STAFF at Warrington Hospital are swapping stethoscopes for sport as they head to the pitch for touch rugby.

Working with the RFL League For All project, the hospital is putting on weekly sessions at Bank Park after work.

Shane Eccles, League for All officer, said: “The programme has started well. We had a great initial response from the promotion that we did and this has transferred into people taking part in the sessions.

“It’s great to see so many people from a variety of positions within the NHS coming together to play touch rugby and keeping fit.”

The League For All programme is working with 10 north west hospital trusts to deliver regular training and to promote the game to patients as well.

Touch rugby is a minimal contact version of rugby league with the emphasis on skill and possession. It is suitable for players of all ages and sexes.

Chris Horner, a spokesman for Warrington Hospital, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in the initiative.

“One of our key responsibilities as a major employer is to promote sport and wellbeing not only to our patients but also to our staff.

“Being in a rugby league heartland means that these sessions are an ideal way of doing this.

“The feedback from staff has been excellent. Some of them have played a bit before but many have never even held a rugby ball.”

To find out more about touch rugby visit therfl.co.uk/play/touch, call Shane on 07775 441724 or e-mail shane.eccles@rfl.uk.com.