Two athletes from a Bridge of Allan school have been selected to represent Scotland at the Touch World Cup 2015 in Australia next month.

PE teacher Jennifer Wright and S5 pupil Leia Glading, from independent Beaconhurst School, will each play for one of four Scottish squads competing in the Federation of International Touch tournament at Coff’s Harbour, New South Wales.

They will be joined by former Beaconhurst pupils Logan Arundel and Stuart Imrie plus several players from Stirling Touch Club for the flagship contest featuring 100 teams from around 30 nations.

Leia, who at 16 is the youngest person in the squad, said: “I love everything about the game of Touch and am so excited to be picked to go to Australia and represent my country.

“I’m also pleased that Australia, who are the best team, are in our first-round pool so we’ll get to play against them.” Jennifer, who lives in Stirling, said: “I was absolutely delighted to be picked for the World Cup team and have the chance to compete for Scotland again in such a prestigious competition.

“We are double European Champions so this gives us an opportunity to play opposition from a wider field.

“I’m also really excited for Leia and Logan who have worked so hard since taking up Touch just a couple of years ago.

“I introduced Beaconhurst pupils to the sport during PE lessons in 2012 and I’m pleased they decided to develop their skills further and are now playing at this high standard.” Jennifer, who has been teaching PE at Beaconhurst for eight years, and Stuart, a former PE teacher at the school, will play for the Mixed Open team in the World Cup.

Leia, from Clackmannan, is in the Women’s Open squad and Logan has been picked for the Men’s Open squad. Jennifer (30) started playing Touch – which was developed from rugby league and sees the tackling of opposing players replaced by a touch – five years ago and is now a coach at Stirling Touch.

She joined the club in 2011 and ended up excelling at the game.

She noted: “Touch is a very sociable game involving agility, passing, catching and communication.

“It can be played by anyone and the way the game is structured means males and females of all ages and abilities can play together in the same match.

“I initially joined for fitness and to learn a new team sport, took it forward from there and was first picked to play for Scotland four years ago at the World Cup in Edinburgh.” Leia, who is also a national-level runner and former footballer, tried Touch at school and loved the game so much she joined Stirling Touch Club.

She said: “Touch combines the qualities you need for both running and football so it was ideal for me and it’s become my favourite sport now.

“The training, especially just now for the World Cup, can be quite challenging but I enjoy the teamwork, the tactics, the running – everything about the game really.” Leia was first picked to play for Scotland in the European Touch Championships last year when she was named `Player of the Tournament’ by her coaches and invited to try out for the World Cup team.

She said: “I was delighted to make it through the trials especially being the youngest on the team.” The Scotland squad of around 60 players fly out to Australia on 16 April.

They’ll spend time acclimatising and playing practice games before the start of the World Cup, which runs from 29 April to 3 May.

The players have to fund the World Cup trip themselves, costing each team roughly £40,000, so players are busy raising money to cover costs.

Leia and Jennifer are on the lookout for anyone who can help with sponsorship or donations via the Mixed and Women’s teams fundraising pages.

These are www.crowdfunder.co.uk/scotland-touch-mixed-open-world-cup-campaign and www.pledgesports.org/projects/touch-rugby-world-cup-2015.

Anyone interested in taking up Touch can make enquiries via www.scottishtouch.org.uk or through Facebook (Scottish Touch Association).

Two athletes from a Bridge of Allan school have been selected to represent Scotland at the Touch World Cup 2015 in Australia next month.

PE teacher Jennifer Wright and S5 pupil Leia Glading, from independent Beaconhurst School, will each play for one of four Scottish squads competing in the Federation of International Touch tournament at Coff’s Harbour, New South Wales.

They will be joined by former Beaconhurst pupils Logan Arundel and Stuart Imrie plus several players from Stirling Touch Club for the flagship contest featuring 100 teams from around 30 nations.

Leia, who at 16 is the youngest person in the squad, said: “I love everything about the game of Touch and am so excited to be picked to go to Australia and represent my country.

“I’m also pleased that Australia, who are the best team, are in our first-round pool so we’ll get to play against them.” Jennifer, who lives in Stirling, said: “I was absolutely delighted to be picked for the World Cup team and have the chance to compete for Scotland again in such a prestigious competition.

“We are double European Champions so this gives us an opportunity to play opposition from a wider field.

“I’m also really excited for Leia and Logan who have worked so hard since taking up Touch just a couple of years ago.

“I introduced Beaconhurst pupils to the sport during PE lessons in 2012 and I’m pleased they decided to develop their skills further and are now playing at this high standard.” Jennifer, who has been teaching PE at Beaconhurst for eight years, and Stuart, a former PE teacher at the school, will play for the Mixed Open team in the World Cup.

Leia, from Clackmannan, is in the Women’s Open squad and Logan has been picked for the Men’s Open squad. Jennifer (30) started playing Touch – which was developed from rugby league and sees the tackling of opposing players replaced by a touch – five years ago and is now a coach at Stirling Touch.

She joined the club in 2011 and ended up excelling at the game.

She noted: “Touch is a very sociable game involving agility, passing, catching and communication.

“It can be played by anyone and the way the game is structured means males and females of all ages and abilities can play together in the same match.

“I initially joined for fitness and to learn a new team sport, took it forward from there and was first picked to play for Scotland four years ago at the World Cup in Edinburgh.” Leia, who is also a national-level runner and former footballer, tried Touch at school and loved the game so much she joined Stirling Touch Club.

She said: “Touch combines the qualities you need for both running and football so it was ideal for me and it’s become my favourite sport now.

“The training, especially just now for the World Cup, can be quite challenging but I enjoy the teamwork, the tactics, the running – everything about the game really.” Leia was first picked to play for Scotland in the European Touch Championships last year when she was named `Player of the Tournament’ by her coaches and invited to try out for the World Cup team.

She said: “I was delighted to make it through the trials especially being the youngest on the team.” The Scotland squad of around 60 players fly out to Australia on 16 April.

They’ll spend time acclimatising and playing practice games before the start of the World Cup, which runs from 29 April to 3 May.

The players have to fund the World Cup trip themselves, costing each team roughly £40,000, so players are busy raising money to cover costs.

Leia and Jennifer are on the lookout for anyone who can help with sponsorship or donations via the Mixed and Women’s teams fundraising pages.

These are www.crowdfunder.co.uk/scotland-touch-mixed-open-world-cup-campaign and www.pledgesports.org/projects/touch-rugby-world-cup-2015.

Anyone interested in taking up Touch can make enquiries via www.scottishtouch.org.uk or through Facebook (Scottish Touch Association).