Torrevieja to Host International Touch Rugby Event: Touch N’ Tapas (TNT) Returns in March 2023
Following the successful Touch N’ Tapas (TNT) gathering held in 2022, Torrevieja is preparing to host a new edition from March 17–18, 2023. The international mixed touch rugby championship will bring together 22 teams and more than 300 participants representing 14 nationalities from Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Competing teams will be divided into four divisions: men, women, seniors, and mixed. Nations represented include Spain, Argentina, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Wales, Singapore, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Malaysia, and three teams representing the European Union. The event includes 31 referees and aims to raise the level of officiating with referees trained across Levels 1, 2, and 3.
Touch N’ Tapas (TNT) is the International Express Touch LIVE Tournament organized by the e.Sharks Rugby Torrevieja club and promoter On Seven Events, with the Torrevieja City Council Sports Department collaborating alongside Diana Box at the helm and Pescadors Sports Group, a communications agency. The opening ceremony is scheduled for March 17 at 10:00 at the Ciudad Deportiva de Torrevieja. Across two days, teams will play 12 matches of 40 minutes each, with two prizes awarded in every category.
The trophy for first place in the Touch N’ Tapas (TNT) tournament honors Torrevieja’s current mayor, Eduardo Dolón, in recognition of his work promoting the sport and its international footprint. This year’s event will also showcase medals for top teams and highlight the core values of rugby: passion, integrity, respect, discipline, and solidarity. Ignacio Inchausti, a tournament member and director of Pescadors Sports Group, commented that the event positions Torrevieja as a premier host of international sports championships within the Valencian Community and the 22/23 season. Poseidon Hotels serves as the main sponsor, with a slogan that celebrates rugby, tapas, and the hotel brand. Diana Box, Torrevieja City Councilor for Sports and Tourism, emphasized the privilege of advancing this sport in Spain and elevating international visibility for the city.
Organizers of Touch N’ Tapas (TNT) aim to foster unity and inclusion through sport while offering fans competitive excitement and support for a meaningful social cause. In partnership with the Reach Out foundation, the tournament will contribute resources to aid the homeless in Torrevieja and raise awareness about their challenges. Viewers can follow the event live and for free on the On Seven Events YouTube channel, ensuring accessibility for audiences in North America and beyond. [Source: On Seven Events & Torrevieja City Council]
Touch Rugby, or Contactless Rugby, is a simplified variant where players remove the ball from the opponent by touch below the waist to regain possession. It is designed to be inclusive, appealing to people of all ages, genders, and body types. The sport features five-a-side competition under the Fifth Edition FIT rules, with six players per team and up to eight substitutes available across two 20-minute halves. Re-starts rely on the opposing team touching the ball back six times, and the side scoring more points prevails. This format emphasizes speed, skill, and strategic positioning without heavy contact, melee, or equipment demands. The approach makes it easy to participate without extensive training, offering a welcoming entry point for new players while still delivering high-level competition for seasoned participants.