FAQs
ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TROPICAL 7s
WHERE DOES THE TROPICAL 7s TAKE PLACE
The tournament takes place at the Tampa Sportsplex - the address of the venue can be found here and a map of the venue can be found HERE.
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WHAT DIVISIONS ARE AVAILABLE?
The tournament is open to all teams of various skill levels for boys & girls sides at U18, U16, U14, U12 (Coed) and University/U23 levels. Certain divisions may be offered for both 'elite' and 'open' divisions, including possible invitation-only divisions.
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WHAT ARE THE AGE & WEIGHT CUT-OFFS FOR EACH DIVISION?
The birthdate age cut offs for the 2024 Tropical 7s are as follows:
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U18 divisions: born on or after 1 September 2005
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U16 divisions: born on or after 1 September 2007
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U14 divisions: born on or after 1 September 2009
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U12 divisions: born on or after 1 September 2011
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U23 divisions: born on or after 1 September 2000
For U18/U16/U14/U12 divisions, an exemption request (max 2 requests per team) may be submitted for players within 3 months of the deadline (i.e. June/July/Aug birthdates).​ For U23/University divisions, a team may have up to 2 overage players born within 12 months of the age cutoff. To apply for an overage/underage exemption, please complete the form HERE.
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Weight restrictions: Please note there are weight thresholds at U14 (max weight 185lb) and U12 (max weight 135lb).
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WHY DO I NEED PERMISSION FROM MY HOME UNION TO PLAY IF I AM AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM?
When teams travel to play rugby in another country, it is necessary that they receive "approval" from their governing rugby union (as stipulated by World Rugby's regulations). The home union verifies the applicants' "standing" and will determine whether approval to tour is granted or declined. International teams wishing to participate in the Tropical 7s will need to provide proof of permission to tour at least 4 weeks prior to the start of the tournament as required to present to USA Rugby to maintain proper sanctioning for the event.
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WHERE CAN I FIND THE TOURNAMENT'S RULES
The tournament's rules are published HERE.
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WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE IS THE ATHLETE COMBINE?
The Tropical 7s Athlete Combo takes place at the mach fields on the Thursday before the tournament from 12-6pm. The Combine is free to enter to any player that is registered for the tournament and consists of a number of physical assessments (sprint, vertical leap, horizontal leap, agility etc). Players do not need to pre-register and should allow approximately 1hr to complete but this may vary depending on demand.
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HOW CAN I BOOK TRAINING TIMES?
Training sessions at the fields can be booked from Monday to Thursday before the start of the tournament (Friday/Saturday). Training sessions can be booked via the Team Dashboard once you have registered for the tournament or requests can be sent directly to admin@tropical7s.com.
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WHEN ARE MATCHES EXPECTED TO START & FINISH?
Matches will start at 9am on Friday morning and play is expected to finish by 9pm. Matches will start at 8am on Saturday morning and play is expected to finish by 9pm. Please note these timings are provisional and subject to the final schedule.
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WHERE CAN I FIND OUT WHERE & WHEN MY TEAM IS PLAYING?
The match schedule can be accessed HERE (when released) and will detail all match timings and field number. The field map can be found HERE.
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CAN A PLAYER PLAY FOR MORE THAN ONE TEAM DURING THE TOURNAMENT?
No. A player once registered for a team, irrespective of whether he or she has taken part in the tournament, cannot register or make themselves available for any other team in the tournament. All players are required to be appropriately insured for all rugby and non-rugby activities while attending the event.
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DO YOU PROVIDE CHANGING FACILITIES AT THE PITCHES?
There are no dedicated changing facilities or locker rooms available to teams at the pitches. We encourage teams to change before arriving at the facility.
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IS PARKING AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE?
Yes, there are multiple parking lots at the venue and a number of overflow parking lots will be in operation on both tournament days. Parking is free on training days and is chargeable at (2023 fees: $10/$7.50 (+$1.50 service fee) depending on chosen lot per vehicle for the whole day on tournament days when pre-paid in advance of the day you intend to park.
Each registered team will receive 1 free parking pass that is valid on both days of the tournament. Teams can pick up their parking pass when checking-in at the Tropical 7s welcome desk at the venue. There are a number of accessible parking spaces close to the tournament plaza. If you require an accessible parking space during the tournament, please email admin@tropical7s.com. For more details please visit our tournament parking information page HERE.
WHAT IS THE EARLIEST TIME WE CAN ARRIVE AT THE VENUE?
Teams and spectators should arrive at the match fields no earlier than 1hr before the scheduled start of play on tournament days. Teams should allow for extra time for traffic and park their vehicle which may be as much as a 15-20min walk from their match field.
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IS IT POSSIBLE TO RENT TENTS AT THE VENUE?
A limited number of tent rentals are available to registered teams only and are subject to availability. We do not provide tent rentals to spectators. Teams can rent space in our team tent areas for all 3 days from Thursday to Saturday. Please contact info@tropical7s.com for latest availability and booking details.
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CAN WE SET-UP OUR OWN POP-UP TENT AT THE VENUE?
Yes, you are more than welcome to put up a small pop-up tent in a designated area at the venue as long as they are adequately secured into the ground in case of windy conditions. Pop-up tents cannot be erected on busy thoroughfares and walkways around the venue and you will be asked to remove. Please enquire at the Tropical 7s Welcome desk as to where you can set-up your tent.
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WILL MATCHES BE LIVE STREAMED?
Yes, all fields will be live streamed using the Tampa Sportsplex's live streaming subscription service for the tournament which uses automated cameras and innovative ball tracking software. Details of the live stream will be communicated on our social media channels and website closer to the tournament.
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WHERE DO I ENQUIRE ABOUT LOST PROPERTY?
All lost property enquiries should be made at the Tropical 7s Welcome Desk in the Tournament Plaza.
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WHERE CAN I RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
Athletic trainers will attend to injuries during matches. There is a first aid station located at the Tournament Plaza and a medical treatment room in the main pavilion. EMS Services will also be in attendance throughout the tournament.
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DO SPECTATORS NEED A TICKET OR HAVE TO PAY TO ATTEND THE EVENT?
No, there is no entry charge or requirement for an entry ticket for spectators. Please note there is very limited spectator seating at the venue. Parking on tournament days is chargeable.
WILL WATER AND ICE AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE?
There are two free water fountains available at the tournament plaza but these tend to get busy. Bottled water can be bought from drinks concessions on site but we advise that teams bring their own water in refillable water bottles to avoid unnecessary plastic waste. Bags of ice will be made available for sale at the tournament plaza.
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WILL FOOD BE AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE?
We kindly encourage teams and spectators to use our local food and restaurant partners who are offering special deals to teams and spectators attending Tropical 7s - many will deliver directly to the match fields. Details of our latest tournament food partners and offers can be found HERE. There will be a limited number of venue-operated concessions and food trucks at the venue.
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