AS YOU LIKE IT RUGBY TOURS

BROOKLYN
RUGBY FC

40+ players. Edinburgh, Scotland. March 2026.

THE STORY

Brooklyn Rugby FC hadn't toured in years. Not because the players didn't want to — but because nobody wanted to be the one organising it. Chasing 40 people for money, booking hotels, finding a fixture, sorting transport — it's a thankless job and it always falls on the same person.

We stepped in and took all of that off the plate. Brooklyn picked Scotland, and we built the tour from there. Within weeks, 40+ players had locked in their spot with a refundable $50 deposit. Once we had the numbers, we put together the full itinerary — accommodation at the Garner Hotel in Edinburgh's Haymarket (right opposite the train station and walking distance to Murrayfield), a fixture against Portobello RFC, tickets to Scotland v France at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, and a social programme that took in the best Edinburgh has to offer.

The club ran their own tour culture — clans, a kangaroo court, their own rules and traditions. Every club does it differently and that's the point. We set the stage, they brought the culture.

THE ITINERARY

What actually happened.

Day 1 — Thursday

Arrival & Grassmarket

The group gathered at Cold Town House in the Grassmarket for the first beers of the tour, right in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Optional visit to the Castle for the keen ones. Then it was the Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes Street for a whisky tour, followed by pints at The Standing Order — a Wetherspoons in a converted banking hall — cheap pints, grand surroundings — and team curry at Tamil Teru on Rose Street.

Day 2 — Friday

Arthur’s Seat & Game Day

Morning hike up Arthur’s Seat — the volcanic peak in the middle of the city with views across Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth. Lunch at The Sheeps Heid Inn, one of Edinburgh’s oldest pubs (est. 1360), with a 3-course prix fixe menu. Then it was game faces on: the squad headed to Portobello Rugby Football Club for the tour fixture. A proper, competitive game against a local Edinburgh side. Post-match pints in the Portobello clubhouse, then the evening let loose at Drop Kick Murphys on Merchant Street.

Day 3 — Saturday

Match Day at Murrayfield

Team breakfast at Indigo Yard, then the 40-minute walk to Scottish Gas Murrayfield for Scotland v France in the Six Nations. The atmosphere was electric — a packed Murrayfield with title implications on the line. After the match, the group had a reserved area at Ghillie Dhu to watch the rest of the Six Nations Saturday card, with a 2-course meal and pints.

Day 4 — Sunday

Free Morning & Court

Free morning to explore Edinburgh, sleep in, or go on an adventure. The tour wrapped up with a kangaroo court session at Brewhamia on Market Street — the club’s own tradition, run entirely by the players. Fines were issued, charges were read, justice was served (loosely). What happened at court stays at court.

HOW IT CAME TOGETHER

Ten months from first enquiry to touchdown in Edinburgh. Here's how the timeline played out.

May 2025

First Contact

Brooklyn’s tour organiser filled in a 2-minute form — told us Scotland, Six Nations window, roughly 30–40 players.

June 2025

Link Goes Live

We came back with a plan and a sign-up link. The organiser dropped it in the team WhatsApp. Players started locking in with a $50 refundable deposit.

Aug 2025

Critical Mass

Numbers were strong enough to commit. We locked in the hotel, booked the fixture, secured Six Nations tickets, and started building the full itinerary.

Sep – Dec 2025

Payments & Planning

Instalments collected monthly. Payment plans meant nobody had to drop a huge lump sum. We finalised restaurants, activities, and the full Tour Bible.

Jan – Feb 2026

Final Roster

Last additions joined, final headcount confirmed. Tour shirts ordered. Itinerary and contact sheets sent to every player.

March 2026

Tour Week

40+ players landed in Edinburgh. Four days of rugby, Six Nations, whisky, and a kangaroo court. The club showed up and ran their tour, their way.

ROSTER CHANGES ALONG THE WAY

Over ten months, the roster was never static. People dropped out — life happens: injuries, work, timing, finances. And other people came in. Friends heard about the tour, new players joined the club, someone's mate from another team wanted to tag along.

When players dropped out early enough, refunds were made. When they dropped late, the group absorbed it or the spot was filled. New additions were joining right up until the final month — as long as we could still get them a bed, a match ticket, and a seat at dinner, they were in.

That's the reality of organising a tour for 40+ people. The number is always moving. We manage the logistics around it so the organiser doesn't have to chase anyone or do the maths every time someone drops or joins.

“We don't dictate the tour culture. Brooklyn ran their own clans, their own court, their own social rules. Every club has its own traditions — we just make sure the logistics are sorted so you've got the time and space to do your thing.”

THE NUMBERS

Accommodation

Garner Hotel, Haymarket — shared rooms, 4 nights

~$550

Meals

Group dinners, team breakfast

~$150

Activities

Johnnie Walker Experience & more

~$100

Match Ticket

Scotland v France, Six Nations

~$120

Tour Shirt

Custom playing shirt

~$55

Flights

Book your own

~$700

ESTIMATED TOTAL

~$1,675

~$280/month over 6 instalments

FLIGHTS

Players booked their own flights — some arrived early, some stayed late, a few made a whole trip out of it. That flexibility is by design.

THE DEPOSIT

Players locked in with a $50 refundable deposit. If not enough people committed or the club decided to pull the pin, everyone got their money back. Zero risk at the sign-up stage.

THE FIXTURE

Brooklyn played Portobello RFC — The Mushrooms — at their home ground in Duddingston, Edinburgh. We worked with local clubs and rugby networks to find appropriate opposition. The goal is always a proper, competitive game — not a hammering and not a walkover.

We asked Brooklyn about their level, playing style, and what kind of game they were after, and matched accordingly. Post-match pints in the Portobello clubhouse are part of the deal — touring is about the rugby, but it's also about the handshake afterwards.

WANT TO TALK ABOUT A TOUR?

Happy to have a chat first — no pressure, no commitment. Just reply to the email that brought you here, or get in touch below.

Get in Touch

READY TO GET STARTED?

Fill in the 2-minute form and we'll come back to you with next steps. Your players can lock in with a $50 refundable deposit.

Plan Your Tour

No commitment either way. Happy to have a chat first — just reply to the email that brought you here, or get in touch below.