Overhead flat-lay photograph of a worn leather Rugby Fives glove resting on a dark wooden court floor, with a hand-stitched ball nearby; deep browns, burgundy shadows, and warm cream highlights evoke a vintage sporting atmosphere.

Rugby Fives Association

The governing body for Rugby Fives — promoting play, coaching and competition across the UK

How To Travel To Away Matches As A Rugby Fives Club

Away fixtures are an important part of a Rugby Fives season. They give players the chance to compete in unfamiliar courts, meet other clubs, and build the friendships that keep a team connected beyond its home venue. A well-organised journey also helps everyone arrive calm, prepared, and ready to play.

Travel planning is more than booking a minibus or sharing a postcode. Clubs need to coordinate players, coaches, volunteers, equipment, timings, safeguarding arrangements, and contingency plans. Clear communication makes the day easier for travelling teams and hosts alike.

This Rugby Fives club guide sets out a practical approach to match-day transport, from confirming the fixture to returning home. It is designed to support adult clubs, schools, junior sections, and mixed groups travelling to competitions, league matches, and tournaments.

Confirm The Fixture Details Early

Begin by checking the date, start time, venue address, court access, parking arrangements, and expected finish time. The playing venue may differ from the host club’s main address, especially where schools, universities, or community facilities are used. Ask for precise entrance instructions and confirm whether changing rooms and refreshments will be available.

Create one shared fixture record containing the host contact, team manager, driver details, player list, emergency contacts, and transport plan. Send the key information to players well in advance, then issue a final reminder a few days before departure. A single reliable source reduces the risk of someone relying on an old message or incomplete map pin.

Allow time for traffic, parking, court preparation, and unexpected delays. A team that arrives ten minutes before the first game may technically be on time, but it will not have enough space to change, warm up, or settle into the surroundings. For most away matches, aiming to arrive 45 to 60 minutes before play provides a useful buffer.

Match Players With Suitable Transport

The best transport option depends on distance, squad size, age group, budget, and available drivers. Small adult squads may travel efficiently in shared cars, while larger groups often benefit from a minibus. For school fixtures, clubs should follow their safeguarding policies and use approved drivers, consent procedures, and supervision arrangements.

Keep the travel group manageable and make responsibilities clear. One person should coordinate the journey, while another can act as the match-day contact if the organiser is driving. Drivers need the full itinerary, passenger list, venue directions, parking information, and an emergency contact who is not travelling in their vehicle.

For longer journeys, agree on a meeting point that is easy to reach and safe for loading equipment. Avoid last-minute collections from several scattered locations unless the additional time has been built into the plan. Players should know the departure time, not simply the time when the first car is expected to leave.

Pack Equipment For The Journey

Rugby Fives requires relatively little equipment compared with many field sports, but missing essentials can still disrupt a fixture. The travelling captain or coach should check balls, suitable footwear, kit, water, first-aid supplies, match paperwork, and any coaching or recording materials before departure.

Pack equipment in a way that makes it easy to find. Balls and first-aid items should not be buried beneath coats and personal bags, while footwear should be kept clean and separated from clothing where possible. A simple checklist shared with the squad can prevent the common problem of assuming that somebody else has brought a key item.

The coach can also use the journey to reinforce the match plan without turning travel into a formal classroom. Guidance on planning a coaching session can help coaches structure pre-match messages, warm-ups, and court-specific priorities. Keep any briefing short, positive, and appropriate for the players’ energy levels.

Travel Option	Best Suited To	Main Benefits	Points To Check
Shared cars	Small adult squads and nearby fixtures	Flexible departure times and lower cost	Parking, fuel sharing, and designated drivers
Club minibus	Larger groups and school teams	Keeps the squad together and simplifies equipment transport	Driver approval, insurance, seating capacity, and rest breaks
Train or public transport	Accessible city venues and longer journeys	Reduces parking concerns and can be cost-effective	Connections, luggage, delays, and the walk from the station
Coach hire	Tournaments or large travelling parties	Professional driving and organised group movement	Budget, collection points, and late-return arrangements
Mixed travel	Clubs with players in different locations	Accommodates varied schedules and reduces empty seats	Clear rendezvous points and consistent communication

Prepare Players For Away-Court Conditions

Players should know what to expect at the destination. Court dimensions and playing conditions can feel different depending on the building, lighting, wall surface, floor, temperature, and available space around the court. Sharing practical information in advance helps players focus on adapting rather than reacting to surprises.

Encourage everyone to bring the correct clothing for the whole day, including warm layers for travel and suitable kit for the venue. Some facilities may have limited changing space or different rules about footwear. Players should also carry enough water and food to manage delays, particularly when the host club does not provide refreshments.

A short travel briefing should cover behaviour, punctuality, court etiquette, and responsibility for personal belongings. Junior groups need clear supervision arrangements, including who is responsible at meeting points, during breaks, and on the return journey. Adult squads benefit from the same clarity, especially when several cars or independent travel plans are involved.

Build A Reliable Match-Day Schedule

Work backwards from the scheduled start time. Include the planned arrival, parking or station transfer, changing time, captain’s briefing, warm-up, and any formal welcome from the host. Write the schedule in plain language and share it with everyone travelling, including parents and guardians where appropriate.

A useful itinerary might include departure, a planned rest stop, expected arrival, check-in with the host, warm-up, first fixture, food break, final match, and return departure. The exact timings will vary, but the sequence gives players confidence and helps the organiser identify pressure points before the day begins.

Leave space for the unexpected. Traffic, road closures, delayed trains, and lost directions can all affect an away match. If the team is running late, the captain should contact the host promptly rather than leaving them to guess. Courtesy matters, and early communication may allow the host to adjust court allocation or warm-up arrangements.

Manage Costs, Safety, And Communication

Agree travel costs before the fixture. Depending on club policy, players may contribute towards fuel, parking, minibus hire, or public transport fares. A simple, transparent approach avoids awkward conversations after the match. Keep receipts where reimbursement is required and record any shared payments accurately.

Safety should shape every decision, particularly for young players and long-distance travel. Use seat belts, follow legal passenger limits, check that drivers are rested, and schedule breaks on longer routes. Clubs should maintain appropriate emergency information and ensure that responsible adults know what to do if a player becomes unwell or separated from the group.

Use one main communication channel for updates and reserve urgent calls for time-sensitive problems. A message before departure can confirm attendance, while another on arrival can reassure those waiting at home. After the fixture, share the return estimate and report any significant delay as soon as it becomes clear.

Use These Away-Match Travel Practices

Confirm the venue, arrival time, parking details, and host contact at least several days before play.
Keep a current passenger list, emergency contacts, and driver information with the team organiser.
Pack a labelled equipment bag with balls, footwear, water, first-aid supplies, and essential documents.
Build in a realistic travel buffer and agree what happens if a player or vehicle is delayed.
Share costs, safeguarding expectations, and communication arrangements before the day of departure.

Make Every Away Fixture Count

A dependable travel routine gives players the best chance to enjoy competition and perform well. It also reflects the standards of the club: respectful to hosts, supportive of teammates, careful with young people, and prepared for the practical details that make participation possible.

Club committees, captains, coaches, and volunteers can turn these principles into a repeatable away-match checklist for the season. Use it when arranging the next fixture, review what worked after returning home, and build a travelling culture that makes every Rugby Fives journey organised, welcoming, and ready for play.

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What is Fives?

A handball sport with deep roots

Rugby Fives is a fast, skilful handball game played in an enclosed court with walls. It takes its name from Rugby School, where the modern game developed. The RFA provides resources and an introductory video for newcomers eager to understand the rules and spirit of the sport.

Discover the game

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Where to Play

Courts across the country

Rugby Fives is played at schools, universities and clubs throughout the UK. Whether you are a seasoned competitor or picking up a glove for the first time, the RFA can help connect you with local venues and fellow players.

Find a court

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Rankings

Tracking the best in the game

The RFA maintains official player rankings, including a dedicated Women's rankings list and end-of-season standings. A comprehensive record book of tournament winners stretches back to 1925, preserving nearly a century of competitive history.

View rankings

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Fixtures & Tournaments

The competitive calendar

The RFA calendar includes championships, open tournaments, and school and university matches. Major events have included the National Open Singles, the South West Open, the London Open, the Scottish Open, and the Owers Trophy — alongside representative fixtures against schools and clubs.

See fixtures

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