On Sunday 14th April Eccles RFC will host the 2024 Lancashire RFU U12s Waterfall Festival.
We are looking forward to welcoming teams and supporters and wish all a wonderful day of U12s rugby. This webpage provides a summary of information to help visitors plan in advance for the event. If you have any questions, please feel free to message Eccles RFC Mini & Junior Fixure Secretary Leeann Aspinall on 07813202971 or email on ecclesmandjfixtures@yahoo.com
BEFORE ARRIVAL
If you are arriving by coach please let us know in advance so appropriate arrangements can be made for parking.
Please confirm your U12 squad numbers by Saturday 6th April at the very latest, so appropriate catering for the players can be planned.
PARKING IS FREE
Eccles RFC is located at Gorton Street, Eccles, M30 7LZ.
Visitors are encouraged to share cars where possible to reduce delays in entry. Our car park marshals will direct you to park efficiently, please follow their instructions. We have three parking areas and there should be no need to park on the road. If you do park on the road please be considerate and respectful of our neighbours and do not block driveways or prevent access for emergency vehicles.
ADMISSION
Fees are determined by Lancashire County RFU.
- Adults £4
- 6 -16 years old & Concessions £1
- Under 5’s Free
- Players & Coaches Free
Visitors are advised that CASH payment on the gate is requested. We intend to have a remote CARD reader system on the gate, but its successful operation is dependent on Wi-Fi connectivity and cannot be guaranteed.
Please note - Gate receipts pay for the player's meals and help contribute towards the overheads incurred in running a successful festival. Please do not harass our Gate Volunteers by attempting to avoid payment. Thank you.
ON ARRIVAL
Team Managers / Coaches please report to Leeann Aspinall on the entrance gate at 0945 who will provide a pack for the day containing:
- Blank certificates
- Biro to complete certificates
- Printed copy of the pitch and match schedule
- Food vouchers for player's food
CHANGING ROOMS
Players should arrive at the ground changed and ready to play.
Due to the number of players expected, changing rooms will be limited but will be available for players to shower and change post match.
Valuables are the resonsibility of the Team manager or coach.
The changing rooms will not be locked and will be unattended throughout the day, so any items left are done so at player's / team’s own risk.
PITCHES
Pitch 1 and Pitch 2 are located directly in front of the club house.
The two pitches will be split in half to create 4 playing enclosures, marked, roped off and identified as 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B.
To maximise space for spectors, no pitch side gazebos will be permitted in the ground.
The space between the 4 pitches (in red) will be reserved for team technical areas.
Only Team Coaches, members of the playing squad and First Aiders will be allowed inside the playing enclosure.
Teams will have access to a warm up area for the duration of the festival, accessed through the gate in the top right corner of the field.
Please do not warm up on the piches.
SPECTATORS
All spectators must remain behind the barriers around the pitches and must not enter the field of play or the zone reserved for team technical areas.
As per the RFU Code of Conduct, spectators are expected to support good play from all teams and must not abuse the players or match officials.
PLAYING SCHEDULE
- Teams arrive 09:45 – 10:15
- Manager / Coach Briefing (all teams, on the pitch, present Match ID cards) 10:30 – 10:40
- First games Kick Off 11:00
- Last games finish 14:15
- The Match schedule for the day is based on two pool groups of 6 teams playing as a round robin and then all teams progressing to seeded play-offs and finals.
- Each team will play against all other teams in their Pool.
- Matches will run concurrently. Please ensure you are ready to play on the right pitch, at the right time.
- 10 mins per game.
- 5 mins break between games.
- Scores will be recorded by a Pitch Facilitator - 3 points win, 2 points draw, 1 point loss.
- Referees will be assigned according to the playing schedule from neutral teams not playing at the same time.
- Please Note – EACH TEAM IS REQUIRED TO BRING A NOMINATED REFEREE and a NOMINATED FIRST AIDER
CERTIFICATES
All teams will receive a pack with their Lancashire certificate of participation for all players when they arrive at the festival. These will be blank for each team to add their players names on the day and present following the last matches.
Sadly, Lancashire are not permitted to provide a winning trophy or medals.
If you wish to recognise your team’s success in the festival, please organise this yourselves.
POINTS OF CONTACT
There will be a number of volunteers from Eccles RFC available to assist throughout the day.
The following officals will be your Festival contact points
Overarching Facilitator - Jon Maslin 07801 892929
Pitch Facilitator and Safegaurding - Leeann Aspinall 07813 202971
FIRST AID
Each team has been asked to provide a first aider for their teams.
We also have first aiders available to assist with any minor injuries.
First Aid facilities can be found in the physio's room located at the entrance to the changing room.
In the event of an incident requiring emergency services, visitors should inform a member of the Eccles RFC event team.
FOOD & DRINK
Food will be provided for the players free of charge and a meal ticket for each player will be handed to the coach at the start of the day.
Our Coffee Shop and Kitchen accept CASH & CARD and will be open all day from 10.30am.
Our Bar accepts CASH & CARD and will open at 12 noon .
Visitors are NOT PERMITTED to bring their own Alcoholic beverages into the grounds. Failure to observe this regulation will result in non-admittance or ejection for the ground.
TOILETS
The club house is undergoing repair work. The Ladies toilets are temporarily located downstairs in the old Gents toilets. Gents’ toilets are the changing rooms, all are clearly signed. We appologise for any inconvenience caused by inconvenient conveniences.
DOGS
Eccles RFC welcomes all friendly dogs with well-behaved owners. If you are a Dog, please follow our guidelines.
- Keep your owner under control by means of a lead at all times.
- When nature calls, please instruct your owner to clear up.
- Do not allow your owner to take you onto the playing field.
- If you cannot find a supply of water, please ask.
