Women's touch football premier league competition launches in Wollongong

The Wollongong Touch Football Association launched its inaugural women's premier league competition this week to run alongside the men's division.

Association vice-president Tim Robinson said the women's competition was introduced due to a surge of local interest in all football codes, from rugby league through to Oztag and league tag.

"Our new competition fed off Touch Football Australia's connection with the NRL," he said.

"They have run the NRL Touch Premiership for two years now so we got the idea to take it to a local level.

"It allows local women to hone their skills in a rugby league based sport."

Jamberoo, Thirroul, Corrimal and Dapto have entered teams in the new league.

Jamberoo struck first blood in the competition with Chelsea Tout and Sally Dwyer inspiring their side to a 5-3 victory over Thirroul at Fairy Meadow's Thomas Dalton Park on Monday night.

Robinson said touch football provided a pathway for women to compete in several codes at a national level.

"Touch footy is an inclusive sport, anyone can play," he said.

"There has been plenty of great talent in the Illawarra. The Australian women's touch footy captain Jess McCall is a Wollongong girl.

"Nicole Beck was a gold medalist for rugby union at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Emma Tonegato also won gold in Rio and is still part of the Aussie women's sevens rugby team."

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