Built By Family
When we say W7s is built by a family we are not kidding. Leading up to the event Mrs Woody will collect all of your bookings. Woody will be in constant contact before the event to help you as a tour leader. Little Woody will be serving food and drink whilst Woody JR and Kid Woody will be running around the site helping here, there and everywhere.
However family isn't always made with blood. Woody is honoured to have a strong rugby family around him to make W7s happen. His rugby family used to be made up of adults, parents of those who Woody once coached. Now those players are now adults themselves and they attend with their young families to help out too.
Add to that a group of rugby loving people who have joined the family over the years and you have the W7s family.
Ran By Family
The family ethos doesn't just stop there, you will find families across the site. Within the match official team you have two sets of mother and daughters, both daughters starting their journeys with us as young teenagers.
We are lucky to also have a number of girls, who used to be coached by Woody, now joining their parents in the kitchens, bar and other areas on site.
With the support of the whole W7s family we can offer 3 nights of camping, 3 nights of bands, DJs and tribute acts, 2 days of rugby (with EVERY player getting a medal and EVERY side finishing the weekend in a final) and all surrounded by inflatables, food vendors, face painters, kit shops and so much more.
For The Whole Rugby Family
Woody loves the family feeling that rugby has. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, if you're wearing a rugby shirt then random people will give you a nod. If you have a rugby ball in your hand then someone will ask for a pass, that often turns into several people and sometimes even an impromptu game.
W7s is in an unique location that offers a safe environment for families to come on tour. Over the years we have had people asking about bottle sterilising for their 4 month old, wheelchair access to allow whole families attend and we have even been known to have vows renewed as couples celebrate their anniversaries at W7s.
The W7s family want to put on an event for the wider rugby family, to give your girls memories for years to come as well as those who attend with them.
The Site
The site that we use is perfect for a rugby tours. It is big enough to have everything on site, and we mean everything. From parking, to proper shows and toilets to lots of food vendors, inflatables and even enough space for 2 X7s Rugby pitches.
It is also tucked away in a little Derbyshire village called Weston on Trent, 7 miles south of Derby. This gives a unique feeling of closeness, safety and a home away from home.
The Rugby
At W7s we play X7s Rugby.
It is an adapted format of the game played on a half pitch with reduced intensity contact. It is designed to introduce new players to the game and retain those at risk of dropping out. With it being seven-a-side it allows sides of all sizes to attend, thus helping with the event's ethos of being accessible for all.
U12s through to U16s will play 5 matches across the weekend, no more than 3 per day. The 5th match will be a final for EVERY side.
The U18s, due to the importance of their education, will have fewer side places available and will therefore only play 4 matches. The 4th match will be a final for EVERY side.
The reason we insist on you having 12 players, 15 where possible, is to encourage you to make the allowed 5 substitutes. This is because you are on tour and they will no doubt be suffering from a lack of sleep, fatigue and high spirits and due to those things they will pick up knocks and bumps that will need managing.
This is also why we insist that each side, not club or age group, has their own first aider. During all of the games, they will be supported by an site medical team.
Off Field
A tour is a difficult thing to organise and Woody understands that.
That is why we make sure that there are things to keep your touring parties bellies full, things to put smiles on their faces and make sure they have the opportunities to make memories for every - Players and those touring with them.
All of the above will be shared with you, once you have bought your side entry, via a link to a secret part of our website.