Save the dates · 2027
Event information
Four days bringing junior clubs, senior players and families together for rugby and a Whitsundays getaway. Explore the festival programme from 29 September to 2 October 2027.
Dates
29 September–2 October 2027
Venue
Whitsunday Sportspark, Airlie Beach
A look back at the 2026 carnival. In 2027, the festival brings junior and senior rugby together with time to experience the Whitsundays.
Four days of rugby and Whitsundays
Viking Cup 10s: U6–U16 divisions. Mixed U6, U8 and U10 participation is on Wednesday 29 September; U12–U16 competition runs Thursday 30 September–Friday 1 October.
Colts Cup: U17–U18 divisions run Friday 1–Saturday 2 October.
Senior competitions: Men 18+, Ladies 18+ and Men’s Masters 35+ run Friday 1–Saturday 2 October.
Final match schedules, formats, field assignments, check-in and ceremony details are not yet confirmed. Follow published updates before making travel or match-day plans.
Team capacity
Planning provides 13 divisions and 98 team places across the festival. These figures are capacity limits, not registrations received or a live registration count.
Viking Cup 10s · Wednesday 29 September · participation
- Mixed U6s · Viking Cup 10s8 places
- Mixed U8s · Viking Cup 10s12 places
- Mixed U10s · Viking Cup 10s12 places
Viking Cup 10s · Thursday 30 September–Friday 1 October
- Mixed U12s · Viking Cup 10s12 places
- Girls U13s · Viking Cup 10s6 places
- Boys U14s · Viking Cup 10s8 places
- Girls U15s · Viking Cup 10s6 places
- Boys U16s · Viking Cup 10s8 places
Colts Cup · Friday 1–Saturday 2 October
- Girls U17s · Colts Cup4 places
- Boys U18s · Colts Cup4 places
Senior competitions · Friday 1–Saturday 2 October
- Men 18+ · Men’s competition6 places
- Ladies 18+ · Ladies competition6 places
- Men's Masters 35+ · Masters competition6 places
Team entry pricing
All teams: $99 per team · Early-bird rate
Early bird · current
$99 / team
Through 31 December 2026 (Queensland time).
Standard entry
$149 / team
From 1 January 2027 (Queensland time).
Carnival rules
The published 2027 rules apply to junior and Colts divisions U6–U18, including the updated conversion location for U12–U18 competition divisions. Drop-kick conversions are taken from within in-goal, aligned with where the try was scored, with a 15-metre exception for wide Mixed U12 conversions only.
Senior competitions: full-contact 10-a-side with 20-player match-day squads, rolling substitutions, contested five-player scrums and 16-minute games with 4-minute changeovers. Age eligibility is 18+ for Men’s and Ladies, and 35+ for Men’s Masters, measured during 2027. Local variations and eligibility remain subject to applicable governing-body requirements.
View Men’s, Ladies and Masters rulesSenior rules are an organiser-confirmed draft for governing-body review. Junior and Colts rules do not apply to adult competitions.
View 2027 carnival rules Read the conversion positioning ruleTeam referee requirement
Every U12–U18 competition team must supply a suitably qualified referee, including Girls U17 and Boys U18 teams.
Mixed U6, U8 and U10 teams are not required to supply a referee.
Junior and Colts referee duty days, match counts and club/referee allocations await confirmation against the four-day working draw. Previous weekday duty details are not confirmed for this festival schedule.
Senior teams: Men’s, Ladies and Masters teams must supply touch judges for their matches; tournament referees officiate these games. Detailed duty days and actual club/referee allocations await confirmation against the four-day working draw.
Read junior and Colts referee responsibilitiesInformation to come
Registration terms, venue operations, travel guidance, first aid arrangements, match schedule and team-manager information will be published when confirmed. Existing general resources remain available through the site navigation.
Any event times and deadlines will use Queensland local time unless a notice says otherwise.
