Touch of class earns World Cup call up

Nelson’s Ben Anderson is on the cusp of representing his country again, with higher stakes than ever.

As a member of New Zealand’s open mixed touch team, he says there are high expectations from the upcoming Touch World Cup in England.

Having been part of the team last year as they played in a Trans-Tasman series, the bar will be raised this time around.

“Typically, New Zealand and Australia are strong nations [in touch]. . . but the World Cup is pretty cool,” he says.

“It’s pretty exciting to be able to represent your country.”

Ben says mixed touch at a high level is a different game to the men’s and women’s games.

With three boys and three girls on the field for each team, the style of game plan that’s used is unique to mixed touch.

And Nelson punches above their weight in the mixed game, having won back-to-back national titles in recent years.

“Us winning the last two nationals was definitely a big part in getting picked up,” says Ben.

“It’s a going at the right time and right place type thing. . . We all got a bit of a spotlight from that.

“Nelson is doing really well regionally and nationally, there were a couple of us in the trials.

“It’s pretty cool that more and more [of us] are getting picked up for stuff [like this].”

Ben, now 26, says he’s played touch since he could walk. He and his family are significant members of the local scene, with his father, Wayne, coaching the local mixed team.

Now at what he describes as the ‘peak age’ for a touch player, he’s excited to test himself against the world’s best.

“I’m always trying to be in the best shape I can be. . . I was ready [to be selected].”

Having been living in Christchurch, Ben has since moved back to Nelson ahead of the tournament.

He says the trip was the perfect opportunity to make the move over, with plans to stay in Europe to live and work afterwards with his partner.

Currently saving for the trip, he says he’d love to stay in the game but isn’t sure what the future will hold.

“I hope I still am [playing]. I love exercise and fitness and they do play some tournaments over there.”