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Every year after the conclusion of the regular season, The Townsville & Districts Rugby Union hosts the Annual Townsville Festival of Rugby 7s. Over the years, the event has grown to be now spread over a month, incorporating the Primary Aged 7s, Teenage 7s and the Senior 7s. This huge month of 7s events will continue in 2023.
See below for dates
2023 FESTIVAL OF 7s DATES ANNOUNCED!
TEAM REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN
Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to register
SAVE THE DATE! The Townsville Festival of 7s is locked in for 2023 with changes in both the Juniors and Senior competitions to cater for the ever growing Rugby format!
This year will include a Mini 7s Tournament (Under 8-9-10s) alongside the Primary Aged (Under 11-12s), Youth 7s (Under 16/18s Boys & Girls) and Teenage 7s (Under 13s-14s-15s Boys & U14 Girls) to round out the Juniors.
Whilst the Senior Townsville 7s Tournament will be back bigger and better than ever with Men’s and Women’s divisions playing across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tune in for a Senior 7s meet and greet event on the Friday night where our Social Men’s division kicks off and rolls into Saturday. The action for the Men’s and Women’s Competitive divisions commences on Saturday and goes until Sunday.
Details for the 2023 Festival of 7s
Mini Rugby 7s
Divisions: Under 8s, 9s and 10s – SQUAD SIZE: 12 players only
Event Date: Friday the 27th of October 2023 – Start time approximately 4.30pm.
Registration Fee: $210/team + processing fee
Primary Aged Rugby 7s
Divisions: Under 11s Mixed & 12s Boys and Girls – SQUAD SIZE: 12 players only
Date: Friday the 13th of October 2023 – Start time approximately 4.30pm.
Registration Fee: $210/team + processing fee
Teenage Rugby 7s
Divisions: Under 13-14-15s Boys, Under 14 Girls – SQUAD SIZE: 12 players only
Event Date: Saturday the 28th of October 2023 – Start time approximately 8am – finish time approximately 8pm.
Registration Fee: $260/team + processing fee
Youth Rugby 7s
Divisions: Under 16s Boys & Girls, Under 18s Boys & Girls – SQUAD SIZE: 12 players only)
Date: Saturday the 14th of October 2023 – Start time approximately 8am – finish time approximately 8pm.
Registration Fee: $260/team + processing fee
Senior Rugby 7s
Date: Friday 20th of October – Sunday 22nd of October – SQUAD SIZE: 15 players in squad (12 for each match)
Registration Fee: $650/team (all senior divisions) + processing fee
Times: Friday night ‘Meet and Greet’ Event Party (Social Men’s games) 6pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-6pm (Social Men’s finals, Men’s & Women’s Competitive Pool matches) and Sunday 10am-6pm Men’s and Women’s Competitive Finals
- Friday start time – Start time approximately 4.30pm
- Saturday and Sunday – Start time approximately 9am
Frequently asked Questions
- Can I bring a team tent for shade to the carnival?
Yes, you are more than welcome to bring shade for your team. Tents are able to be set up 5 – 10 meters back from the dead ball line on field 1 of either end. Refrain from bringing sponsored tents as they may clash with the TDRU Festival of 7s sponsors. Please seek advise from TDRU in regard to pegs in the ground. - Are big water barrels allowed?
Of course, we understand that it is a hot time of the year meaning we do allow teams to bring/use water barrels. There are taps around the facility to fill these up with. Ice in the barrels is also accepted. Bags of ice will be for sale at the bar for $6 for a 4kg bag. Please see point 6 regarding outside non-alcoholic drinks being brought into the facility. - How many players am I allowed to register to a team?
for the Primary, Youth, Mini, Teenage and Senior SOCIAL division there is a strict 12 player limit allowed on each team. However for the Senior Men’s & Women’s teams the limit is 15 players to a team. These 15 players HAVE to be registered on Rugby Xplorer. Players recruited/brought into a team will not be allowed at any time. - What if one of my 12 or 15 players gets injured or suddenly can not make it?
For this reason, it is why we have increased team numbers. If players get injured unfortunately you are not allowed to bring more players into your squad. The original 12 or 15 players that register on Rugby Xplorer have to remain on the team. - Will there be strapping/medics on standby?
Performance Physio Group will be attending the carnival and can carry out All strapping for players. There will be a fee for players without their own strapping tape. No fee will be issued for those with their own tape. - Can I bring my own alcohol into the venue?
Absolutely not, Mike Carney Toyota Park is a licensed venue, we do not permit Alcohol to be brought in or taken out of the facility, those caught doing so will be evicted. We also reserve the right to refuse teams bringing in Cartons of water or sports drink (Water barrels & Ice is ok). - What if I get hungry?
Our friends at Potato Smash will be able to help you out with their burgers, chips and other hot food made fresh on sight. Alan and his ‘Kofi Kart’ will also be operating with great coffee at great prices as always. - What kind of drinks can I buy while I’m there?
The TDRU Rugby Club licensed bar, located underneath the clubhouse, will be operating as usual with cold sports drinks (Gatorade), Schweppes soft drink varieties, water as well as a range of alcoholic spirits, wine, beer, and rum. - What facilities are available to players and spectators?
We have 5 changerooms that include showers and toilets. Players and teams are most welcome to use them. Teams will not be able to use up a changeroom for whole duration of the carnival, they will have to move on and make that changeroom available for other teams. Spectator bathrooms are located opposite the bar to the right upon entry to the facility. We encouraged players to use the toilets at the back of the changerooms instead of those in the bar area. - What is the cost for spectators?
$5 per Adult – $10 per Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) – $2 Student/Concession (With ID) – $1 Child (Under 12). If you are planning on coming on different dates, you will need to purchase a new ticket as we will be changing the colour of our tickets each day. These admission tickets will need to be placed in a collection bucket upon entry.
OTHER INFORMATION:
– NO glass is permitted inside the facility
– NO pets are allowed in the facility
– NO BBQ or cooking equipment is permitted
– The facility is a NON SMOKING venue
Previous Editions of the Festival of 7’s Newsletter:
Festival of 7’s Newsletter – Issue 1
Festival of 7’s Newsletter – Issue 2
Festival of 7’s Newsletter – Issue 3
Festival of 7’s Newsletter – Issue 4
Festival of 7’s Newsletter – Issue 5
Festival of 7’s Newsletter – Issue 6
Festival of 7’s Newsletter – Issue 7
CONTACT (07) 4728 9099 FOR ALL ENQUIRIES
INTRODUCING – Townsville Rugby 7s
The past and future of the event: Since its inclusion as an Olympic Sport in Rio, interest in Rugby 7s for both Men and in particular Women has exploded in popularity nationally. It is currently one of the fastest growing sports in the World. In Australia its profile amongst Girls and Women alone is expected to be boosted off the back of the Aussie Women’s 7s teams Gold Medal winning performance in Rio and Silver Medal performance in the Commonwealth Games. Below is a brief timeline of achievements and milestones of the Townsville Rugby 7s over the past 8 years.
2011 – First Townsville Rugby 7s held featuring just 16 Men’s teams from the local area
2012 – Inclusion of Womens and Masters (Over 35) Divisions as part of the Senior Tournament 24 teams across the 3 Divisions
2013 – Junior legs of the Townsville 7s start with a Primary Aged and Teenage 7s (Boys only) included in the program along with a Under 20s Division at the Senior Tournament
2014 – Junior legs of the Townsville 7s expand with new divisions, Teenage 7s grows into a 2-day event encompassing Friday and Saturday. Island Breeze win the Men’s division featuring current Melbourne Rebels player and Qantas Wallabies flyer Sefa Naivalu. The travelling team of Fijians have attended the tournament 7 out of 8 years of its running.
2015 – Interest explodes in the Junior Tournaments in particular with the inclusion of Teenage Girls as part of the Teenage 7s. Teams from as far north as Cairns and South as Brisbane participate in all tournaments. 82 teams in total across the month of 7’s.
2016 – Teenage tournament (41 teams) outgrows the Senior competition with 87 teams in total across the 3 tournaments. QLD Reds 7s coaches attend to identify talent for Mens, Womens, Youth Boys and Girls (Under 18s). Bri Rossato (pictured) selected in QLD 7s going on to be contracted with AON Uni 7s UQ side, narrowly missing a contract with the Aussie side now currently playing professionally in Japan.
2017 – 100 teams and over 1000 players with over 1500 spectators over the course of the ‘Festival of 7s’. Teenage sensation Sam Warner (Pictured) who has played Rugby since he was 10 identified for the QLD Youth boys 7s team alongside Jessee Santo from Charters Towers in the Youth Girls. Sam goes on to Represent Australia in the Youth Oceania Championships where they were crowned champions.
2018 – Saw the introduction of further divisions in the Junior 7s with Under 9s incorporated in the Primary age and U13 Girls in the Teenage 7s. Participation grew to 120 teams, 1200 players, 2000 spectators and supporters. 2018 also saw the most representation from the TDRU in the National 7s Tournaments at Ballymore. Tom Vinson and Sam Warner featured for Queensland in the Mens teams with Tamika Bray and Daisy Darcy (Pictured) featuring in the Youth Girls squads. With the addition of Rugby Australia’s new non-contact game of 7s ‘FOXTEL TOUCH 7s’ in the very near future the game is set to explode to see the Townsville Festival of 7s become a hallmark sporting event on the North QLD Sporting calendar.
TO BECOME A SPONSOR OF THE TOWNSVILLE FESTIVAL OF 7s
CALL (07) 4728 9099