What Not To Forget Before You Go On Tour

This may all sound obvious but it's easy to just throw your boots in a bag on the first morning of tour and turn up at the airport. So, more haste less speed:

1. Visa

Remember that some of your team-mates may not have a British Passport and have individual visa requirements for the country you're visiting. It is also your responsibility to make sure all of your team have the correct visa. Whilst we can help and advise, the rule of thumb is to contact the Consular Section of the appropriate embassy directly.

2. Passport

Two things: i) take it with you on tour, even if touring Ireland and ii) some destinations require that your passport is valid for 6 months after your return date. Again, please consult the relevant embassy.

3. All your flight / train / match tickets

4. Tour itinerary with contact numbers & addresses

5. Insurance

Please ensure everyone is adequately covered both for the usual travel eventualities (loss of luggage, delay, sickness, etc) AND for playing rugby abroad.

This is particularly important because, even in Europe, the form you get from the post office won't necessarily cover you for injury.

It is possible, for example, that members of your family need to fly out to see you in hospital, or that you need to be repatriated or undergo expensive treatment. Policies differ in the extent of their cover.

We offer an insurance policy which covers you for the above. Please ask for a copy of the details and we will send it to you. It is very easy to organise - you simply tell us who needs to be covered, send in the premium and you have it in place.

Once you have the full document, please ensure you take it with you on tour.

6. Currency

Although, in most places, you can take cash out of the wall, it is very useful to have enough with you to last until you find your first cashpoint.

It is also security in case drawing money from your account isn't possible for whatever reason.