Putting aside a little each month now can help spread the cost of your accommodation and registration.

You can start saving through regular payments into the club bank account.

Set up a standing order through your banking app, choosing an amount and payment date that suit you.

Unlike a Direct Debit, you control the payments and can change or stop them through your bank.

Account name: Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents Rugby Club
Sort code: 23-05-80
Account number: 54741456

Over six monthly payments:

£25 a month = £150

£40 a month = £240

£50 a month = £300

£75 a month = £450

These are examples to help you plan, rather than confirmed trip costs.

The club board is currently unable to look into accommodation until IGR confirms the event venues and provides further details. This information is expected by the end of October and will help us assess suitable locations, transport links and accommodation options.

We’ll share further updates and what they mean for the Sea Serpents’ plans as details become available.

To help us prepare for registration, we’re asking members planning to attend to start paying their deposits:

Supporters: £25 Players: £40

Due by the end of October 2026

All Union Cup payments will be facilitated through a dedicated Club account:

Account name: Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents Rugby Club
Sort code: 23-05-80
Account number: 54741456

Please do not use this account for any other club payments separate from Union Cup

These deposits will go towards your registration costs. Final fees and registration details are still to be confirmed.

Union Cup 2027: Amsterdam Confirmed! 🇳🇱

Hi Serpents,

IGR has confirmed that Union Cup 2027 will take place in Amsterdam from 3–6 June 2027, hosted by IGR with support from the Amsterdam Lowlanders.

More than 65% of IGR clubs took part in the consultation, with 97% of responding clubs supporting the Amsterdam proposal.

Amsterdam offers confirmed pitches, accessible international transport and accommodation options, alongside the Lowlanders’ experience of hosting major IGR events. It also provides a clear route to delivering a safe and inclusive tournament for our community.

Please hold off on booking travel or accommodation. IGR expects to share official information by the end of October, including registration details, event arrangements, timelines and accommodation guidance. Members are strongly advised to wait for this information before making bookings.

From: Quinton Leduc (IGR-EXC)
Sent: Wednesday, 07 October 2026 15:35:28
Subject: Union Cup 2027

 Hi everyone,

Thank you to all of the clubs who took the time to provide feedback on the proposed location for Union Cup 2027. 

Over 65% of IGR clubs participated, giving us strong representation from across the membership.

Of those who provided feedback, 97% were in favour of proceeding with Union Cup 2027 in Amsterdam from 3–6 June 2027, with IGR hosting the event with the support of the Amsterdam Lowlanders. Based on this feedback, the Trustees will proceed with Amsterdam as the host location for Union Cup 2027.

Please do not make any travel or accommodation bookings for Union Cup 2027 at this time. We expect to begin sharing official information with clubs by the end of October, including registration details, event information, timelines, accommodation guidance, and other important information. We strongly recommend waiting for this official information before making any bookings.

We also wanted to provide some context around the decision. Given that we have approximately eight months to deliver Union Cup 2027, we needed to consider a number of practical factors when evaluating potential locations. We reached out to clubs in other locations to explore what might be possible, including asking whether they had the capacity and willingness to support the event within the timeframe. Some clubs were unable to assist within the required timeframe, and we also reached out to Les Gaillards but did not receive a response.

In addition, we needed to consider:

• The availability of suitable fields

• The ability to deliver the event within the relatively short eight-month timeframe

• Federation policies that allow all members of our community to participate, without requiring us to develop policy workarounds within a very limited timeframe

• Accessible transportation for clubs travelling internationally

• Sufficient accommodation options to support an event of this size

• The overall ability to deliver a safe, inclusive and successful Union Cup for our membership

Amsterdam provided us with the strongest overall position across these areas. The Amsterdam Lowlanders have previous experience hosting major IGR events, the fields are confirmed, the location is highly accessible internationally, and we have a clear path forward that allows us to focus on delivering the event rather than spending the next several months trying to resolve fundamental logistical or participation issues.

We know there has been a lot of discussion around the location, and we appreciate everyone who engaged constructively in the process. Our priority now is to move forward and deliver a Union Cup that represents all of IGR and our entire community.

More information will be coming shortly, and we look forward to sharing the next steps with you by the end of October.

Thank you again for your feedback and continued support.

BHSS WhatsApp Community Announcement

From: Ian Chaplin - President

URGENT NEWS

The Club has just had notice from IGR that Union Cup will not be held in Lisbon next July.

There are two options in the table at the moment:

1.⁠ ⁠Proceed with the Union Cup in Amsterdam from 3–6 June 2027, with IGR hosting and the support of the Amsterdam Lowlanders

OR

2.⁠ ⁠Cancel the Union Cup in 2027 and defer the tournament until 2029

Your Board has supported the change to Amsterdam.

We will come back to you as soon as we have information confirming the IGR decision.

Those of us who went to Union Cup 2011 or Bingham Cup 2018 in Amsterdam will be able to tell you all what a good time was had by all.

From: Quinton Leduc (IGR-EXC)
Sent: Friday, 02 October 2026 12:31:47
Subject: Union Cup 2027 - Update

Dear Members,

We are writing to provide an important update regarding the arrangements for hosting the Union Cup 2027.

Following an extensive period of discussions and negotiations, the IGR Trustees have concluded that there is currently no viable way for Dark Horses Rugby Lisbon, AT4S and IGR to deliver the tournament in Lisbon. Despite considerable efforts from everyone involved, the three parties were unable to reach an agreement on the allocation of financial risks that appropriately protected their respective organisations.

We want to be clear that IGR does not attribute blame to any of the parties involved. We recognise the considerable work undertaken by everyone and acknowledge that the complexity of the arrangements ultimately meant it was not possible to find a model that worked for all three organisations.

Over the past week, the Trustees have explored an alternative way to deliver Union Cup 2027 should the Lisbon arrangement not proceed. We are now considering a proposal for IGR to host the tournament in Amsterdam from 3–6 June 2027, with the support of the Amsterdam Lowlanders.

We recognise that a change of host city could cause disruption for clubs and their existing plans. This has not been an easy decision, nor one taken lightly. Every reasonable avenue was explored to find a workable solution for Lisbon before reaching this position.

Before the Trustees make a final decision regarding Amsterdam, we want and need to hear from our member clubs.

Please provide your feedback by form within the next 72 hours on the following two options:

1. Proceed with the Union Cup in Amsterdam from 3–6 June 2027, with IGR hosting and the support of the Amsterdam Lowlanders

OR

2. Cancel the Union Cup in 2027 and defer the tournament until 2029

Union Cup 2027 – Member Club Feedback – Fill out form

Your feedback will form an important part of the Trustees' consideration before determining the way forward for Union Cup 2027.

Thank you for your understanding, patience and continued commitment to IGR and the Union Cup.

From: Quinton Leduc (IGR-EXC)
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 2:00:38 PM 
Subject: Union Cup 2027 – Important Update and Voting Information

 Dear Member Clubs,

We are writing to provide an important update regarding the hosting of the Union Cup 2027 tournament.

After several months of discussions with city councillors and relevant municipal partners, the Union Cup 2027 organizing committee has been formally informed that the required number of fields and facilities will not be available to support the tournament as originally proposed (May 20–23, 2027). Although the fields at the initially proposed location were previously offered, a change in management has resulted in a shift in priorities, and they are no longer available for those dates. Despite extensive efforts to identify alternative venues, the necessary infrastructure for May could not be secured.

In response, the committee has been presented with an alternative set of dates. Please find attached a proposal outlining the option to host the tournament from July 2–5, 2027. We have received a contract with these new dates provisionally approved.

As this is a significant decision for our community, the next steps will be determined by a vote of all European clubs. Clubs are asked to vote on the following option:

Approval of the new dates for Union Cup (July 2–5, 2027)

If the vote is not in favour of the proposed dates, the bidding process will be reopened to identify a new host location. Please note that, in this case, the process will be conducted within a shortened timeframe to ensure planning remains feasible for 2027.

Voting will open on April 21 and close on Tuesday, April 28 at 10:00 PM GMT, or earlier if a majority decision is reached. Please ensure that you use your IGR email address to cast your vote.

Please note that for the vote to be valid, a minimum participation threshold of 80% of eligible clubs must be reached.

The voting link is available here: Union Cup 2027 – Club Vote on Proposed Dates – Fill out form

We appreciate your patience, engagement, and continued commitment to the Union Cup tournament. Should you have any immediate questions, please feel free to reach out.

With you,

Quinton Leduc

IGR Chairperson