

If AFL brought out TAG AFL would it still be AFL ?

NRL split up there numbers not combine>>> Tackle Version (clubs) and Under the umbrella of NRL Touch..

Touch is Rugby League with out tackling>> why is it so hard to comprehend.

uniforms have NSWRL and QLDRL on the shorts and tops (LOGOS) NRL in TOUCH comps

Touch is its own sport - I have explained this before - the federation of international touch is the governing body - As noted - in Europe the partner with Union - in Australia - NRL - but they are very much their own sport. Or are you saying it is RL in Australia and Union in Europe?? But I guess if I wanted to inflate numbers I, too, would be desperate to include them lol.

[Terry]

I read that in Queensland Australian Rules now has more registered participants than Rugby League.
Maybe a bit generous with the figures but it does demonstrate the growth.

Wherever you read it it's BS pal. AFL types don't compare on a apples v apples comparison. Fumbling 'participants' in Qld include clubs, Auskick, Superkick, schools programs and any kid that has ever sighted a Sherrin. Most of the 'participants' don't play actual games of AFL. They go to babysitting services and do skills and drills. They will never tell you the actual number of players in season long competitions because they are so low.

They then compare that number to registered players playing for clubs in season long Rugby League competitions in Qld. Total BS. The total participants for RL when counted in the same way the AFL does including clubs, schools, gala days, Touch and Tag would be well over 200k in Qld. Dwarfing the fumbling game.

For further comparison the NRL says there are 42k 'participants' in Victoria, 33k in WA and 25k in SA. Like the AFL these numbers include clubs, schools, gala days etc. And they are also BS. But NRL folk aren't stupid enough to believe the BS. Seems your are pal.

Have a great day,

AFL figures havent included school or promotional programs for several years now. Its why the reported numbers dropped from 1.6m to 600k.
the Auskick/Superkick being referenced is club based programs.

Thanks for that sooks. Please note the AFL stated this about their participation numbers in sept this year:

"The total figure includes registered participants across community football (junior, youth and senior), AFL Nines, NAB AFL Auskick, NAB AFL Superkick and AFL SCHOOLS Competition." Yep.......SCHOOLS.

I also note the new Superkick thingy is skills and activity based and then put into action in tackle free modified match play. It is not an AFL game. It is not in a competition. It is run by AFL employees through NAB sponsorship with coordination with clubs and club volunteers.

Happy to help. Have a great day sooks.

https://www.AFL.com.au/news/1416513/foo ... ast-600000

[leeroy*NRL*]

Tackle is a different sport - didn't realise RL counted people playing touch or tackle or oz-tag etc. RU would have the same claim lol. I think RU partner with Touch (Federation of International Touch) in Europe to cross promote - like touch does her.

If AFL brought out TAG AFL would it still be AFL ?

NRL split up there numbers not combine>>> Tackle Version (clubs) and Under the umbrella of NRL Touch..

Touch is Rugby League with out tackling>> why is it so hard to comprehend.

uniforms have NSWRL and QLDRL on the shorts and tops (LOGOS) NRL in TOUCH comps

Touch is its own sport - I have explained this before - the federation of international touch is the governing body - As noted - in Europe the partner with Union - in Australia - NRL - but they are very much their own sport. Or are you saying it is RL in Australia and Union in Europe?? But I guess if I wanted to inflate numbers I, too, would be desperate to include them lol.

lol i know it is its own SPORT, It was taken from Rugby League..

https://touchfootball.com.au/about-us/t ... a-history/

https://www.internationaltouch.org/about-fit/history/

https://touchfootball.com.au/pathways/events/

The founding fathers of Touch Football were Bob Dyke and Ray Vawdon, of the South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club, who invented it as a method of training for Rugby League

The rules also for TOUCH International are taken from Touch Australia from Rugby league rules with no contact.
which was invented in the 1960's

have a look at them too links and you will go

[Fred]

well you may as well say union and league are the same if that is the criteria, The FIT certainly see themselves as a stand alone sport. Hell, soccer could call all league and union participants as players given those sports grew out of it.... sports evolve, new sports are born.

have a read
https://fit-prod-media-syd1.syd1.cdn.di ... 12-10).pdf

Executive Summary
Touch – the sport for all, is a worldwide phenomenon based on participant skill and teamwork, with a dash
of fitness thrown in at the elite level. The sport is invasive by design with a history from Rugby league. Touch
has gained popularity because of the non-contact format that allows participation by all ages and both
genders, even in mixed form. It is ironical that the very creation of Rugby caused by the divide between
Rugby and Football some 150 years ago was also based on non-contact – or “hacking” actually.
This paper looks at the history of Touch since it evolved just 45 years ago. The argument considers facts
supporting the sport’s independence and compares Touch with other, like sports, some of which have
retained a linkage to their forefathers.


There can be little doubt that the success of the sport in Australia, where there are more Touch participants
than Rugby Union and Rugby League combined, is a direct reflection of the success of the sport of Touch
within the schools / education system. In addition to delivering regular intra-school and inter-school
competitions, the sport offers the AusSquad program, AusTouch, Open Days and carnivals, coaching
workshops, clinics and other school and community based activities, for schoolchildren, teachers and
parents all year round.

[Fred]

Touch (also known as touch football or touch rugby league) is a variant of rugby league that is conducted under the direction of the Federation of International Touch (FIT). Though it shares similarities and history with rugby league, it is recognised as a sport in its own right due to its differences which have been developed over the sport's lifetime.

[leeroy*NRL*]

Touch (also known as touch football or touch rugby league) is a variant of rugby league that is conducted under the direction of the Federation of International Touch (FIT). Though it shares similarities and history with rugby league, it is recognised as a sport in its own right due to its differences which have been developed over the sport's lifetime.

All i am stating >> is Touch originated from Rugby League, it was embedded in NSW AND QLD from the 60's
where it was used for training and school sport as a non contact form of the game.

since than decades later it only go more POPULAR and has expanded around the world rapidly
it formed its own name and everything and become its own SPORT>

I know all of this, i have played touch footy since i was 10 and still continue to play on the GOLD COAST

where TOUCH has linked up with the NRL under one banner..

I play touch and my jersey and shorts and socks are covered in NRL content.

[Fred]

Yeah - there is a partnership that goes both ways - just saying you can't count Touch as RL numbers - cause - as you said - different sports.

[leeroy*NRL*]

Yeah - there is a partnership that goes both ways - just saying you can't count Touch as RL numbers - cause - as you said - different sports.

true it does go both ways.

NRL separates its numbers > TAG AND TOUCH all under a different umbrella.

new 7 year agreement between NRL and Touch
https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/12/09/tou ... .%E2%80%9D

The NRL is committed to collaborating with TFA to elevate Touch Football domestically while also expanding its footprint internationally, supported by alternative formats of the game

NRL also has its own Comp
https://touchfootball.com.au/nrl-touch-premiership/

[Fred]

So we agree - Touch numbers should not be counted in NRL participation numbers.

[leeroy*NRL*]

So we agree - Touch numbers should not be counted in NRL participation numbers.

NRL divide the numbers Up (no i disagree the numbers as they are should be included in the NRL figures (under a different section) like they already are

They add in a different section there association with TOUCH as Touch Football is a variant of Rugby League.
and they supply the numbers of Players in TOUCH comps.

however Touch NRL which is a NRL comp as these numbers have exploded under the NRL version of the game

NRL touch simply replaces tackling with touch.

NRL Touch participants include hundreds of thousands of grassroots players, elite athletes in the NRL Touch Premiership (representing NRL clubs like Broncos, Cowboys, Titans, etc., in men's and women's teams), and members of national representative teams like the Athelite Australian Emus, all playing under the umbrella of Touch Football Australia and the NRL. The sport is highly inclusive, with pathways from local social competitions to professional levels, supported by initiatives like Touch Football Australia's "The Next Play" strategic plan.
Types of Participants
Grassroots Players: Over 700,000 Australians participate in social and affiliated leagues, making it a large social sport.
Elite Players (NRL Touch Premiership): Top male and female players represent NRL clubs in televised matches, showcasing high-level talent

[leeroy*NRL*]

AFL have a version of the game called AFL touch

if that version took off ( i would have no problems with the AFL counting these figures towards there totals.)

[makingnrlfansgowacko]

AFL have a version of the game called AFL touch

if that version took off ( i would have no problems with the AFL counting these figures towards there totals.)

playing a contact version of a sport vs no contact are different things.
a large share of people that play the noncontact version of the Rugby and AFL is for fitness, social and friendship reasons

[leeroy*NRL*]

AFL have a version of the game called AFL touch

if that version took off ( i would have no problems with the AFL counting these figures towards there totals.)

playing a contact version of a sport vs no contact are different things.
a large share of people that play the noncontact version of the Rugby and AFL is for fitness, social and friendship reasons

that is correct.. I totally agree.
Like myself i Play NRL Touch because my body could not handle the contact of a AFL or NRL game anymore
and injuries are to frequent so i Play Touch Footy..