Touch Duckes, one of the marquee events in the Exeter student calendar, attracts in excess of 2000 students post exams to Duckes Meadow to compete in two days of touch rugby and rounders. The invitation event couples two days of fun and inclusive sport with a fantastic exclusive Touch Duckes event night held after Day 1 at Timepiece. Free for spectators the event provides two days of fun in the sun with rugby and rounders on show all day alongside great food, drinks, live music and sponsored competitions.

Each year a sizable portion of the proceeds from the event goes towards supporting local charity’s and organisations, such as the Matt Hampson Foundation and the RFU injured players foundation.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the First XV club, on recommendations from the University and in line with Government guidelines, unfortunately had to cancel the event. However, remaining true to the events values and those installed in every club member, they still wanted to make a difference, even without the event going ahead. All entry fees that were not chosen to be reclaimed by teams were, alongside numerous other donations, donated to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital as a gesture of good will to the local community and to provide much needed support at this difficult time.

The Touch Duckes First XV club made a donation of £3055 to the RD&E which was greatly appreciated by Ian Roome, Head of Charity fundraising for the hospital.

Ian Roome in a letter to the First XV club stated, "Your donation has been allocated to the #HelpsUsHelpYou fund which provides NHS staff with essential items to keep them going at this difficult time and services to promote their health and wellbeing." Mr Roome went on to say, "I am sure all the staff at the RD&E will join me in saying how much they appreciate your thoughtfulness."

Plans and preparation are already in the pipeline in for Touch Duckes 2021, which they hope to be bigger and better than ever before, marking what was supposed to be the events 15th anniversary this year.

Congratulations and well done to all those involved in organising Touch Duckes, the First XV club and all those who donated to such a worthy cause.