Capital hosts World Champs at Peffermill

If the comparison is slightly flawed due to the boycott instigated over apartheid-related issues in '86 the growth of Touch is, nevertheless, staggering.

From the Pacific Island of Niue to perennial overall champions Australia, from Luxembourg to the Channel Islands the teams have arrived and while Spain compete in the men's over-35s there is even a Catalonia* entry in the Mixed Open.

Such is the interest that there must be a chance the grass will be worn out at Edinburgh University's playing fields with action getting underway each day at the unearthly hour of 7.40am and running across 12 pitches well into the evening. Little wonder organisers have spent more than four years planning since Scotland made a successful hosting bid at the 2007 World Championships in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Using an oval ball - apparently the use of the term "rugby" is frowned upon - and based on the concept of trying to open up gaps on the field through slick passing and astute support running, matches are played on a surface measuring 70m x 50m (Rugby Union is around 100m x 70m) with six players per team permitted at any time.

Squads of 16 players can be registered with up to eight subs allowed per match which are 20 minutes each way; it is unusual for a player to be involved for more than a two-minute stint such are the lung-bursting demands. All this adds up to 95 teams in seven categories including various age groups.

Robbie McKenzie, an Edinburgh lawyer, is Scottish National Coaching Director and will also be part of a men's open team seeded fifth out of 17 which can entertain high hopes having last year won the European title .Over the winter his team travelled to Australia for high level competition against many leading professional rugby league players including the renowned Benji Marshall.

"Australian Rugby League love their players to play Touch as part of their skills development and famous club names such as Manly, Paramatta and Penrith were lined-up against us," explained Robbie, 35, whose dad, Eric, was a stalwart centre threequarter in the Boroughmuir rugby team.

"In Australia and New Zealand Touch is the biggest participant sport for girls in schools.

"In Edinburgh, Touch is played on Wardie playing fields where there are social leagues two nights a week in summer and an elite competition every Monday.

"It's from the elite leagues that the Scottish teams have been chosen and the aim is to build on progress that really began when the mixed outfit won the European title in 2008.

"At that point serious consideration had to be given as to whether to spread resources across the various groups or concentrate on that category.

"The men's European title was further evidence of development and while people think a rugby background is an advantage it can actually be more of a hindrance until competitors accept Touch passing is slightly more direct and the tendency to try to run through tackles is set aside."Players like Donald Snodgrass of Haddington, Michael Short of Heriot's and Carl McWilliam of Lasswade are well known in local rugby circles and have clearly adapted, but what of the women?

Among those competing for Scotland will be Belfast-born Catherine Stokes, an Edinburgh solicitor who qualifies on residency having played to a high level in hockey, football, netball, basketball and tennis.

As a sign of commitment Catherine is among many in the host teams to have shelled out an estimated 1000 in expenses to compete this week and preparations have peaked following a run out against a team of former rugby union internationalists including Gavin and Scott Hastings as well as Sean Lineen, now Glasgow Warriors coach, who was credited with importing Touch to Edinburgh from his native New Zealand.

Added McKenzie: "I was fortunate to be playing rugby at Boroughmuir shortly after Sean arrived and set up leagues on the Meggetland ground to occupy the summer months."

Much of what will be happening at Peffermill until Sunday stems from those beginnings.