50 YEARS OF TOUCH IN NSW 1968 Game formally established by Ray Vawdon and Bob Dyke at Souths Juniors, originally as a training method for League players and as a means for retired players to still compete and remain fit 1972 New South Wales Touch Association was constituted and formed. Ray Vawdon was elected President 1973 First ever country association was formed in Wagga Wagga 1973 First New South Wales Team formed, beating Queensland 15-1. Ron Hanson was captain 1975 First Women’s competition formed in Ballina 1976 Vawdon Cup ran for the first time 1977 First State Cup ran in Port Macquarie. 32 open Men’s teams competed 1979 First NSWTA Graded Referees class was named with 9 recipients. Peter Rooney was number 1 1984 8 regions formed to coincide with the first regional championships held at Tempe 1986 Country Championships held for the first time, Dubbo hosting the event 1988 First Touch Football World Cup held on the Gold Coast. Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, USA and Canada competing 1992 Blues awards were presented for the first time for volunteer service to the sport 1995 NSWTA regions (now ten) were reformed to the current 6 region structure to coincide with the creation of the National Touch League 1996 First Junior State Cup held, Penrith hosting under 12 to under 18 divisions 2002 First Junior Regional’s held at Tempe for Under 14's 2006 Blues Dinner held for the first time 2007 Talented Referee Youth Squad implemented with 10 participants 2018 NRL Touch Premiership airs on Fox Sports with teams from Wests Tigers, Parramatta Eels, Newcastle Knights, Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland Cowboys 4 | Keeping In Touch 2018