Welcome to the
West Coast Festival
of Rugby 2025
DIGITAL GUIDE
The Festival Venue
Barnstaple RFC, Pottington Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1JH
This is a live document, keep checking the information pack over the coming months, once the final playing schedule has been completed the site map showing pitch numbers and locations will be updated this page
One of Devon’s top clubs, play host to the West Coast Festival of Rugby!
The Mighty Barum have a beautiful venue, sitting on the edge of Barnstaple’s thriving town. The rugby club has played host to the West Coast Festival of Rugby multiple times over the years, tens of thousands of attendees have enjoyed the wonderful hospitality this very special club has to offer. When you visit Barnstaple Rugby Club you very quickly realise the clubs fundamental beliefs and camaraderie which brings, the very young, youth and seniors together as a community club.
With one of the finest first team pitches you will find at any rugby club, boasting a grandstand proudly overlooking the first team pitch, in addition the club house and patio area which is ideally located looking out onto many of the natural grass playing fields which so nicely flow around the rugby club’s venue, it is the perfect festival venue. The rugby club will ensure a well-stocked bar and plenty of food options are available for all in attendance, from breakfast through to the end of the day to purchase.
Parking at the rugby festival
The Festival Itinerary
Friday - 2nd May 2025
It’s arrivals day for teams, family members and supports from across the UK, check into your accommodation and enjoy some free time for a pre-match moral boosting activity or get together, explore the local attractions, have a nice meal and plan your rugby strategies for the weekend ahead.
Saturday - 3rd May 2025
First match starts at 10am, last match finishes at 5pm
Day one for the competitive age groups will see the first group stage rounds of the festival for participating teams, with matches scheduled for either the morning or afternoon sessions, we plan to allocate a three hour window for teams to play within the day with breaks between matches within the three hour window, fixtures are scheduled in accordance to RFU age grade guidance on playing times and rules.
All teams will participate over the two days, all competitive age group teams are guaranteed to be playing for silverware on day 2 in one of a variety of tournaments within the festival based on day 1 group stage results. For example, if you are in an age group of 8 teams there will be 2 groups of 4 teams on the Saturday playing 3 matches, the top 2 teams of each group going on to the West Coast Cup on the Sunday and the 3rd & 4th placed teams of each group going on to the West Coast Challenge Cup on the Sunday. All teams can look forward to playing for silverware on the Sunday against teams of similar standing from Saturdays games.
All teams play in semi-finals on Sunday, winning teams playing in finals and losing semi-finalists playing 3rd & 4th place play off matches, resulting in 3 fixtures on the Saturday and 2 fixtures on the Sunday, 5 fixtures overall during the weekend. At the competitive age groups awards are presented on stage to the winners and the finalists. Please note, where the number of teams is different to 8 teams variable other schedules are played, however no matter the number of teams at any one of the competitive age groups, teams always play for silverware on the Sunday regardless of day 1 results.
Non-competitive age groups, the essence of the festival is fun, no pressure and encouragement to enjoy their rugby, teams will be drawn randomly to play against each other, no scores will be recorded at the end of each match only cheers, applause and congratulations for a game well played will be bestowed on the deserving young players.
Late afternoon the rugby festival comes to an end for the day and participating teams, family members and supporters head back to their various accommodation to enjoy an evening of fun and frolics on tour.
Sunday - 4th May 2025
First match starts at 10am, last match finishes at 5pm
Whether you take home the silverware or not, with a jubilant crowd and buzzing pitch-side atmosphere, the climax of the tournaments within the festival is not to be missed as the day is filled with great rugby and presentations on stage throughout.
After each final has been played, we look to make the presentations on stage within 45 minutes of the fixture ending.
For the age groups playing competitive rugby the schedule is filled with some final group stages, quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals and play off matches along with the non-competitive age groups, the essence of day 2 at the festival is once again fun, no pressure and encouragement to enjoy their rugby, teams will once again be drawn randomly to play against each other, no scores will be recorded at the end of each match followed by even louder cheers, applause and congratulations for a game well played and once the rugby has finished for the day each and every one of the players in the non-competitive age groups will be called up on stage to receive their individual awards as their fans go wild and show their appreciation of the talent they have seen perform.
All presentations will be done to celebration music, teams will be called up on stage by the MC so ensure you bring your cameras with you for those once in a lifetime photo opportunity.
Late afternoon the festival comes to a close and teams head back to their accommodation to enjoy their last night of fun on tour.
Monday - 5th May 2025
After an unforgettable and action-packed weekend of rugby and tour fun, depart your accommodation and head home with tales of the weekend at the West Coast Festival of Rugby.
The Festival Checklist
Rugby reminder....
VERY IMPORTANT, PLEASE NOTE:
Only players who are part of the festival package and named on the team sheets & rooming lists will be permitted to take part in the rugby festival.
Any team found to be playing a player who is not part of the festival package will automatically be disqualified from the festival and any points awarded in previous fixtures (competitive age groups) results will be reversed with a 3-point win awarded to the opponent.
The above does not apply to local teams, however local teams may only use players who have been listed on a team sheet pre festival.
The Festival Presentations
Who will be crowned West Coast Festival of Rugby 2025 Champions?
- Where there are 4 teams in a tournament at the festival there will be one cup competition West Coast Cup.
- Where there are 8 teams in a tournament at the festival there will be two cup competitions – West Coast Cup & West Coast Challenge Cup.
- Where there are 10 teams in a tournament at the festival there will be three cup competitions – West Coast Cup, West Coast Challenge Cup & West Coast Trophy Cup.
Eagerly anticipated and ultra competitive, promising an excellent standard of rugby for all. An unforgettable experience for players and spectators awaits memories that will last a lifetime will be created as our MC invites players and coaches to the stage to collect their medals and trophies in front of a jubilant crowd to celebration music.
The presentations for all winners and runners up for each trophy in each competitive age group will be presented with medals. The overall winners will get to lift the highly prestigious West Coast Festival of Rugby 2025 Cup.
All players within the non-competitive age groups receive individual awards and are brought up on stage to celebrate their outstanding performances.
The Festival Food & Drink
Music, food and drink zones & produce stalls
Within the heart of the West Coast Festival of Rugby you will find Barnstaple Rugby Club’s large, modern clubhouse, this is where the main hub for the food & beverages where you can purchase some great hot meals and snacks from. Along with a wide selection of drinks on offer.
The rugby club have their own specialised food & beverages teams who are at the club throughout the year, they are ready to ensure each and every one of you attending the festival are fed well and the bars are stocked up.
The added bonus to the area where you can purchase your food & beverages is that the host club have a large patio area in front of the club house and the stage at the festival will be located no more than 100 yards facing the patio area, you can enjoy DJ sets, live performers, Magical Guests characters, presentations, in addition to Free Face Painting on both days in the same zone.
Vegetarian meals will be available, ice cream stand and much more will also be within this zone.
The Festival Venue Important Information
A polite message to all festival attendees...
Tour International are responsible for the safety and welfare of all West Coast Festival of Rugby players and attendees and therefore hope you will comply with all safety rules.
Barnstaple RFC are allowing festival attendees to bring well behaved dogs to the festival event, but politely ask you abide by the following rules, failure to do so will result in you being removed from the festival site.
1. Dogs must be kept on leads and under control at all times.
2. Dog poop can cause serious health risk or injury to the players. Please ensure you bag your dogs poop immediately and dispose of it in the bins provided.
3. Dogs are only permitted in the dog friendly areas provided at the club – marked in green on the map.
4. Any person failing to abide to these rules will be issued with an immediate fine of £100 and will be asked to leave the festival venue.
