Team Information Pack
PLEASE NOTE THAT TEAM ENTRIES WILL OPEN ON THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2013
In celebration of our 6th anniversary, the 2014 Cape Town Tens will not only be bigger and better than ever, and for the first time in the tournament history, there will 116 teams playing in the following 7 Divisions:
- Veterans Division
- Premier Division
- Heavy Beer Division
- Light Beer Division (1) – No difference between the two Light Beer Divisions
- Light Beer Division (2) – No difference between the two Light Beer Divisions
- We’re Mainly Here For The Beer Division
- Adult Tag Rugby
PLEASE take a few minutes to read the criteria for each division, and also note the FAQ’s page and important information below.
The entry fee for all divisions, excluding Adult Tag Rugby for 2014 will be R7,500 per team (for a squad of up to 20 players).
The entry fee for Adult Tag Rugby will be R2,500 per team (for a squad of 10 players)
Please note that this cost does NOT include kit as per previous years. We have some exciting new options on the cards, full details will be released in the coming weeks.
The entry process
- Carefully read the criteria relating to each Division, and make your choice
- Complete the online entry form – it’s 2013, so we’ll only we accepting online forms this year! You can change your team name and all other information at any stage over the next 6 months, so no need to worry if you’re undecided on any of those details
- You’ll then receive an email confirmation with bank account details – please make payment to that account, and use your TEAM NAME as reference
- Your team entry will be secured and confirmed upon receipt of full payment – unfortunately we won’t be able to offer the option of paying a deposit up front and the balance in “due course” this year – from experience “due course” tends to become “last minute” or worse!
- Payment deadlines – there are only 16 available spots in each of the 7 Divisions -
- these will be strictly allocated on a first paid, first in basis; so beg, borrow, and hassle your sponsors to pay promptly – do whatever it takes, there’s always a way!
- AS A THANK YOU TO TEAMS THAT HAVE PLAYED IN 2013 CAPE TOWN TENS, YOUR ENTRY IS GUARANTEED SUBJECT TO PAYMENT BEING RECEIVED BY 30th April 2013
- Start planning your jersey design. Remember anything goes. As per previous statement, full details on this process will be provided in due course
2014 Divisions Criteria
As the Cape Town Tens has grown and developed over the years, the one area we are always looking at stream-lining and improving is that of the criteria used to differentiate the various playing divisions.
From the feedback and suggestions we received after the 2013 event, and in discussions with the refs and various team representatives that have approached us, we have come to a few conclusions based on what seems to be a general consensus from 2013:
- The Light Beer Division is undoubtedly the most popular division and based on that demand, we’ve decided to add an additional Light Beer Division. Both divisions will be exactly the same in terms of strength. Enter and you will be allocated a spot in 1 of the 2 Light Beer Divisions.
- Due to the popularity and growth of Tag Rugby, we are delighted to announce that they will be fully integrated into the Cape Town Tens going forward. (This is the non-contact option to get you fully involved in the weekend).
The Cape Town Tens tournament organising committee implores all teams to please consider the below criteria very carefully and honestly before entering a particular Division. Winning is important, but not at all costs. The spirit of the Cape Town Tens is one of celebrating the true spirit and unique culture that rugby holds dear, and their is nothing to be gained by entering a lower Division and smashing every team in your path. In fact, mismatches cause resentment and ill feeling, and almost all the (rare as they where) ‘dirty’ incidents that occurred in previous years involved matches in which these mismatches in ability as well as ‘ambition’ occurred.
So please take a careful look at the below and enter the Division you honestly feels best suits your team. The Cape Town Tens committee does reserve the right to not confirm your entry in any particular Division should it be felt your team would be too strong (or too weak) for your chosen Division. The process will never be perfect, but with your help we can make it better and fairer than ever.
Please note too that each Division will be allocated its own field again in 2014, with its own players’ area, and own referee administrator and admin team whose job it will be manage and monitor the various intricacies of each Division – this too should help ensure a smoother running of the individual Divisions.
Click each Division below to learn more about the entry criteria:
Veterans Division
NUMBER OF TEAMS
- 16 – in 4 pools of 4
TROPHIES TO BE PLAYED FOR
- Shield
- Bowl
- Plate
- Cup
AGE RESTRICTIONS
- A strict 35 year old age limit WILL be implemented in 2014. Only players who are 35 years of age as of 31st December 2014 will be permitted to play. No exceptions at any stage of the tournament
PLAYING LEVEL GUIDELINES
- No restrictions
PLAYER REGISTRATION
- All players will be required to be registered in advance, and their birth dates noted. All players will be required to produce ID at registration in order to confirm DOB
SQUAD SIZE
- A maximum playing squad size of 20 is permitted
- A maximum of 20 of these players per match are permitted, and full rolling subs rules apply
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Should a team lose players to injury during the course of the weekend, they are only permitted to borrow 1 player, and then only in the knock out stages, and only from a team in the Veterans Division that has been eliminated in the same or lower competition. e.g. a team in the Shield Comp can’t borrow a player that has been knocked out of the Cup Comp. Players not registered for any team cannot be drafted in.
SCRUM RULES
- All scrums are by default contested, UNLESS:
- both teams agree in advance of a match that scrums should not be contested
- one team, through injury, (either before or during a match) cannot field a suitable front row, then at the referee’s discretion scrums will not be contested
- for any safety reasons the referee deems that scrums should not be contested
Premier Division
NUMBER OF TEAMS
- 16 – in 4 pools of 4
TROPHIES TO BE PLAYED FOR
- Shield
- Bowl
- Plate
- Cup
AGE RESTRICTIONS
- None
PLAYING LEVEL GUIDELINES
- Professional and top club teams (i.e. those playing in the top division of their home union club competition)
PLAYER REGISTRATION
- All players will be required to be registered in advance
SQUAD SIZE
- A maximum playing squad size of 20 is permitted
- A maximum of 15 of these players per match are permitted, and full rolling subs rules apply
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Should a team lose players to injury during the course of the weekend, they are only permitted to borrow 1 player, and then only in the knock out stages, and only from a team in the Premier Division that has been eliminated in the same or lower competition. e.g. a team in the Shield Comp can’t borrow a player that has been knocked out of the Cup Comp. Players not registered for any team cannot be drafted in.
SCRUM RULES
- All scrums are by default contested, UNLESS:
- one team, through injury, (either before or during a match) cannot field a suitable front row, then at the referee’s discretion scrums will not be contested
- for any safety reasons the referee deems that scrums should not be contested
Heavy Beer Division
NUMBER OF TEAMS
- 16 – in 4 pools of 4
TROPHIES TO BE PLAYED FOR
- Shield
- Bowl
- Plate
- Cup
AGE RESTRICTIONS
- None
PLAYING LEVEL GUIDELINES
- This division is aimed at 2nd XV or non-top division type club teams, young academy teams, or other teams consisting of players who are predominately playing rugby on a regular and serious basis, but who aren’t full time professionals nor playing regularly in the top club division of their home unions
PLAYER REGISTRATION
- All players will be required to be registered in advance
SQUAD SIZE
- A maximum playing squad size of 20 is permitted
- A maximum of 15 of these players per match are permitted, and full rolling subs rules apply
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Should a team lose players to injury during the course of the weekend, they are only permitted to borrow 1 player, and then only in the knock out stages, and only from a team in the Heavy Beer Division that has been eliminated in the same or lower competition. e.g. a team in the Shield Comp can’t borrow a player that has been knocked out of the Cup Comp. Players not registered for any team cannot be drafted in.
SCRUM RULES
- All scrums are by default contested, UNLESS:
- one team, through injury, (either before or during a match) cannot field a suitable front row, then at the referee’s discretion scrums will not be contested
- for any safety reasons the referee deems that scrums should not be contested
Light Beer Division (x2)
NUMBER OF TEAMS
- 32 – in 8 pools of 4
TROPHIES TO BE PLAYED FOR
- Shield x2
- Bowl x2
- Plate x2
- Cup x2
AGE RESTRICTIONS
- None
PLAYING LEVEL GUIDELINES
- This division is aimed at socially minded teams consisting of a mixture of some part time players and those not playing rugby regularly. Please note we cannot accept teams in this division that have players participating regularly in high level club rugby or higher, nor can we accept teams loading their squads with players clearly at a higher level than can be reasonably expected for a social tournament
PLAYER REGISTRATION
- All players will be required to be registered in advance
SQUAD SIZE
- A maximum playing squad size of 20 is permitted
- A maximum of 20 of these players per match are permitted, and full rolling subs rules apply
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Should a team lose players to injury during the course of the weekend, they are only permitted to borrow 1 player, and then only in the knock out stages, and only from a team in the Light Beer Division that has been eliminated in the same or lower competition. e.g. a team in the Shield Comp can’t borrow a player that has been knocked out of the Cup Comp. Players not registered for any team cannot be drafted in.
SCRUM RULES
- All scrums are by default contested, UNLESS:
- both teams agree in advance of a match that scrums should not be contested
- one team, through injury, (either before or during a match) cannot field a suitable front row, then at the referee’s discretion scrums will not be contested
- for any safety reasons the referee deems that scrums should not be contested
We’re Mainly Here For The Beer Division
NUMBER OF TEAMS
- 16 – in 4 pools of 4
TROPHIES TO BE PLAYED FOR
- Shield
- Bowl
- Plate
- Cup
AGE RESTRICTIONS
- None
PLAYING LEVEL GUIDELINES
- The division name speaks for itself – this is aimed at purely socially minded teams. Teams are permitted a MAXIMUM of 2 players in their squad who play any level of rugby on a regular basis, and will be required to sign an agreement as such. These are teams that would be prepared to kick off a match with a boat race if necessary, and are likely ‘Vets in waiting’ candidates
PLAYER REGISTRATION
- All players will be required to be registered in advance
SQUAD SIZE
- A maximum playing squad size of 20 is permitted
- A maximum of 20 of these players per match are permitted, and full rolling subs rules apply
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Should a team lose players to injury during the course of the weekend, they are only permitted to borrow 1 player, and then only in the knock out stages, and only from a team in the We’re Mainly Here For The Beer Division that has been eliminated in the same or lower competition. e.g. a team in the Shield Comp can’t borrow a player that has been knocked out of the Cup Comp. Players not registered for any team cannot be drafted in.
SCRUM RULES
- All scrums are by default contested, UNLESS:
- both teams agree in advance of a match that scrums should not be contested
- one team, through injury, (either before or during a match) cannot field a suitable front row, then at the referee’s discretion scrums will not be contested
- for any safety reasons the referee deems that scrums should not be contested
Adult Tag Rugby
NUMBER OF TEAMS
- 20 – Format to be confirmed
TROPHIES TO BE PLAYED FOR
- To be confirmed
AGE RESTRICTIONS
- None
PLAYING LEVEL GUIDELINES
- Adult Tag Rugby is a non-contact fun form of the game open to all – full guidelines to follow in due course
PLAYER REGISTRATION
- All players will be required to be registered in advance
SQUAD SIZE
- A maximum playing squad size of 10 is permitted
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Normal Adult Tag Rugby rules apply.