Flanders Open 10s Rugby Festival

Flanders Open 10s Rugby Festival

Flanders Open 10s Rugby Festival

Flanders Open 10s – Europe’s Best Social Rugby Festival 🇧🇪
📅 22nd – 24th May 2026 | Aalst, Belgium

Looking for the perfect end-of-season rugby tour? The Flanders Open 10s is your answer.

Next year it will be in it’s 32nd year, hosted by Dendermonde Rugby Club and held just outside Brussels, this legendary three-day festival takes place in Aalst, Belgium — about an hour from the capital — and brings together over 100 club, college, and university teams from across Europe and beyond.

Expect fast-paced 10-a-side rugby by day, and a full-on festival atmosphere by night, with beer tents, DJs, and themed parties in true touring spirit. Next year the theme is The Great Gatsby, come dressed in style of the roaring 20s.

Whether you’re a club side, university team, or college crew, Flanders delivers unforgettable tour vibes both on and off the pitch. It’s all about great rugby, bonding with your teammates, and meeting fellow players from around the world.

Rally the squad. Pack the boots. Flanders 2026 is waiting.

Flanders Open 10s Rugby Festival Information

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Flanders Open 10s Rugby Festival

‘Where the world unites for the ultimate 10-a-side spectacle’ – Flanders Open Rugby Festival.
Dates – Runs from Friday 22nd May until Sunday 24th May 2026.
Venue – The festival takes place at the mighty Dendermonde Rugby Club in Aalst, Belgium – approx. 1 hour from Brussels.
Top Prizes – Men’s Cup €2500. Women’s Cup €2500. Veteran Cup €750.
Tournament Format: Games = 2 x 10 minutes. Typically – (1) Men’s Cup: 8 Teams. (2) Men’s Social Cup: 44 Teams. (3) Women’s Cup: 36 Teams. (4) Old Boys Cup: 12 Teams.
Minimum of 5 games for each team.
Competition silverware for all Winners & Runners Up.
24 – hour assistance for all teams.
Medical and physio tent with trained staff.
Free water provided to teams during the festival.
Live bands and top DJs play across 3 stages each evening.
Food & bars available on site – Payable through festival card payment system. Refunds available one week after festival.
Merchandise tents.

SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY

Flanders Open 10s Rugby Festival Suggested Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Meet at selected airport of departure to Brussels International Airport.
Arrive Brussels Airport
Meet Irish Rugby Tours representative.
Private transfer from Brussels Airport to your accommodation.
Optional activity for the day.
Return to accommodation.
Opening party @ festival.

Day 2

Continental breakfast at your accommodation – Off site or on site.
Transfer to festival site from hotel accommodation for start of festival.
Return transfer to hotel accommodation.
Optional sightseeing or return to festival for evening party bbq.

Day 3

Continental breakfast at your accommodation – Off site or on site.
Transfer to festival from hotel accommodation for final stages.
Closing festival party.

Day 4

Continental breakfast at your accommodation – Off site or on site.
Transfer to Brussels International Airport.

AGE BRACKETS

Festival Teams and Categories

Any team in the world can apply to play in the Flanders Open Rugby Tens.

Typically the categories are Men, Women and Old Boys competition.

Flanders welcomes club sides, social sides, invitation sides.

For safety reasons there is a restriction that all senior players need to be at least 18 years old unless explicitly allowed by the organising committee.

ID is required at a later stage after confirmation.

ACCOMMODATION

OPTIONAL TOUR EXTRAS

Some Optional Festival Extras:

Extend tour longer to travel to Brussels, Amsterdam, make it a 7 – 10 night tour.
Combine as part of European rugby tour.
Return flights from chosen airport i.e fly into Brussels, out of Amsterdam.
An optional fixture can be arranged against local or international opposition in other destinations on your tour.
Extra sightseeing opportunities.
Possible visits to Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels and Amsterdam.

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