The Rhinos Challenge is a touring festival. Accommodation for your whole group, including players, club officials and families/spectators, must be booked through ESF Events. Individuals who are not booked through ESF Events are not part of the event and do not have permission to attend the playing venues as a player, official or spectator, or to attend the presentation ceremonies at Butlin’s. If members of your group (players, club officials, spectators) attend the event but have not booked accommodation through ESF Events, the team may not be permitted to participate in the festival.
Friday: Arrival Day
No rugby is played on the day of arrival. Accommodation units should be available from 4pm – Butlin’s will confirm your check in time prior to your break. Guests can arrive on resort from 1pm and use the facilities at Butlin’s. There will be a full evening entertainment programme on the Friday. Our welcome meeting for coaches will take place on Friday evening at around 8pm.
Saturday & Sunday: Festival Days
All teams will participate in a two day festival, playing fixtures on both the Saturday & Sunday. Each age section will be organised in accordance with RFL guidelines.
The celebrity presentation ceremonies will take place on the Sunday afternoon/evening. Teams are welcome to travel home on the Sunday evening after the presentation, or Monday morning.
Monday: Departure Day
Check out of accommodation is 10.00am but you do not have to leave the resort until Midday.
The festival is played on the Saturday and Sunday with all teams typically playing 6 – 8 games over the weekend. The festival format will vary depending on the number of teams registered in each age section.
A final briefing email will be sent to the Group Leaders of all participating teams 7-10 days before the festival takes place. The final briefing will include the festival format, schedules, festival rules and venue information. At that stage, the Rhinos Challenge APP will also go live, displaying festival fixtures, schedules and other useful information.
8 – 11 May 2026
U6, U7: 5-a-side
U8: 6-a-side
U9: 7-a-side
U10, U11, U12: 9-a-side
15 – 18 May 2026
U6, U7: 5-a-side
U8: 6-a-side
U9: 7-a-side
U10, U11, U12: 9-a-side
U12, U13, U14 Girls: 9-a-side
| Age Group | Born on or after |
|---|---|
| U6 | 1 Sep. 2019 |
| U7 | 1 Sep. 2018 |
| U8 | 1 Sep. 2017 |
| U9 | 1 Sep. 2016 |
| U10 | 1 Sep. 2015 |
| U11 | 1 Sep. 2014 |
| U12 | 1 Sep. 2013 |
If you have any queries regarding the eligibility of players, please email ESF Events at info@rhinoschallenge.co.uk
Participating teams are required to complete a player registration form, which includes the name and date of birth of all players to be registered for the festival.
If you have any queries regarding the eligibility of players, please email ESF Events at info@rhinoschallenge.co.uk
IMPORTANT: Accommodation for your whole group, including players, club officials and families/spectators, must be booked through ESF Events at Butlin’s. If members of your group (players, club officials, spectators) attend the event but have not booked accommodation through ESF Events at Butlin’s, the team will not be permitted to participate in the Rhinos Challenge. If you are not booked through ESF Events at Butlin’s, you are not part of the event and do not have permission to attend the playing venues as a player, official or spectator, or to attend the presentation ceremonies at Butlin’s.
Once the club is registered, ESF Events will email the Group Leader a unique accommodation booking link for each age section registered. Group Leaders can simply forward this email to the parents in your group, who can then book accommodation for their family/friends on the ESF Events section of the Butlin’s website, through the accommodation booking link. Your party will be given an Accommodation Booking Deadline by ESF Events, which is normally 3 weeks after your team(s) registration has been accepted. A deposit of £30 per person is required to book accommodation. The final balance for accommodation will be due no later than 10 weeks before the festival. Final balance payments can be made by your families at www.butlins.com/pay
Accommodation is allocated on a first-come first-served basis. All sizes and grades of accommodation are subject to availability, so early booking is strongly recommended. If you select a particular size or grade of accommodation which is no longer available, you will be offered the nearest alternative.
UNOCCUPIED BEDS: In cases where a unit of accommodation is booked leaving unoccupied beds, a full subsidy will be charged. i.e. If 3 people book a 4 berth unit of accommodation, they would have to pay for 4 people. Infants under the age of 2 years, who go free if you bring along your own cot, do not count towards the occupancy of a unit.
Each guest who has booked accommodation through ESF Events will receive a Rhinos Challenge wristband when they check in at Butlin’s. The Rhinos Challenge wristband is required to attend the playing venues as a player, club official or spectator, attend the presentation ceremony at Butlin’s, and enter evening entertainment venues at Butlin’s.
Rhinos Challenge wristbands are not available to purchase separately. If you are not booked through ESF Events at Butlin’s, you are not part of the event and do not have permission to attend the playing venues as a player, official or spectator, or to attend the presentation ceremonies at Butlin’s.
Professional First Aid cover is provided at all Rhinos Challenge festival playing venues.
If you require any further information regarding any of the festival information detailed above, please call ESF Events on 01664 566360 or email info@rhinoschallenge.co.uk
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