ENGLAND Rugby development director Steve Grainger has hailed the involvement of Askham Bryan College in a groundbreaking national programme that is lifting touch rugby union participation figures up and down the country.

England Rugby’s O2 Touch programme has surpassed its target set out with Sport England of introducing 15,000 registered players to the game by next summer – with Askham Bryan College now one of 321 centres nationwide making it accessible to all.

The programme was introduced in 2013 in the hope of attracting non-playing 18 to 30-year-olds as well as retired full contact players to the sport.

“O2 Touch is one of England Rugby’s key legacy programmes and we are delighted to be celebrating this milestone, hitting our participation targets a year ahead of schedule,” said Grainger, speaking about the project which is aiming to breakdown common barriers to participation by creating something played by men and women of all levels.

“The programme has gone from strength to strength and the Rugby Union World Cup has had a positive impact on its growth rate.

“Through an innovative approach O2 Touch has been able to attract and retain a new playing audience and deliver a lasting legacy for the game.”

O2 Touch has seen unprecedented growth since the 2015 World Cup with an increase of 5,774 players and 51 new O2 Touch centres established.

Since its inception in 2013 the programme has also grown a volunteer base of more 1,000 ambassadors and operators to help deliver the programme.

Grainger added: “We have been able to reach new audiences, create new playing opportunities and crucially attract new players to the sport.

“We have done this through exciting initiatives such as the O2 Touch Tour, which was a huge success last year.

“Additional support from Sport England has been fantastic, enabling us to broaden the programme and make it into the success story it is today for the Rugby Football Union.”