Portugal Youth Rugby Festival

Tours 4 Sport is pleased to present the Portugal Youth Rugby Festival, to be held in Lisbon on the weekend of 16/17 April 2011. Fast becoming one of the most popular European youth rugby tournaments, get your team involved next year. Details of our 4, 5 and 6 day packages below. 

This is an excellent tournament in a wonderful European capital city. We can provide all the low-down here for you.


When? 
The actual tournament is a two day event, taking place on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th April 2011. Packages range from 4 to 6 days arriving between Wednesday 13th and Friday 15th April.


Who? 
Careful here, there is a difference between an English age category (with players born between September and August) and a European one (with players born between January and December). Your tour manager from Tours 4 Sport will help you get this right.

• U13 Category: Players born 1998 & 1999. 
• U15 Category: Players born 1996 & 1997
• U17 Category: Players born 1994 & 1995
• U19 Category: Players born 1992 & 1993
• Note: at each category, any UK team can have up to 5 'UK eligible, European over-age' players on the field at any one time. In reality this makes the tournament a feasible option for U12s, U14s, U16s & U18s, plus U13s, 15s, 17s & 19s who are confident that they can always field a team with the prerequisite number of players born January-onwards. 

Where? 

The tour will be based around Lisbon. The rugby takes place at the excellent pitches of the National Stadium Complex in the Jamor Valley, Lisbon. The majority of teams stay at the official tournament holiday park, which is a short coach transfer from the tournament venue, within easy driving distance of the city centre, and is set amongst beautiful forest, with plenty of on-site attractions including swimming pool. 

The rugby. 

The tournament is a very well run event, organised by the Portuguese Federation. 2011 will be the third edition of the event, building on two quality tournaments so far. Last year 64 teams competed over the 4 categories, which included sides from England, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka and France. The pitches are very good quality and the finals generate good crowds. There will be a medical presence at the tournament plus of course bars and catering stands as well as other attractions. On the Sunday evening there will be an awards ceremony and party with live music. As rugby is a developing sport in Portugal, the national rugby federation put a lot of effort and resources behind this tournament, which the following video demonstrates: 

The pointers below should help you with the basics of how the tournament works. 

• Pitch size: U13 & U15 play across half a pitch; U17 & U19 play on full size pitch. 
• Players: U13 is 10-a-side, U15 is 12-a-side, U17 & U19 are 15-a-side. 
• Pitch type. U13 is on 3G, U15 & U17 on grass, U19 on both grass and 3G. 
• Game duration: U13 & U15 both play 2 x 10 minutes; U17 & U19 play 2 x 15 minutes. 
• Number of games: All ages expect to play 3 group games on Saturday, followed by 2 or 3 knockout games on Sunday. 

Accommodation

The most popular and affordable accommodation is in chalets at the holiday park. This is a safe, comfortable and affordable option, and hosts the majority of visiting teams during their stay. It is situated just 8km to the west of Lisbon and is set amid a 900 hectare forest park. The chalets are 4 berth units with en-suite facilities, kitchenette and balcony. On-site facilities include restaurant, bar, shop, outdoor swimming pool and tennis court. 

We can also organise a city centre hostel, next to Marques de Pombal and Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon. Here you would be accommodated in multi-bedded room, and the hostel has bar, restaurant and common room with pool table. 

If your group wanted a little more luxury then we can offer 3* hotels in the popular tourist town of Estoril. You are within walking distance of the excellent beach, and the hotel has a nice outdoor pool overlooked by a terrace bar. If you prefer city living, then we have a 3* option in central Lisbon, without the pool but still with good quality facilities, including excellent bar and restaurant. 

What's included? 

We have 4, 5 and 6 day packages. They all include the following: 

• Meet & Greet from our local, bilingual staff. 
• Return airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Lisbon. 
• Entry into the 2011 Portugal Youth Rugby Tournament
• 3/4/5 nights' half board (breakfast and evening meal) accommodation in your chosen venue. 
• Return transfers to both tournament days. 
• Free admission into all activites and associated events at the tournament. 
• Tournament gifts, including an event T-shirt. 
• Itinerary planning service. 
• Payment protection insurance. 

5 night package also includes half day Lisbon city tour. 

6 day package includes the half day tour, plus an additional friendly fixture against a local club, including return coach transfers from and to your accommodation. 

Prices

• 6 days 3* hotel: £410
• 6 days hostel/holiday park: £330
• 5 days 3* hotel: £330
• 5 days hostel/holiday park £265
• 4 days 3* hotel: £260
• 4 days hostel/holiday park £210

These prices exclude flights. Flights can be organised in one of two ways. You can source your own flights with budget airlines, or we can book flights for you. Easyjet fly to Lisbon from Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Gatwick, Luton. BA fly from London Heathrow. 

For your chance to compete in this great tournament, contact Tours 4 Sport today on 0800 043 3887 or email info@tours4.com