The Aquis Gold Coast Titans and Queensland Touch Football (QTF) have forged a close alliance which will see the southern Queensland elite representative teams called the Titans and touch football have access to the Titans’ high performance facilities at their new Parkwood International base.
Queensland Touch Football’s most southern elite 8 men’s and women’s teams will adopt the Titans brand and colours when they compete in the four-day carnival starting on March 9 in Coffs Harbour.
The link between the two bodies under the Titans reinforces the historic partnership the NRL and Touch Football Australia formed in 2013.
Along with the touch team’s rebranding, the partnership will bring exclusive opportunities for the Titans and Queensland Touch Football to engage new junior participants, develop elite players and provide the pathway for male and female touch football and rugby league players to one day play for the Titans.
Queensland Touch Football is the governing body for touch football across the state. Its membership comprises six regions and features 68 affiliated competitions, 6500 teams and more than 65,000 players competing in the sport on an annual basis.
Its focus is on providing equal participation opportunities for all players from grass roots to elite.
“I am really excited by what this partnership can deliver both organisations and our communities - it is ground breaking in the context of the touch football and NRL alliance,” said CEO of Queensland Touch Football, Jamie O’Connor.
“The benefits for our members will extend from the elite and developing to junior participation. Our Titans Elite 8s teams will have a home alongside the Titans NRL and NYC squads at Parkwood International and our developing coaches will have the chance to learn from the Titans’ high performance staff.
“Benefits for the whole touch football community will range from membership and ticketing to participation initiatives.
“From a pathway perspective, there is now an opportunity for male and female players to become a Titan in both contact and non-contact versions of our sports which is exciting.
“This will be the new benchmark for other NRL club and touch football relationship. It is a genuine partnership.”
The NRL struck a partnership with Touch Football Australia in August 2013 where the two sports decided to work together to create the largest sporting community in the country. It reflects the wider support that exists for rugby league and the game’s commitment to ensuring there is a place on the field for everyone.
More than a million participants play in competitions under a joint NRL-TFA banner. This is in addition to around 850,000 girls and boys who take part in NRL development programs each year.
“This partnership with Queensland Touch Football is another positive step in growing the Titans fan base and strengthening our connections with the community,” said Aquis Titans CEO Graham Annesley.
“Touch football has a massive participation base of men, women, boys and girls who will, through this alignment, become part of the Titans family.
“The benefits that will flow for the Titans brand and the continuing growth and development of participation in both rugby league and touch football will be a major boost to both organisations.
“This collaboration further reinforces the strength and domination of the NRL and touch football in the traditional heartland region of South East Queensland.”
