"Defense! Attack from the sideline!" At GTIIT south campus' green fields, a gripping touch rugby match is taking place. Two touch rugby teams, representing GTIIT and Shantou University (STU), are sweating profusely as they showcase the vibrant energy of youth in a friendly rugby match.

The competition consists of three sets, with the first team to win two sets emerging as the victor. With each set lasting 10 minutes, six players from each team take on the field. Despite the scorching sun overhead, the players' attention is entirely focused on the swiftly passed rugby ball within the field, disregarding the sweltering heat.

"Go to the right!" Dr. Fabian Rios, the team coach and a player himself, breaks through the opponent's defensive line, scoring the team's valuable first point. His feat greatly boosts the team's morale.

Distinguished from the more "violent aesthetics" of American football, touch rugby relies solely on touches as the attacking method, avoiding collisions between the opposing sides. It is a safer yet dynamic team sport that not only tests the physical fitness and technical skills of the players but also demands high levels of team spirit and coordination.

The match has not only forged stronger bonds between touch rugby teams of universities, but also served as a platform for the promotion of rugby culture. It sparks interest in rugby among students and shines as unforgettable memories in their university life.

GTIIT "Giant Pandas" touch rugby team was established in 2020 with a total of 12 members, which has won the fifth prize in the university mixed group in the National Touch Rugby Championship (Guangzhou). The fast and exciting nature of the sport makes it popular among students as soon as related courses launched at GTIIT. Dr. Fabian Rios, the team coach as well as the Senior Teacher of Materials Science and Engineering Program and Director of GTIIT Sports Unit, was once a player of the Israeli Rugby National Team and has participated in numerous international competitions.

Text/Photos: Lin Jingwen, GTIIT News & Public Affairs