It should be a nice touch at Letchworth Rugby Club over the summer months. A summer touch rugby tournament is starting at Letchworth on Thursday, May 24 (7pm) following the launch of the RFU s Play Rugby initiative in this World Cup year. There will be

It should be a nice touch at Letchworth Rugby Club over the summer months.

A summer touch rugby tournament is starting at Letchworth on Thursday, May 24 (7pm) following the launch of the RFU's 'Play Rugby' initiative in this World Cup year.

There will be 10 people per squad with seven-a-side being played on reduced sized pitches. Works sides and pubs will be encouraged to make up squads and non-rugby players are welcome.

Letchworth club president Brian Burke said: "The idea is to introduce the game to those who would not normally play it.

"The tournament will run over eight weeks and current players will be added into the mix to balance up sides.

"Ladies and veterans are also welcome with a handicap system operating."

Coach Phil Waters and first team prop Simon Hill will be organising the teams.

Call 07740 828692 (Phil) or 07902 259896 (Simon) for registration forms.

The cost is £10 per player to cover shirt and other incidentals.

Other local clubs are also invited to make up teams and there will be a chance of a sociable beer afterwards!

P More than 160 players, sponsors and supporters attended the annual dinner at Letchworth Rugby Club on Saturday night.

They were well entertained with speeches from ex-Bath and England man David Trick and outgoing chairman Graham Walker.

The third team snatched team of the year while individual awards went to Jaggi Johal, Dan Bendon and Lawrence Mansfield for first, second and third team players of the year respectively.

Sean Flatman received best young player, David Rae most improved player and Phil 'Muddy' Waters was clubman of the year for the second time for his services to both senior and junior rugby.

Specially commissioned portraits were given to Walker and Paul Hughes for their services to the club over the past seven seasons.

The annual meeting on Thursday, May 24, will appoint a new chairman and first team captain.

n Letchworth's juniors looked back on a memorable season at their first annual awards dinner on Friday night.

With playing numbers up 25 per cent, the future of rugby at Letchworth looks bright.

Both the boys' under-13s and under-14s won promotion to the first division of the county league in only the second year the club has entered teams.

The younger age group also won the under-13 challenge cup and the Welsh junior rugby festival in Aberystwyth at Easter - their second tour triumph after taking the Isle of Wight festival the previous year.

The girls' side also celebrated success with a tournament win for the under-17s at the Rochford 10s, a semi-final place in the National Cup, and qualification for the first National 10s finals on May 13.