25th Hot Summer of Touch series kicks off in Camps Bay this coming weekend

With just days to go until the Hot Summer of Touch series organisers are gearing up for its 25th instalment as record numbers are expected after pre-registrations reached a peak.

“After a tough few years during and after Covid the series once again sprang to life last year,” said Western and Southern Beach Touch Association (WSCBTA) chairman Gerome Vermeulen. “The Series has once again become an annual highlight of the ‘Summer Rugby Programme’.

Although sponsorship has been hard to come by this event has such a loyal following in the Helderberg Basin that the organisers feel it’s their obligation and responsibility to the youth to ensure its long-term future.

The Hot Summer of Touch series kicks off on Sunday 7 December in Camps Bay and then heads to the soft sand of Kleinmond the following Sunday (14th) before heading back to the Basin for the season highlights at Strand (16th) and Macassar (21st) before heading up the Southern Cape Coastline to Struisbaai (23rd), Stilbaai (26th), Mossel Bay (27th) and Hartenbos (29th).

This series has been ever-growing since its first inception over two decades ago.

Beach touch rugby-loving fanatics can look forward to seeing the two-time champion Liberty Webb Touchies trying to make it three in a row. They will be fighting off challenges from seven-time previous winners the Score Forward Legends and three-time winner the Unknown Warriors.

The UD Targo team and Underdogs may cause a few upsets, and one can never write of the Reds, Most Wanted and new boys the Struisbaai Warriors who will make their debut appearance in the Pro Series this year!

The competition is also incredibly strong in the Challenger section with all these teams vying for a place in the 2026 Pro Series with the Scorpions, Last Kings, BT Blizzards and Macassar Touch teams leading the way for their place at the elite table.

“The sand always brings out the best in side-stepping, raw talent and handling skills” said Vermeulen who also commented that Springbok hero Damian Willemse and current Blitzbok star Ricardo (Tricky Ricky) as well as many other Springboks and provincial players had cut their teeth on the beaches of the Hot Summer of Touch over the past 24 years.

Teams can register on the newly updated Hot Summer of Touch series website (https://hotsummeroftouch.co.za/) or call/WhatsApp 065 362 8241.

The action on the sand gets underway from as early as 09:15 on each event day, with teams still being allowed to enter and register their teams on each morning of the event from 07:15.