Rugby Tours, Tournaments and Festivals
Tour forms
Below are the RFU forms for incoming and outgoing tours. These must be used when applying to tour or host a visiting team. This applies to home and overseas tours. All tours require a form to be completed and submitted to the Middlesex RFU County Office at least one month before the tour. Any age grade tour applications should also be accompanied by a risk assessment.
Download the outgoing Home & Overseas Tours Application Form
Download the incoming Overseas Tours Application Form
Whether you are an England international or a part time player for your local side, going on tour is a fantastic way to build team spirit, morale and identity. It provides a rare and exciting opportunity for players and coaches to get to know each other that little bit better and helps to establish a common style and purpose.
Tours often provide memories and friendships that will last a lifetime; the camaraderie and banter can be second to none. But you must consider the aim of your tour carefully.
Will the tour be seen as a development exercise for players and coaches to experiment with new training techniques in a different environment, or will the tour be solely for fun and relaxation purposes?
You must also consider when you want to go on tour. It could be pre-season, mid-season or post-season. Destination is also a key factor and must be well thought-out.
Alternatively, hosting a touring team provides an opportunity to play against new opposition and make new friends from around the world.
The RFU have provided guidance on planning tours, trips and overnight stays here.
When planning a tour, whether overseas or hosting a team from another country, clubs, teams, and schools (of any level or any age, male or female) need to obtain approval.
If you’re planning on touring with children and/or vulnerable adults it is essential that you read the Touring with Children Guide and provide a tour risk assessment along with the tour application form. If you are a school then please refer to the schools page of the RFU website. Schools’ tours are approved by the Schools’ Union.
For youth and children tours the RFU has issued updated guidance. The webinar presentation can be found on YouTube and with the accompanying slides and Q&A.
ALL TOURS, INCLUDING THOSE IN ENGLAND, NOW NEED TO OBTAIN PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE COUNTY (CB).
Please submit all forms to the County Office email – countyoffice@middlesexrugby.com.
More information about running tours can be found on the RFU website here.
Applying for permission to host an incoming tour (clubs)
Download the Incoming Tour Application Form
Fully complete this form. You will need to obtain approval from the Union of your visiting team. The visiting team should assist you with providing this information. We need the name and position of the official from the visiting team’s Union. Details of worldwide Unions can be obtained from the IRB on their website www.irb.com.
In the Appendix Schedule 1 all members of the touring party must be named, all players and officials from the touring party who are 18 and over must also sign the schedule. This does not include parents or players who are under 18 – in this instance the coach and officials from the visiting team must sign on behalf of the players.
Send your fully completed application to the Middlesex RFU County Office for endorsement. Please note it is important to keep a hard copy.
Middlesex Rugby will check that your form is fully and correctly completed and once endorsed will provide approval.
Please be aware that during peak times (January-May) approval may take up to four weeks to process due to the high volume of tour applications and will be processed in order of date of match. To ensure that you obtain your approval on time, please send in your tour application at least one month in advance.
Please submit all forms to the County Office email – countyoffice@middlesexrugby.com.
Applying for permission to host a Tournament or Festival within Middlesex County
Any club wishing to run a festival, league or tournament for players aged must obtain prior permission to do so from the Middlesex County RFU, in line with RFU Regulation 10 and for youth and minis Age Grade Regulation 15.9 and associated guidelines. Schools wishing to run tournaments should contact their Schools Union for approval.
Competitions, Tournaments, Festivals, Rugby Camps and Tours are permitted but the following conditions must be met:
(a) Regulation 10 is complied with in full – including Safeguarding, First Aid provision and Rugby Safe;
(b) Tournament Organisers have adequate insurance;
(c) For Age Grade Regulation 15 is complied with in full;
(d) They are in line with the Age Grade Playing Calendar and competition format of the specific age grade; and
(e) Written prior approval is obtained from the CB or RFU.
To start the Approval process please arrange for the event organiser to complete the online application through the link below. Please note that if you are hosting a two-day event – each day for different age groups eg, Saturday U13 and Sunday U14 we require the form to be returned for each age group.
MCRFU requires that notifications of Age Grade Rugby activity are received at least one month before each event. Click on the link below to start your application process.
APPLICATION FOR AGE GRADE COMPETITION, FESTIVAL OR TOURNAMENT
Once you have completed the online form, please email the countyoffice@middlesexrugby.com to inform them of your application.
For more information please see the links below.
Regulation 15 – Age Grade Rugby
Age Grade Rugby – code of Practice
