Welcome to the 2008 HRUFC Mini / Junior Festival

sponsored by West Riding Toyota

Huddersfield RUFC is proud to be hosting 2 weekends of exciting Festival Rugby at Lockwood Park. The first weekend on March 9th 2008 will be for Under 7 to 9 age groups; the second weekend on the 20th April 2008 will be for Under 10 to 12.

Building on the success of last season’s festivals, we aim to give all our visitors a day of memorable rugby in a fun atmosphere, underlining the spirit of the rugby family that Huddersfield RUFC has shared with its friends and rivals for many years.

Over the 2 weekends we are expecting:

• 48 teams from across Yorkshire and in some cases beyond
• Around 600 budding rugby players
• Overall anticipated attendance of some 1,500 people
• Over 40 volunteers working to ensure a professional event
• Qualified referees overseeing matches to ensure fair play
• All players being recognised with a medal or certificate of achievement
• All players advancing to play in a semi-final at the least
• High standards of fair play from all teams taking part
• A supportive atmosphere from followers and parents enjoying seeing their children develop in a fun sporting atmosphere
• Efficiently run catering and first aid facilities to ensure the comfort and safety of those attending the event
• Professional photographer on site with printing facility available on day.

We are really excited about our tournament this year and would love you to be involved. This year we are asking for your participation and can offer:

• Fruit box and food pack for each team
• Additional catering facilities to provide for you throughout the day
• Minimum of 4 games per team throughout the day
• High standard and fun rugby to challenge and reward all teams and players
• Preferential parking for all those coming by coach.

In return we can ask that you:

• Commit early to coming to our event
• Arrange for a suitable referee to attend with each age group
• Come and enjoy our hospitality and facilities for a great day of Rugby.

We really do want to make the event a great success and believe that you as a club will add to that feeling.

Look forward to seeing you

Please contact either Rosey Davies (079 0889 6922) fixtures sec / Dave Beal (01484 546190) tournament director for more information.

FESTIVAL RULES

1. All games played in the Festival will be played according to the Laws of the game and the Rules of the current RFU Continuum – see the RFU website http://www.rfu.com - a copy of which will be held at the Control tent. Tag rugby will be played by the Under 7s and the Under 8s. For all age groups the Rules set out in the Continuum will apply. There will be no alteration to the Continuum Rules.

2. All studs should comply with IRB Law 4. Referees will check players’ studs which should be either “kite” marked studs, or moulded rubber. No metal blades will be allowed; plastic or moulded rubber blades will be referred to the Tournament Director. HRUFC has banned blades being worn by its players and strongly encourages other clubs to follow suit.

All head guards and padding must conform to IRB Regulations and carry the appropriate label.

3. The competition will involve two pools of four teams with players not playing more than five games.

4. If a team is more than six tries ahead in a game the referee will bring the match to an end.

5. Extra time will be played only for injuries.

6. In the event of a tie, the team with the best points difference in the pool will be placed higher. If teams are still tied, the team with the most tries scored will be placed higher. If teams cannot be separated by these means, the issue will be decided on the toss of a coin. If there is a draw in the final then both teams will receive a trophy. NO extra time will be played to determine an outright winner.

7. In pool matches 3 points are awarded for a win and 1 point for a draw. 

8. Details of each age group’s Tournament Rules are provided within the appropriate

section of this programme. Your attention is brought to the recommended squad size

for each group.

9. Disciplinary action. All team coaches must substitute any of their players at the request of the referee, when foul or dangerous play or persistent offending is identified. The player(s) concerned will be suspended from the Tournament for the remainder of that game. At the discretion of the referee, a player may be sent off for serious misconduct and this player will take no further part in the Festival.

10. A player MUST play within their age group unless under a dispensation as laid out in the continuum. Any written dispensation from RFU must be available on the day for inspection by the Tournament Director. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. We have been strongly advised by the RFU that we must not allow players to play out of their stipulated age groups and we will adhere strictly to this ruling.

Please ensure you have checked the eligibility of your players BEFORE registration.

11. Teams entering the U7’s & U8’s competitions will be required to use tag-belts that conform to the standard of belt as issued by the RFU. Specifically belts must have a contact area of no more than 20mm of Velcro vertically and tags should be standard

width. Specifically “all Velcro” tag-belts with larger Velcro contact areas will not be allowed. This is entirely inline with the Continuum which states that teams should play with belts of equal specification. In the case of any dispute these should be brought to the attention of the Tournament Director before the start of the competition. The decision of the Tournament Director is final.

Age group variations

Under 7 & Under 8

1. Teams are 7 a side with replacements from a squad of 10 players

2. All matches will be 5 minutes each way

3. Tag-belts need to conform to the RFU standard

4. Referees will check players’ studs. Players may only use studs and other clothing that are in accordance with the IRB Laws of the Game.

5. Reasonable injury time will be played.

6. At half time the teams have no more than two minutes to turn round.

Under 9 & Under 10

1. Teams are 9 a side with replacements from a squad of 12 players (U9) or 15 players (U10)

2. All matches will be 6 minutes each way

3. Referees will check players’ studs. Players may only use studs and other clothing that are in accordance with the IRB Laws of the Game.

4. Reasonable injury time will be played.

5. At half time the teams have no more than two minutes to turn round.

Under 11 & Under 12

1. Teams are 12 a side with replacements from a squad of 18 players

2. All matches will be 7 minutes each way

3. Referees will check players’ studs. Players may only use studs and other clothing that are in accordance with the IRB Laws of the Game.

4. Reasonable injury time will be played.

5. No time will be added on for conversions.

6. At half time the teams have no more than two minutes to turn round.

Please ensure that your players are at their allocated pitch promptly ready to start each game, so that we can run to time as far as possible.

Enjoy your rugby!