Match Preview

Mini Rugby Tournament at Trojans Rugby Club 21st October 2018
We have now finalised the details for our tournament and have pleasure in sending you an information pack.

The Tournament will be held at Trojans Rugby Club, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, Southampton SO50 9HT.

Games will be played to the New Rules of Play for U7-U12.

First matches will kick off at 10:00am.

Directions to our club can be found on our website at http://www.trojansrugby.co.uk/

Car parking

We recommend you advise parents to leave ample time to park their cars.

Please note: Parking will be entirely at the driver’s own risk.

Parking will cost £2/car. Please ensure that ALL parents have change ready to avoid delaying those cars behind you in the queue. The order of play will be available for coaches in the welcome pack to be collected from the control tent. A limited number of additional copies of the order of play are available from the control tent.

Player Registration Forms

Forms for each age group entered at U7, U8, U9, U10, U11 and U12 is attached and should be completed and must be handed in at the control tent (which will be positioned at the top of the stairs by the clubhouse entrance) on the day, before the start of the first matches.

Coaches / Referees Meeting

Please note that all clubs must provide referees for all age groups with no exceptions. If you have not got a nominated referee for an age group then the Coach/Assistant Coach will have to referee. Please can your referees and coaches report to the control tent to confirm their names and attend a short briefing at 09.30am. This is very important, as all games will start at 10.00am sharp.

REFEREE – CLUB PROTOCOL

The following is relevant extracts taken from the protocol that Hampshire Rugby Union Referees Society (HRURS) expect Clubs and their Coaches to follow. Referee abuse is becoming a major problem in the game of rugby and there is also an increase in the level of abuse from Coaches, Club Officials and Spectators.

Clubs should be aware that the Referee Society, conscious of its duty of care to its members, is now asking its members to highlight issues of Referee abuse they experience at all HRFU affiliated Clubs, be it from Players, Coaches, Club Official or Spectators – at all levels.

Referees, the same as players, do make mistakes in the game. The numbers of incidents where Referees have had to abandon matches due to poor Player discipline and/or abuse, or Coach/Club Official/Spectator abuse is also increasing. Clubs should be aware that the RFU recommended sanction for any abandoned game is a 25-point deduction for its most senior team!

The following extracts/guidelines are what the HRURS and HRFU expect:

• Any dialogue with the referee during the game should be made via the Captain. In minis matches where this is not applicable then the Coach may be allowed, at the discretion of the referee, to discuss playing matters at half time.
• Coaches should restrict themselves to a point between the halfway line and the 10-metre line.
• Coaches should at all times be well beyond the touchline and should not walk or run up and down the touchline.
• Coaches who stand behind the try lines may do so provided they are well outside the playing area and where a barrier is provided behind that barrier.
• Coaches should be encouraged to give positive playing instructions to their own players, but should not shout at the referee. Continual shouting at the referee can be considered abuse/harassment and as such can be reported to the appropriate disciplinary authority.
• Referees appreciate the time and effort put into the game by the coaches and they will of course not always see decisions the same way. Referees are encouraged to speak to coaches, and there is no reason why a discussion cannot take place in the clubhouse after the game.

Festival format

Each age group will be playing in a round robin format. All teams will therefore play the same number of games. There will be no trophies awarded. All players participating at the festival will receive individual medals.

Studs and Gum Shields

Referees will be checking all studs on the day, Trojans club has the policy of no blades, but we understand if other clubs do not, so as long as they are in good condition and not dangerous then there will be no objections. It is strongly recommend that gum shields be worn. A small supply of studs and gum shields will be available for purchase. Please ensure that all players check their boots before the tournament.

Food & Drink

A selection of food and drink will be available all day, both in the clubhouse and at various stalls. Please would you be good enough to explain to all parents and supporters that barbecues will not be allowed in the Club grounds due to Health and Safety regulations.

Photographers

We have D & E professional photographers coming to the tournament, they will have a stand and all photos will be available to purchase on the day or from their website.

Medical Arrangements

Medical staff will be on stand by within the grounds for the duration of the matches. If in any doubt call the experts!

Registration

All players must be registered with the RFU. Please print out a list of your players from ‘Rugby First’ and highlight the names of your players for the tournament and bring this on the day to the registration area. Due to insurance regulations only registered players can take part. The onus is on each individual coach to ensure his/her players are covered by the RFU insurance schemes. Please confirm your arrival as soon as possible at the control tent and notify any changes to the submitted squad. Each team will be given a pack containing bin bags (please use and return to control tent) etc.

Games

As we have a lot of games to get through, can coaches / parents ensure that their boys / girls are ready to go on the pitch at their designated times. Any delays will mean the team causing the delay will forfeit the game.

Litter / Dogs / Parents

All teams will be provided with a black refuse bag at registration. Please encourage the children to deposit ALL of their rubbish into the bags and return to the control tent at the end please. Extra bags if required will be available from the control tent. We understand that it is not always possible to leave dogs at home but they must be kept on a lead at all times whilst at the festival. Please notify all parents that they MUST keep well back from the pitches at all times and if they do not the Marshals will issue one request and, if not adhered to, the club in question will be reported – we do not want any children hurt in unnecessary collisions.

Also, only coaches and substitutes (i.e. not parents) may enter the area between the pitches for each age group – this to avoid too much damage to the central area of the pitches.

The rules for each age group are attached. Please look at these carefully.

Codes of Good Conduct

We would draw your attention to the codes of good conduct included below, and we would ask that these are distributed to, read by, and adhered to by all players, coaches, parents etc. The emphasis of the tournament is on the children having fun in a safe environment. Please note that verbal or other abuse of match officials by players, spectators, parents, coaches etc will not be tolerated. If any such abuse does occur then the match referee is encouraged to speak to the offending team. If such abuse continues, then the referee may stop the match at any time and award the game to the non-offending team (irrespective of the score at the point at which the match is stopped). Any club persistently offending will be invited to leave the tournament.

We look forward to welcoming you and your teams at Trojans Rugby Club on 21 October 2018.

Yours Sincerely,

Marcus Coffin
Chairman Trojans Youth Rugby

TIME PITCH A
10:00 Trojans Chiefs v Petersfield
10:20 Totts v Winchester
10:40 G & F v Petersfield
11:00 Trojans Chiefs v Totts
11:20 Winchester v Petersfield
11:40 Trojans Chief v G & F
12:00 Trojans Chiefs v Winchester
12:20 G & F v Totts
12:40 Winchester v G & F
13:00 Petersfield v Totts