The Touch Project Podcast

16/07/2023

I get asked this heaps. As we gear up for new episodes, here’s the leaderboard as of today. Any surprises for you?

Fun fact, none of these episodes have been streamed less than 5,000 times.

New eps soon.

27/04/2023

While over in Australia, I got to witness Hall of Famer Tony Trad be awarded a framed Emus strip in acknowledgement of 100 tests representing Australia as a Coach, probably the greatest of all time.

My bro Scotty Mac did a good job asking a few questions following the presentation.. closest you’ll get Traddy to an appearance in the Late Switch Podcast, brother - he’s a Touch Project OG 😘😂

Seriously though - what a seriously impressive resume, and an even more impressive human being. A proud Australian & someone who deserved this acknowledgment (& then some!).

I’m blessed to call you a bro, Traddy. Congratulations on the first half of your career. Excited for what’s next! ;)

09/01/2023

Quick update online now via whatever platform you use to listen to podcasts. Feels good. Talk soon, we’ve got lots to discuss. BRB.

https://linktr.ee/touchproject

30/12/2022

🐐

Touch New Zealand is proud to congratulate Peter Walters, who was today made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Touch Rugby.

Peter Walters ONZM has a resume that stretches many decades. His service to our sport both domestically & around the world is widely respected, appreciated & celebrated. Mr Touch truly is known throughout the Galaxy.

In an interview with Whakaata Māori earlier this year, Pete was asked how he has managed to stay passionately involved for so long —

"One of the big things that keeps me going, and why I'm still running around today, is that this is my fun thing. This is the thing that, whether I was 20 or in my 60s now, it's always been my fun first and foremost.”

Congrats, Mr Touch. We’re proud of you & thank you for your service. Past, present & well into the future.



📸 .shot

05/12/2022

I mean, I’ll take it 🤷🏽‍♂️😂 — back with a bang in 2023. Posting these so we can reflect in a year when we’ve broken the internet (again) Touch fam. BRB 🫡

26/09/2022

Dinner with the 🐐 — It’s not iykyk if the world knows - the best now, then and for a long time yet. How good to finally meet in person, 👏🏽 | Thank you for making this happen.

25/08/2022

Birthday love for a legend. Rā whānau, Macca. There’s no NZ Touch Mt Rushmore without you on it, Sir. Undisputed.

19/06/2022

How inclusive is our sport, in your neck of the woods? DM’s are open. Swipe 👉🏽

26/05/2022

Registrations for Māori Touch NZ Nationals are open now! 👏🏽

Team & Referee Registrations for our 2022 National Tournament are open now! Click the relevant links via our website - www.maoritouch.co.nz

16/05/2022

Māori Touch NZ Nationals registrations open next week 🤝

Team Registrations for this years Māori Touch National Tournament open next week, whānau! 👏🏽

04/05/2022

Some of you might remember my man here, Tyson. A young Touch player… no, make that superstar! We shared his story a few years back when it was first discovered he had been diagnosed with Hypodiploid Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Like the absolute warrior he is, Tyson fought the good fight, and went into remission on the 21/07/2020. With only a few months left of treatment, Tys found a lump. Heartbreaking news followed, and on the 11th of April he relapsed. He has started treatment again and round 2 of operation kick cancers ass has begun. When we first shared my mans story a few years ago - there was an outpouring of support. I’m hoping we can rally up the troops and get behind Tys again. If you can, please click the link below and donate. All funds will go towards travel expenses to and from Hamilton, organising care for Tyson’s siblings and other expenses incurred while Tyson is receiving treatment. Love you Tys. You got this, and we’ve got you! ❤️

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/tysons-ongoing-battle-with-leukemia?fbclid=IwAR1kh8eozsBvAlZZvXFaN9NtocIeJkavBuDbJEFLSj1_MtS0F8R4dDLHtyw

25/04/2022

🤝

Will your rōpū be in Rotorua for Māori Touch Nationals this December?

We’re excited to welcome our touch whānau back for our Annual National event this year. After a break last season, we’re looking forward to celebrating the return of Māori Touch with you all!

Our brand new website is almost ready to go live, which will feature all you need to know about this years whakataetae.

Mauri tū mauri ora!

18/04/2022

An awesome weekend in Te Awamutu for the inaugural Homegrown Touch series fuelled by . It’s been a while between hit outs (an entire year to the weekend since our last National event here in NZ!). Congrats to everyone involved - it was a real treat to see something (anything!) happen. You can watch all 9 games free, from anywhere in the world - head to on YouTube. Nice Mahi 👏🏽

04/04/2022

… let’s try this again! 🤝

02/03/2022

Dear NZ Touch Community. Love, TTP & Metro ❤️

Metro Touch Supporters

18/02/2022

The ultimate touch footy getaway is back this November!

The Fijian Cup tournament returns for 2022 - do not miss out on your opportunity to play (& party!) in Fiji across 4 nights!

Player & Referee packages are available, & there’s a heap of information available right now via their website - which includes details on how to keep you (& your money!) safe.

Head to www.fijiancup.com/touch and get your team on the list now! The countdown begins Monday! You coming?

17/02/2022

This looks like fun! 🤷🏽‍♂️🇫🇯

Massive prize pools up for grabs in Paradise! Get ready for the ultimate sport tournament in Fiji. Secure your spot with $50pp.

14/02/2022

14/02/2022

🐐— online Thursday. Thanks bro,

10/02/2022

Been planning this one for a while. One of Thames Valley’s finest, certainly one of their proudest. Dean Williams is up next! Next Thursday, mark ya calendars 📆

09/02/2022

That man in the middle of those two up & coming touchies, is Dr Shane Edwards. Today, it was announced he would be joining Touch New Zealand’s Board. It’s a really fitting way to acknowledge how important Shane is to our sport. Governance roles aren’t for the faint hearted. They will test you. You’ll be challenged to focus on the bigger picture, and your personal preferences will be sidelined for what’s in the best interests of the people. You need to have Mana to be an effective Board member of any organisation. Integrity, perspective & passion are all non-negotiables. And frankly, they’re boring. All the hui, watching others do the doing. Shane has given so much to our game… to know that service and selflessness will now have a greater impact on our sport and wider communities through this role? How good! You’re a true leader, Chief. TNZ are lucky to have you. The congratulations really belongs to them for appointing a true community champion - and a native one, at that! Go well, rangatira. (Full write up on the TNZ website)

28/01/2022

Telling stories with 7th Touch 🔥

26/01/2022

The organisers of the 10K tournament scheduled for February have announced it has been cancelled. 7th Touch you can update your graphic now 😅 — that’s the last nail in the coffin, team 🤦🏼‍♂️

26/01/2022

I’ve been asking Macca for a sit down yarn for a while. We got close once.. then nadda! 😂 Well, give me a reindeer and call me Santa because the man has finally agreed! There’s one catch though. It’ll be a Coaching Roundtable alongside Rahul & Hika, as part of the . While a little pre-mature, the news of Macca’s new role with the NZ Women’s programme is now public knowledge (official word, with more context from TNZ next week sometime) it’ll be a good opportunity for these three to give us the roadmap to success for the . I’ll keep you posted on when we’re getting this done… it was supposed to be in Christchurch in a few weeks, but….. yeah. Watch this space. I knew I’d get ya, Pete!

13/01/2022

We’re back, for season 4. First up: Adam Pryde! We cover a bit of ground in this one. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Enjoy!

📸 Dale Watson/Energy Images

10/01/2022

Story time with .daymond about that one year he played at Nationals 😅 Only wacks going on we’re from someone’s Nan and their umbrella! 😂

05/01/2022

Back at it next week, with our Season 4 premiere featuring Adam Pryde.

Available wherever you stream your podcasts, 5pm 13/1. You the man, - thanks again bro!

📸 -

04/01/2022

Cheeky update, before we crack into Season 4. Swipe for Storytime. Happy new year, team. Back to Mahi! 🤝

03/01/2022

🔥

28/12/2021

We’re doing 15 episodes next season. So far, I’ve locked in 8 guests… all but 1 of them are Male! Tag a female Touchie that you’d love to see (& hear!) on the Podcast next year. Go!

13/12/2021

We broke this earlier, but it wasn’t scheduled for release until Wednesday. However, as most provincial associations have now shared this publicly - - TNZ will move to a vaccination mandate for the upcoming representative season. More information will be released including plans for implementation, this Wednesday via .

11/12/2021

Thank you! See you in 2022 ❤️

07/12/2021

Steve Roberts episode is live! Now streaming wherever you get your podcasts 👌🏽

03/12/2021

An update on Whakas 🤞🏽

Kia Ora Koutou -

With the cancellation of many staple Touch Events this season, and the effects of COVID-19 looming overhead, we understand these are troubling and disappointing times for many of our Touch whānau.

We are extremely grateful for your patience with us as we work our way through the impacts of COVID-19. We have had many discussions about the future of this tournament and the possibilities of running it under the current Traffic System.

We are holding out hope that we can see our Touch stars back on the field for our 35th Annual Tournament, however it is important that we hold a realistic eye to our situation and remain open with our community.

The safety and comfortability of our touch community, local community and local iwi is of the utmost importance and will weigh heavily in our final decision.

Our Whakatāne Charitable Trust Association committee are meeting tomorrow to discuss the future of 2022 35th Annual Tournament. An announcement will be made public next week after our team/club have been contacted.

Once again, thank you whānau and please stay safe.

27/11/2021

Originally scheduled for April in Christchurch, the Youth & Masters Trans-Tasman series has been cancelled. More via TFA & TNZ websites.

25/11/2021

Kia ora team! Our bro and his TNZ Community Coaching team have put in some serious mahi - they’ve added over 30 'Touch Ups' coaching & playing videos to their online coaching resource site - sporttutor.nz/touchnz (there’s also a clickable link in my story!)

These videos are designed to help our touch community develop in the game - best of all, they’re free to access!

If you are already signed up (you might have done a course in the past), log in and check them out. If you have not been there before register for free and tap into a course to get all access!

Big ups to all of those involved in bringing this kaupapa to life! Get amongst it, and enjoy! 🙏🏽

—

18/11/2021

Whoops, I missed the formal attire memo 👀😂 Is there a nicer guy in our game? All class this fulla, I swear. Pre-chat with the man — new episode dropping next week!

16/11/2021

Up next - Steve Roberts! 🇦🇺🐐 — next week!

📸 courtesy of

15/11/2021

Just so I don’t get any future media accreditation applications denied, lol. Just clearing this up quick smart. I know the fam in the States are keen to play host at some stage soon though!

14/11/2021

Enjoyed this chat with the brother Billy. Now streaming wherever you get your podcasts 👌🏽