Based on past experiences and feedback from all stakeholders, the TRRA and TRU have jointly decided to restructure Social Tournaments. The consensus is that all Social Tournaments will now operate independently of the TRRA and TRU.
Social Tournaments have consistently emphasized cost as a primary concern, which has resulted in an excessive reliance on TRRA Referees and Match Officials. This has led to repeated instances of Match Officials being compelled to work numerous matches over extended durations, often in challenging conditions, with minimal or no compensation.
Various proposals were experimented with in an attempt to address cost reduction and referee overuse, but none proved to be a definitive solution. Consequently, the following protocol will be implemented for all Social Fifteens and Sevens tournaments in the Texas GU:
- Tournaments are required to secure USA Event Sanctioning before making a request to the TRU.
- Tournaments must submit a request form at least 30 days before the event through the website.
Once approved by USA Rugby, the event will be listed on our Fixtures & Results page as a Social Event Only.
Clubs have the option to request a proposal from TRRA for coverage by their match officials, including a Referee Manager, or they can independently reach out and contract match officials for their specific events. It’s important to note that these match officials must be registered and compliant with USA Rugby, and they are not restricted to the TRU or TRRA. While payment and compensation terms are flexible and subject to individual negotiation, it is imperative that all payments are settled on the event day. We strongly recommend a minimum referee rate of $100 per day. Please bear in mind that clubs are responsible for covering referee expenses for all Social Tournaments, except in cases of official TRU events.