Thank you for confirming your team’s attendance at the Devon RFU Under 7s and Under 8s Rugby Festival hosted by Ivybridge RFC on Sunday 27 April 2014. Planning is well underway and we have 22 clubs entered comprising of 47 teams.. The aim of this letter is provide further information and if you have any further questions please contact the festival organiser (Ali Greenhalgh) on 07752 269158 or e-mail.............. ian-ali@tiscali.co.uk.

Please remember this is a ‘Festival of Rugby’ and not a competition, all children are winners for taking part.

Parking

Limited parking will be available in the Club car park and once this is full parking is available at the Park and Ride at the Railway Station which is on the opposite side of the road from the club about 100 metres in the Exeter direction. Overflow parking will be available at the Community College Coach Park which is on the same road as the Club in the direction of the main town of Ivybridge. In order to assist with parking please ensure your parents and supporters take into account the following:

1 Please do not park on the roadway, pavements or grass verges.

Entrance

A £2.50 charge will be made for all adults on entry (with each team having 2 players coaches free) which includes a raffle ticket. These funds are used to fund players lunch and festival overheads. Please inform your parents and supporters to avoid questions at the gate and if possible please endeavour to have the correct money available.

Registration

Registration will open at 10am, coaches will be provided with the team registration packs which will include a programme, meal ticket for each player, medals and certificates. Medals/certificates and meal tickets will be supplied in accordance with numbers on your registration form.

Meal

Each player and 2 coaches will receive a meal ticket which can be presented in the marquee and entitles the holder to a hot dog and drink.

Facilities

Changing rooms, players toilets and showers will be available in the lower area of the Clubhouse. Please do not leave any valuables in the changing rooms as no responsibility can be taken for lost items. Ladies and disabled toilets will be in the main club house and the men’s toilets will be in the portaloo's.

In order to improve the viewing area for spectators we are going to keep the central area between the two pitches free from marquees and gazebos. We ask that all gazebos are pitched where indicated on the programme.

In view of health and safety and to protect the grass the organisers request that teams do not bring their own barbeques .

There will be a BBQ situated near the clubhouse. Tea, coffee and cold drinks are being sold from the marquee along with a selection of cakes and the main kitchen in the clubhouse will be open for the purchase of bacon rolls, tea and coffee - all available from 9.30am. The club bar will open at 12 Noon.

There will also be some amusements near the club house for children who are not playing in the festival.

Coaches Brief

A brief to all coaches will take place by the Marquee at 10.30am. It is essential that all coaches attend this brief, as it will contain information about how the day will be run and the matches played.

The Matches

All matches will start at 11.00am. More details will be included in the registration pack and at the coaches’ brief.

Referees

We are operating the system of ‘independent’ referee’s to control each match and each team will need to independently referee other games in your group. All games will be played under the RFU Continuum including the 7 Tag rule for U8’s. Referees please remember to bring your own whistle and a ball for the matches.

Tag Rugby Festival Raffle

The entry fee of £2.50 includes a raffle ticket for each adult. Prizes will be on view and available for collection in the marquee from 11.30am onwards.

Parents/Supporters Guidelines

It is requested that all parents and supporters respect the RFU “This is Rugby” code, with the emphasis for the festival on enjoyment which will be be enhanced if parents show respect both to the game and match officials.

Please ensure that all parents and supporters observe the Devon RFU rule of staying behind the rope.

Dogs are not allowed at the club during the Festival.

Please also advise any smokers that smoking is not permitted around the pitches in order to encourage a healthy environment.

Finally, please consider the weather and bring raincoats or sun cream accordingly!