Welcome to the

South Coast Festival
of Rugby 2025

DIGITAL GUIDE

Festival Frequently asked questions

CAN I BRING MY DOG TO THE RUGBY FESTIVAL?

Yes, dogs on leads are very welcome, however we ask not to walk the dog across any pitches.

IS THE RUGBY FESTIVAL SITE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE?

The site is accessible for wheelchair users, but assistance may be needed for some parts dependant on the weather. The main area the festival is operated on is laid to grass, the routes from the car park or the entrances are all hard standing and have wheelchair access

WILL THERE BE ANY CASH POINTS AT THE FESTIVAL SITE?

There will not be any cash points at the rugby festival site.

CAN WE PRE-BOOK MEALS AT THE RUGBY FESTIVAL SITE?

Yes, you can, closer to the festival we will update this information pack with the menus being offered by the catering company, once the menus have been added to the information pack there will also be a link added where teams can pre book meals. Any teams/clubs who want to organise meals at the rugby festival for a large group it is strongly recommended you pre – book as the caterers at the festival get very busy and may not be able to take a large order off a team.

IS THERE DRINKING WATER AT THE RUGBY FESTIVAL SITE?

Yes, there is drinking water taps available at the rugby festival site, in addition water can be purchased by the bottle from vendors on site.

WILL THERE BE ACCESSIBILITY PARKING AT THE RUGBY FESTIVAL SITE?

Yes, there will be parking for vehicles displaying an accessibility badge, the parking is in front of the leisure centre immediately next to the rugby festival site, however, please note, there is limited spaces within the designated accessibility car park.

CAN WE PARK OUR OWN COACH AT THE RUGBY FESTIVAL SITE?

No, you will not be able to park your own coach at the rugby festival site, your coach can drive up to the entrance of the rugby festival site, drop you off and collect you from the bus bay area reserved for coach transfers but your coach cannot wait or park up at the rugby festival site.

ARE THERE TOILETS AND SHOWERS AT THE RUGBY FESTIVAL SITE?

There are showers available for the players at the rugby festival site, however we ask all teams to be conscious of the fact that there will be a lot of teams in attendance and ask if possible, teams come in their kits and shower when they get back at their accommodation as the showers on site are limited in numbers.

Festival Rules & Regulations

South Coast Festival of Rugby is played in accordance with the RFU - Age Grade Rugby Guidelines.

Age Grade Rugby

Ensures that every player is able to enjoy rugby in a safe environment where they can develop their personal and social skills as well as a wide array of transferable multi-sports skills. This results in their holistic development as well as their life long involvement in rugby and other sports.

Registration Forms

It is important that all participating teams have completed their registration/team sheets listing all players and their dates of birth, together with the individual management names of each team. The team sheets will be sent to the main tour organiser during the month of April 2025, when you receive the team sheets, we ask all teams to return the forms back to us no later than fourteen days prior to the festival.

Please find additional health & safety information below, along with pitch sizes, info on kits and first aid. Tour International Ltd along with our host club Bognor RFC wish everyone a fantastic festival in which they will take away memories to last a lifetime; all supporters and officials associated with teams are asked to ensure they do their upmost to make sure the memories are of a positive nature and no negativity towards any third party is witnessed by the young rugby players you have come to watch.

In this section you will find all the info you need about how the festival runs, including the format for group stages and the finals, substitutions and awards.

Operation of the South Coast Festival of Rugby

Playing Structure / Awards / Presentations

Participation medals are awarded to all players from Under 7 up to Under 11, no trophies are presented as these age groups are considered by the RFU to be non-competitive.
Under 12 and over are considered competitive and only finalists will be awarded medals, with the winners being awarded a trophy. Teams are invited on stage by our M.C to collect their medals/trophies in front of a jubilant cheering crowd. A great photo opportunity and a moment to cherish.

At competitive age groups, day one will be group matches with teams qualifying for knock out stages to be played on day two. To give all levels of standard a good fun and competitive festival the competitive knock out stages on day two are separated into various levels of standard based on day one results. Teams finishing in the top section of their group on day one qualifies for the main competition on day two, teams finishing mid-section of their group on day one qualifies for the second-tier competition on day two and should there be 10 or more teams in an age category teams who finished in the lower section of their group on day one qualifies for the third-tier competition.

The concept is to give all teams participating two days of good rugby with day two teams playing against teams of similar standard and all competitive age categories playing for silverware on day two regardless of day one results. On occasions if entry levels are low at a specific age category there will only be two levels of competition and should entry levels be 12 teams or above at a specific competitive age category the number of competitions that teams qualify for on day 2 will increase to 4 tournaments within festival at the age group.

All presentations of competitive age categories will be made at the rugby festival site with players brought up on stage to celebration and fan fair music.

Non-competitive age groups will not be playing for a trophies instead these age categories will enjoy two days of rugby without the pressure of winners or losers and each and every player from the non-competitive age categories will be brought up on stage to receive individual medals to fan fair music and celebration.

Festival format substitutions

There is no restriction on squad size at the festival and unlimited substitutions are permitted at non-competitive age groups and at competitive age groups a maximum of 5 substitutions can be made during each match. Substitutions will be undertaken via a rolling substitution system, coaches making the substitution must obtain the referees permission for a new player to enter the field of play and the player leaving the pitch must be off the field of play before the new player can enter the field of play. Substituted players can re-enter to the field of play if the maximum number of substitutions have not been exceeded. Substitutions can only take place when the ball is dead and always with the referee’s permission.

Only players who are listed on the team sheet 14 days prior to the festival may be included in the squad, any team playing an unregistered player will immediately forfeit the game and face possible exclusion from the festival.

Competitive group stages (Important for coaching staff and players to note)

Teams are divided in the early stages of the event into groups where they play off against those teams drawn in their respected group. Three points will be awarded for a win and one point for a draw. If two or more teams have the same number of points at the end of the group stage matches, the following order will decide the qualifying team:

• Results of match between teams with equal points in favour of the winning team.
• Team with the most tries scored in the group.
• Team with least tries conceded in the group.
• Team with the most red cards will lose.
• Team with the most yellow cards will lose.
• If all the above cannot separate the teams the toss of a coin.

Knockout games & finals (Important for coaching staff and players to note)

Should a draw occur in the knockout stage or in a final, no extra time will be played, the match will be decided as follows:

• The team who scored the first try in the match will win.

• The team with the most red cards will lose.

• The team with the most yellow cards will lose.

• If all the above cannot separate the teams the toss of a coin.

Tour International Ltd recommends the following guidelines are followed to ensure all participants’ safety during an event:

• Fluid replacement is important during any sport or recreation activity, particularly in hot environments. All children and young people should be well hydrated before participation fixtures begin with regular fluid intake.

• The use of appropriate and properly fitted equipment is essential to reduce the risk of injuries. e.g. padding when permitted, mouth shields etc. Although a thorough risk assessment will be carried out of the venue prior to any Tour International event, in the unlikely event that you come across any identifiable hazards, please inform a member of staff so he or she can take action to address the hazard.

• Please ensure that before attending a Tour International event that all coaches are aware of any appropriate medical history and how participation may adversely affect the participating player.

• If an injury occurs the golden rule in managing it is “do no further damage”. Inadequate or inappropriate first aid may aggravate the injury and cause an increase in the time necessary before returning to recovery or worse cause further damage. Therefore, Tour International Ltd would like to point out all teams should have a qualified first aider (as per regulation 9) with them during each fixture to deal with minor injuries.

Should the injury be more serious and need the attention of the on site professional first aid team, please contact a pitch marshal or festival member of staff who will be visible wearing a festival tabard. If the injured person can safely walk to the festival first aid tent, please ensure the player is escorted by a responsible adult.

The festival first aid team will also have a qualified paramedic as part of their team and all injuries will be logged in the festival treatment schedule.

• Ensuring players are warmed up before games is paramount to reduce the risk of injuries. Tour International Ltd recommend teams meet up with plenty of time to complete the warm up and training exercises prior to the commencement of a game.

Pitch sizes / Dimensions

Under 7: 20m (Length) x 12m (Width) maximum
Under 8: 45m (Length) x 22m (Width) maximum
Under 9: 60m (Length) x 30m (Width) maximum
Under 10: 60m (Length) x 35m (Width) maximum
Under 11 & 12: 60m (Length) x 43m (Width) maximum
Under 13: 90m (Length) x 60m (Width) maximum
Under 14 & 15: 100m (Length) x 70m (Width) maximum

Referees

Referees will endeavour to apply the Laws of the Game fairly and to an agreed interpretation as specified by the RFU and to provide the style of play as determined by the RFU.

Referees are qualified RFU match officials and in some matches, there will be officials from other unions e.g. Scottish (SRU), Irish (IRFU) and Welsh (WRU) who will be suitably qualified and will follow the RFU Guidelines.

Disciplinary

Any player given a red card is automatically suspended from participation in the following match. The festival Rugby Director can increase the suspension to include further game(s) or the entirety of the festival if the severity of the incident has been reported by the match official and it is felt a longer ban from play should apply.

Any team who has a total of five red cards will be suspended from the rest of the festival. Referees can give team’s management or supporters red cards and send them away from the pitch. (These will count to the team’s total of red cards). Yellow cards are not accumulated. Please note that the non-competitive age groups yellow and red cards will not apply, match officials will request the Head Coach manage any situations requiring attention. The referee may call the Head Coach onto the field of play to manage a situation miss conduct at non-competitive age grade rugby fixtures. If the coach refuses to sub the offending player the game will not continue until the matter has been resolved.

Making a protest post match

The team manager ONLY must make any protest and no other member of your team or supporters. No protest will be given any consideration unless the relevant procedures are applied. Protests must be delivered to the Festival Control Point no later than 30 minutes after the match is finished.
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with the play are final. No measures will be taken from protests on decisions made by referees. The final decision of the festival Rugby Director is binding and final.

Setting a good example to players

• Applaud good play by your team and by members of the opposing team.

• Be friendly to supporters and officials of the opposition.

• Do not question publicly the referee’s decision.

• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from mini and junior rugby.

• Recognise and value the importance of coaches.

• Do not force an unwilling child to

participate in rugby, their enjoyment is paramount.

• Encourage your child to play by the Laws/Rules.

• Teach your child the importance of effort and teamwork.

• Help your child to improve skills and to learn a positive attitude to the game.

• At no time use fouls or abusive language at the festival.

RFU Disciplinary Guidelines

Guidelines on team conduct throughout the festival

We want everyone that attends a T.I Rugby Festival to have a fantastic time, with positive memories to take away from the experience. It is with this in mind that we have prepared these guidelines, not to limit the fun of any team or supporters but to ensure that one team’s happiness or disappointment doesn’t impact negatively on any other team on tour.

Please note the following guidelines, which Tour International Ltd request all attendees follow:

• Enjoyment of others

Any team, group or individuals associated with a team or group who conduct themselves in a manner which spoils the enjoyment of others at the festival venue or at the festival sites may be asked to leave the festival location and withdrawn from the festival.

• Alcohol

Any teams found to be allowing under aged drinking of their members or purchasing alcohol for individuals under the legal age to consume alcohol will be immediately asked to leave the festival site, in addition to being withdrawn from the festival.

• Drunken Abusive Behaviour

Any individuals who act in a manner which is deemed to be aggressive or abusive to any host venue staff, Tour International Ltd staff or any other individual at the festival site will immediately be asked to leave the festival site in addition to being withdrawn from the festival.

• Misbehaviour

Any individuals showing any act of misbehaviour to fellow attendees or staff will be asked to leave the festival.