A record number of teams have entered this year’s Ernst & Young Summer League which starts next week.

More than 300 people are registered for the 18 mixed, 12 mens and six womens teams taking part in the 12 week league which returns to Blanche Pierre Lane.

‘We’re delighted that team numbers have increased again and it just shows how popular the sport has become in Guernsey,’ said Guernsey Touch chairman Andrew Hutton.

‘It’s also fantastic that Saints has allowed us to return to Blanche Pierre Lane as it was an ideal location for us as it gives us enough room to run three games at once and has the facilities to cater for such a large number of people.’

Many of the teams have been training for weeks and organisers say that it is impossible to say which teams will be challenging for the titles.

‘We know that some of the stronger teams from last year like Brotown, Source Sorcerers, CISX Untouchables, CISX Anzacs, Clubhouse Casuals and Leftabels will all have excellent teams but some of the other teams have been recruiting and training extremely hard and it is just impossible to know what they will be like until they take to the field next week,’ said Hutton.

Ernst & Young are sponsoring Guernsey Touch for the third year running which covers the cost of field hire, equipment and contributes towards the Guernsey team.

‘Without the invaluable support of Ernst & Young it would have been impossible to develop the sport to where it is today. It’s also great that so many companies are getting involved by entering and sponsoring teams,’ said Hutton.

The League runs on Wednesday evenings from 6pm and more information about the 2008 touch season is available at www.guernseytouch.org.gg or by emailing info@guernseytouch.org.gg