Festival Details:

The festival is played on Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th April 2023 and will be split into two sessions per day:

AM Session –  9am – 1pm (approx times) – U7, U8, U9, U10 and U13 age groups.

PM Session – 12 – 4pm (approx times) – U11, U12, U14, U15 age groups. 

How to find the rugby club:

Address: Southport Rugby Club, Waterloo Rd, Southport PR8 4QN

On Arrival at the Tournament

• Please Park at TBC
• Those arriving by coach will need to be dropped off at the grounds as there is no parking for coaches at the festival venue. When leaving please obtain the mobile number of your driver and call him when you wish to be collected.
• Disabled parking: We will try to locate vehicles with disabled badges as near to the pitches as possible. To ensure we direct you to the car park nearest to your playing area, anyone requiring disabled parking should make themselves known to the car park attendant immediately upon arrival. TBC

Team Registration 

• All teams must register at the Tournament HQ at least 30 minutes prior to your first game.
• Please make sure to provide the names and dates of birth of your players on the Sports Tours Hub prior to arrival.
• Please bring passports or photocopies with you – there may be “spot checks” and if players’ ages cannot be verified, the player in question may be suspended from playing.

Other Important Information

• Food & drink refreshments will be available at the festival grounds.
• Toilets are available onsite at Southport RFC
• Please do not drop litter or leave rubbish – take it home with you or use the bins provided.
• Limited changing facilities are available in the clubhouse. Please do not leave your belongings in the changing room as they are a shared facility.
• Showers are available at Southport RFC
• Tents and Gazebos are recommended but please do not put these up near the emergency access points and playing areas.
• We recommend bringing portable chairs to the venue. Please take them home with you after the event.
• BBQs or other cooking equipment are not permitted at the rugby pitches.

Presentation

Sunday 30th April

After your matches have finished, the players will receive their awards at the rugby club.

There are participation awards for all age groups, and winners and runners up trophies for the U12s to U15s.

The awards will be presented by this year’s special guests, TBC.

Key highlights:

General Regulations

• All games will be played in accordance with the rules set out in the RFU Regulations as they apply to each individual age group and the type of rugby.
• Within the “spirit of the game”, if a team is unable to field the maximum number of players for any one game, the opposing team should play with the same number of players on the field.
• Please ask your coaches and parents to assist by being ready for your next match 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled time.
• Players and supporters are required to abide by the RFU guidelines in relation to who is permitted onto the pitch
• The home team must provide the match ball

Referees

• U7 and U8: Sports Tours will not be providing referees for U7 and U8 fixtures. The “home team” shown on the fixture schedule will provide the referee / coach to officiate the game. If the home team does not have someone to officiate, then the away team should provide a referee. If no referee is available, the game will become void, and no points will be awarded.
• U9 to U15: Sports Tours will provide referees for U9 to U15 fixtures
• If, for any unforeseen circumstances, a referee is not available for a fixture then the “home team” shown on the fixture schedule will provide the referee / coach to officiate the game. If the home team does not have someone to officiate, then the away team should provide a referee. If no referee is available, the game will become void, and no points will be awarded.

Tag Rugby Equipment

• Those teams involved in tag rugby are asked to bring sufficient tag belts for their team to use in the competition.
• There will be no tag belts available at the grounds.

Player Welfare

• Only players, coaches and authorised persons are allowed in the changing rooms. Teams should arrive ready to play.
• Drinking water is available free of charge from the designated area in the changing rooms and clubhouse. You can purchase drinks & food at the grounds.
• Emergency first aid will be provided; however, teams are expected to arrange transport to hospital or the medics will call 999 if required.

Codes of Conduct

• Everybody attending the festival is expected to abide by the RFU Age Grade Codes of Practice, Regulation 15 (Age Grade Rugby), Safeguarding and Safeguarding Children Policy.
• The organisers reserve the right to ask anyone who is considered to be behaving in an inappropriate way to leave the festival. Their accommodation arrangements at the holiday centre will be terminated forthwith.
• Any behaviour falling below the standard expected by the rules and codes of conduct may be reported to the RFU.
• Referee and match official abuse will not be tolerated under any circumstances and will result in the individual/team/Club being asked to leave the festival and will be reported to the RFU.

Coaches and Parents

• Act as a positive role model to all young players.
• Be familiar with, and abide by, the RFU child protection guidance in relation to verbal and emotional abuse.
• Remember children play sport for their enjoyment.
• Acknowledge good individual and team performance from all youngsters irrespective of which team they play for.
• Respect match official’s decisions ‐ Remember, they provide an opportunity for youngsters to play and enjoy rugby.
• Never verbally abuse players, match officials, fellow spectators, or coaches.
• Acknowledge effort and good performance rather than the “win at all costs” ethic.
• Verbally encourage all youngsters in a positive way. If you do want to shout, make sure it is ‘for’, not ‘at’, the players.
• Condemn bad language, rude behaviour, and violence.

Sports Tours Rugby Festivals

All age groups will be played in accordance with the RFU age grade
regulations. Sports Tours continue to fully support the RFU in their
efforts to promote participation and fair play though their core values.
The RFU Core Values include; Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline
and Sportsmanship.
We would like to encourage all teams to be mindful of these values
whilst participating in our festivals.

U7 to U11

Mini Rugby will be non-competitive and no scores will be recorded or
displayed at the festival to encourage fair play and enjoyment.

U12 to U15

Competitive rugby will be played at all our events throughout the UK
where league tables and results will be displayed.
These age groups will play a round-robin league with no knockout or
finals stages.

Tournament Committee

The management committee will have the power to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Festival and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Tournaments, including any not provided for by the Rules. In the event of a dispute, only the team coach will discuss with the Committee.

Pitch Plan:

Team Details:

TBC

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