Barnet Elizabethans Rugby Club hosted a touch rugby festival with a difference on Sunday - only women were allowed to take part.

The event had the backing of the Rugby Football Union, and was aimed at raising awareness of the sport.

Rather than featuring the rough and tumble usually associated with the men's game, in the touch version the ball carrier is not tackled, but must stop running with the ball when touched by an opposing player.

Annemarie Sand, captain of the club's touch team, said: "I want there to be more women playing touch rugby. It is a fantastic sport but the national league only has six women's teams.

"The festival was excellent. Touch rugby is a very different game to the 15-a-side version. There are no scrums or line-outs, and it is very competitive and fast. You get fit from playing. It is huge in Australia and New Zealand."

Around 100 people attended the festival, and ten six-a-side teams took part in matches on half-size pitches.

Ms Sand added: "People really enjoyed themselves. The festival was for women who have no idea about rugby, but there was a real mix, from those with some experience to total novices.

"We had two of the top referees in British touch rugby, and Lisette Mayhew, who plays for the England touch team, attended." Elizabethans' trainer Simon Moy ran coaching sessions at the festival.

The club now plans to run social evenings for players interested in taking up touch rugby, starting at the Byng Road ground from Wednesday.

For more information, you can call Ms Sand on 07977 070816, or email a.sand@btinternet.com