NRL Touch Football has today confirmed the Warriors will join the NRL Touch Premiership for the first time in 2019 fielding both men’s and women’s teams.

Touch Football is a major participation sport in New Zealand with 27,000 players competing in Auckland alone.

From an elite perspective, New Zealand hosts the international trans-Tasman event bi-annually and is seen as a heavyweight internationally in the sport.

The opportunity to have elite Warriors men’s and women’s teams in the NRL Touch Premiership will provide the club with a direct link to a huge and highly-engaged community.

Vodafone Warriors CEO Cameron George said joining the NRL Touch Premiership makes sense because it will attract a new audience to the club and add to the game day experience in 2019.

“Next year we want to engage and entertain as many people as possible at our games and significantly grow our fan base,” said George.

“Not everyone can play contact sport so our partnership with Touch New Zealand is really important as it now provides a pathway for touch footy players to play in the NRL at the elite level for the Warriors. It’s really fantastic for New Zealand.

“We are excited to be a part of the 2019 NRL Touch Premiership and the development of community programmes and commercial opportunities, both locally and through TV broadcast.”

The games will be broadcast nationally and across the Tasman through a mix of live and delayed TV broadcasts with the teams playing in Warriors-branded kit.

NRL Touch Football CEO Steve Mitchell is delighted to be aligning with the Vodafone Warriors and growing both touch and tackle versions of rugby league.

“We look forward to working closely with the Warriors and Touch New Zealand on bringing the 2019 NRL Touch Premiership to life. We will be releasing the official draw shortly and cannot wait!” he said.

Touch New Zealand chief executive Joe Sprangers sees enormous opportunity for both touch and rugby league through this collaboration.

“We look forward to the excitement that will be generated around the Touch Premiership League with the inclusion of the Warriors touch teams,” he said.

“This is certainly something the membership will embrace”.

The breakthrough announcement means the club will now field six Warriors teams in its 25th season in 2019. Three Vodafone Warriors teams will again compete in the NRL, the Intrust Super Premiership and the under-20 Jersey Flegg Cup along with the Warriors team in the second NRL women’s premiership and now two Warriors teams will line up in the NRL Touch Premiership.

For more information about the NRL Touch Premiership please visit http://touchfootball.com.au/nrltouchpremiership/

To play Touch Football this summer in New Zealand find your nearest club at http://www.touchnz.co.nz/