The Friday Night Drop-off

The classic Friday Night Drop-off competition is back for 2025! 

The Friday Night Drop-Off tournament is uniquely Whakatāne and takes pride of place on the Friday preceding the Whakatāne January Touch Tournament on Saturday.

If you're interested in knowing more information, check out the following details:

• WHEN:     Friday 10th January 2025
• WHERE:   Rugby Park, Whakatāne 
• ENTRY:    $50 per team
• GRADES: Mens & Womens Only
• REGISTRATIONS: Available on the night only at tournament HQ 
• TIMELINE: 
• 4 pm - Registrations open;
• 6 pm Drop-off Starts;
• Approx. 8:30 pm Finish

Drop-off Procedures:

1. All players must be registered on the entry form.
2. Players can only register for one team.
3. Only seven players can be registered. Four players are on the field to commence the match.
4. The Drop-off is played under the 'new' Touch New Zealand Drop-Off rules***.
5. The entry fee, per team, must be paid in cash upon registration.
6. Team Managers must pay close attention to the drawing board and the Public Address system for field and times of play. Once called, a team has two minutes to take the field or be defaulted.
7. All entry fees will be paid out as prizes. 1st place will take 60% of the pool entry fee, and the 2nd placed team will take the remaining 40%.

*** THE DROP-OFF RULES

1. The Drop-Off shall commence with a Tap from the centre of the Halfway Line by the Team that won the toss.
2. Teams will commence play with four (4) players on the field.
3. The Drop-Off will commence with a two (2) minute period of play.
4. Should a Team be leading at the expiration of the two (2) minute period of play then that Team will be declared the Winner and Match complete.
5. Should neither Team be leading at the expiration of two (2) minutes, a signal is given, and the match will pause at the next Touch or Dead Ball. Each Team will then remove another player from the Field of Play.
6. The Match will recommence immediately after the players have left the field at the same place where it paused (i.e. the Team retains Possession at the designated number of Touches, or at Change of Possession due to some Infringement or the sixth Touch) and the Match will continue until a Try is scored.
7. Substitution during the Drop-Off is permitted in accordance with normal Interchange Rules.
8. Teams are expected to play within the spirit of the game. Intentional time-wasting during the drop-off match will not be tolerated.

ABANDONED MATCHES

1. If a match is abandoned due to any circumstances the Whakatane Touch Association Charitable Trust Committee shall decide the result.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

1. A team consists of seven (7) registered players. The Drop-off will commence with four (4) players.