Team Information - Entry Criteria

Welcome to the 37th Annual Whakatāne January Touch Tournament 2025!

Preparations are currently underway for the return of the classic Whakatāne January Touch Tournament.

If you're interested in registering your team, please be sure you have read through the information below for entry requirements:

1.   Entry Criteria

Our policy is "first-in, first-serve"; however, you must meet the three-gate criteria before entry is confirmed:

• Teams have completed the 'Team Registration' form online 
• The nominated referee has completed the 'Referee Registration' form online
• Payment of the entry fee ($470) has been received in full by the following:
• Whakatane Touch Association Charitable Trust
• Account number: ANZ 060169 0235550-01

Confirm that your nominated referee is committed to umpiring for the entire duration of the tournament. All nominated referees will be contacted to confirm their availability and association with the club and team.

2.   Referees

Each team is required to nominate a referee who satisfies the following rules:

• The referee must be available to umpire the entire duration of the competition;
• The referee is not selected by/ associated with another team (you cannot use the same referee as another team);
• The referee is qualified (at least Level 2 for opens grades and preferably at least Level 1 for restricted and masters grades);
• The referee must be contactable by Tournament Officials (correct details submitted in online registration).

Referee nominations and registrations will be checked before and at the tournament. Past tournaments have seen nominated referees not fulfilling this entry condition. Failure to follow these rules will result in the withdrawal of the associated team from the competition.

Referee registrations open on Monday 9th, September 2024!

Please contact your provincial referee director if you are struggling to find qualified referees. 

Please Note: Teams should expect the same level of game umpiring as their nominated referee. For example, if Team A nominates a Level 1 Referee, they can expect to be umpired by Level 1 Referees.

For those referees who wish to umpire at the tournament and are not associated with a team, you can still register on our official website.

3.   Entry Form

Team Registrations open on our website on Monday, 16 September 2024, at 6.00 am (NZT). 

• No team entry will be filed unless the nominated referee has registered online and their attendance has been confirmed.

4.   Entry Payment

The 2025 Entry Fee Amount: $470 per team

• We accept Direct Deposit payments; Cheques are no longer accepted.

• When making entry fee payments:
  • Whakatane Touch Association Charitable Trust 
  • Account number: ANZ 060169 0235550-01
  • Reference: Club Name & Grade

If teams wish to withdraw after entering the competition, they must contact us before the 30th of November 2024, and their entry fee will be fully reimbursed.

If a team withdraws after the 30th of November 2024 but before the 7th of December 2024, a fee of $75 will be deducted from the entry fee, and the remaining amount will be reimbursed. 

The entry fee will not be refunded if a team withdraws on or after the 7th of December, 2024.

Note: All team registrations will be waitlisted and confirmed only once the three-gate criteria are fulfilled (i.e., online team registration received, entry fee paid and received, and your nominated referee registered and confirmed). We are able to accurately track the date and time we receive each criterion from all teams. This ensures absolute fairness across the board).

A REFEREE CANNOT BE A TEAM MANAGER/COACH OR TEAM PLAYER AND MUST BE AVAILABLE TO UMPIRE THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE TOURNAMENT.

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Entry Confirmation

An email and/or text will be sent to team managers confirming successful team entry. These will also be announced on our social media platforms closer to the tournament date.

Team Registration links will be displayed on the "Home" page or under the "Registrations" tab. We encourage teams to enter early to avoid disappointment and miss a premier weekend of touch.

BEFORE registering your team, please ensure that you read the above Entry Criteria and understand what is required.