What to Pack for a Rugby Tournament: The APR Games Las Vegas Checklist
Boots, mouthguard, tape, heat gear and the paperwork nobody remembers: a complete packing list for a three-night 10s rugby weekend in Las Vegas.
Knowing what to pack for a rugby tournament sounds like the easy part. Then you land in Las Vegas, unzip your bag in the hotel room and realize your mouthguard is still on the kitchen counter at home, you brought one pair of socks for three nights of rugby, and the only sunscreen you own is in a bottle the size of a shampoo. Every tournament team has that player. This guide makes sure it is not you.
The APR Games 2027 runs over Memorial Day Weekend, May 29–31, 2027, with evening kickoffs under floodlights. That timing matters for your bag. You are packing for a desert city at the end of May, for 10s rugby played as two 20-minute halves, and for a weekend that mixes an opening ceremony, pool games and finals with plenty of time off the field. Below you will find the full checklist, why each item earns its place, what the laws of the game say about kit, and how to plan around the Las Vegas heat. If you are still putting your squad together, start with our guide on how to build a 10s rugby team and come back here when you have your ten.
- Match bag: boots with legal studs, a backup pair or spare studs, mouthguard, shorts, two or more pairs of socks, tape, and a refillable water bottle. Your official APR Games jersey and full kit bag come with the $299 player entry.
- Heat bag: sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for daytime, a cooling towel, electrolytes or a sports drink you already know agrees with you, and light clothes.
- Paperwork: ID, travel confirmations, and your USA Rugby registration in Rugby Xplorer sorted before you travel.
- Leave at home: jewelry, full-finger gloves and anything with buckles or zips you planned to play in — World Rugby's Law 4 bans them.
- Weather: National Weather Service normals put late-May highs in Las Vegas in the low-to-mid 90s °F, with lows around 70 °F.
- Next step: join the waitlist so you hear first when registration opens.
Why Packing for the APR Games Is Different
Most club players know how to pack for a Saturday game: boots, mouthguard, socks, done. A tournament weekend is a different animal. You may play more than once over the weekend — every APR Games player entry includes a minimum of three guaranteed pool games — and your body and your kit both need to recover between them. Wet boots do not dry overnight in a hotel bathroom. Tape runs out. A sock you sweated through on Sunday is not one you want to pull on again on Monday.
Las Vegas adds its own layer. The National Weather Service climate book for Las Vegas lists a normal high of 94 °F for May 29, 30 and 31, with normal lows of 70–71 °F, based on 1991–2020 normals. Records for those dates sit between 105 °F and 108 °F. APR schedules its games in the evening under floodlights, which takes the edge off the hardest daytime sun, but you will still spend daylight hours walking, warming up, watching teammates and exploring the city. Dry desert air also means you can lose fluid without feeling soaked, so hydration needs a plan rather than good intentions.
Finally, 10s rugby is quick. With ten players a side and two 20-minute halves, the game asks for repeated sprints, fast rucks and plenty of open-field defense. That is why our 8-week training plan for 10s rugby focuses on repeated efforts — and why the right boots, socks and recovery gear make a real difference across a weekend.
The Match Bag: Everything You Need on the Field
Start with the bag you carry to every game. The good news: the $299 APR Games player entry includes your official APR Games team jersey and a full kit bag, so you are not hunting for a matching shirt the night before. Everything else is on you.
Boots and studs
Bring the boots you have played in recently — not a fresh pair you are breaking in on the plane. World Rugby's Law 4 permits studs on the soles of boots, including moulded rubber studs, and the referee or match officials can check them. If you wear screw-in studs, pack a stud key and a few spares; a lost stud halfway through a pool game is a common tournament headache. Many experienced players carry a second pair of boots so a wet or damaged pair is never the end of their weekend.
Mouthguard
World Rugby's Law 4 says it plainly: "World Rugby recommends all players wear a mouthguard or dental protector." Pack two. Mouthguards go missing in kit bags, under benches and on hotel nightstands with remarkable reliability, and a spare costs far less than a lost weekend.
Socks, shorts and base layers
Plan for at least one fresh pair of socks per game, plus a spare. Your team's shorts and socks will depend on your club kit; check with your team manager what you need to bring alongside the official jersey. Law 4 permits cotton-blend long tights or leggings, washable supports and ankle supports worn under socks. It does not permit shorts or leggings with sewn-in padding.
Tape and small medical items
Law 4 allows bandages, dressings and thin tape. Bring a roll or two of zinc oxide tape and some stretch tape if you use it, plus blister plasters and any personal items you need. Your team should also travel with a basic first-aid kit — decide in advance who carries it. If you rely on any medication, carry it in your hand luggage, not in a bag that might be delayed.
Protective gear
Law 4 also lists headgear, shoulder pads or approved chest pads, shin guards, mitts (fingerless gloves) and goggles as permitted additional items. If you wear any of them, pack them — and make sure they meet the standards in World Rugby's Regulation 12, which sets out what counts as permitted clothing and equipment at match level.
| Match bag item | How many | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rugby boots | 1 pair, ideally 2 | Worn-in boots prevent blisters; a spare pair saves your weekend if one breaks or stays wet. |
| Stud key + spare studs | 1 key, 4–6 studs | Studs loosen and disappear, especially over several games. |
| Mouthguard | 2 | Recommended by World Rugby Law 4 — and easy to lose. |
| Socks | 1 pair per game + 1 spare | Fresh, dry socks reduce blisters across three nights. |
| Shorts | 2 | No sewn-in padding (Law 4). |
| Base layers / tights | As needed | Cotton-blend tights or leggings are permitted by Law 4. |
| Tape | 2–3 rolls | Thin tape is permitted; tournaments eat through it. |
| Blister plasters + small first-aid items | 1 kit | Fix small problems before they become big ones. |
| Refillable water bottle | 1–2 | Desert air dries you out faster than you notice. |
| Small towel | 1 | Sweat, grass and quick clean-ups between games. |
What to Leave at Home: Law 4's Banned List
Every tournament has a player who gets sent back to the bench to take something off. World Rugby's Law 4 lists the items players must not wear, and they are worth checking before you pack:
- Jewelry — rings, chains, earrings and the rest.
- Gloves — full-finger gloves are banned. Fingerless mitts are allowed.
- Anything sharp or abrasive.
- Items with buckles, clips, rings, hinges, zippers, screws, bolts or rigid projections that are not otherwise permitted.
- Shorts or leggings with sewn-in padding.
- Communication devices.
- Any item contaminated by blood.
The referee has the final word. Law 4 says the referee "has the power to decide at any time that part of a player's clothing is dangerous or illegal" and must order the player to remove it. A player who wears a banned item after being warned at a pre-match inspection can be sent off. The simplest fix is to leave jewelry in your hotel safe and check your kit before the warm-up — something your captain can build into the team routine. If you want to see what the referee's signals look like when something goes wrong, read our guide to rugby referee signals and our explainer on yellow and red cards.
The Heat Bag: Packing for Las Vegas in Late May
The desert is the one part of this trip most out-of-town players underestimate. APR's evening kickoffs help, but the city is still warm after dark at the end of May, and daytime hours are hot and dry. Treat heat like any other part of the game: plan for it.
World Rugby updated its heat and air-quality guidelines in 2025. They use a Heat Stress Index that combines air temperature, humidity, wind and radiation, and they set out steps for match organisers as the risk rises — from more fluids and less clothing, through cooling breaks with iced towels, to longer half-times and, at the extreme end, delaying or suspending play. That is the organiser's job. Your job as a player is to arrive hydrated and bring the gear that lets you use those breaks well. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also publishes heat guidance for athletes, including staying hydrated, resting in the shade, wearing light clothing and knowing the warning signs of heat illness. If you or a teammate feel unwell in the heat, stop and tell the medical staff or your coach straight away.
| Heat bag item | When you will use it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Refillable water bottles | All weekend | Sip through the day, not just at kickoff. |
| Electrolyte drink or tablets you already use | Before and after games | Tournament weekend is not the time to try something new. |
| Sunscreen (high SPF) | Daytime | Check current airline/TSA liquid rules before packing it in a carry-on. |
| Hat and sunglasses | Daytime and warm-ups | Desert sun is strong and reflective. |
| Cooling towel | Water breaks, half-time, bench | Wet it, wring it, wear it on your neck. |
| Light, loose clothing | Off the field | Breathable fabrics and light colors. |
| Lip balm | All weekend | Dry air cracks lips quickly. |
| Light layer | Evening | Air-conditioned casinos and restaurants can feel cold after a game. |
Food matters too. Pack familiar snacks for between games and plan a proper meal after you play. Athlete nutrition is personal, so stick with what you know works for you; our partner Clann13 focuses on supplements and athlete nutrition, and is also the presenting partner of our weekly Tuesday Skills series. For general training guidance, start with the training plan linked above and talk to a qualified professional about anything specific to you.
Packed your boots? Get on the list.
Player entry is $299 and includes your official APR Games team jersey, a full kit bag, at least three guaranteed pool games, opening-night access and your own player profile on americanprorugby.com. Join the waitlist to hear first when registration opens.
The Paperwork Bag: Documents and Admin
The most expensive thing to forget is not a piece of kit. It is a piece of admin. Before you travel, make sure you have:
- Government-issued photo ID for flights and hotel check-in.
- Travel and hotel confirmations saved offline on your phone, in case signal is patchy.
- USA Rugby registration. USA Rugby's policies require players in a game to have a current, active registration with their team in Rugby Xplorer, and USA Rugby's insurance page explains that accident coverage applies at sanctioned events where all team members are registered. APR's exact roster requirements will be confirmed with player registration, but getting registered early is the safest plan.
- Emergency contact and health insurance details — keep a copy with your team manager.
- Your team schedule for the weekend, including warm-up times.
Your team manager should hold a simple roster sheet with every player's name, emergency contact and registration status. If you are the captain or manager, our squad-building guide covers the roster, budget and timeline in more detail.
The Weekend Plan: Pack Around the Schedule
The APR Games 2027 schedule is built for evenings, so plan your bag around it. On Saturday, May 29, the opening ceremony is at 6 PM, followed by an exhibition at 7:30 PM and a social at 9 PM. Sunday, May 30, brings the pool games in the evening. Monday, May 31, is finals night: the Youth final at 4 PM, the Women's Social final at 6 PM and the Men's Elite final at 8 PM.
| Day | What is on | What to have with you |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, May 28 (travel day) | Arrive, check in; the APR Coaching Clinic runs May 28–31 | Carry-on with boots, mouthguard and any medication in case checked bags are delayed. |
| Sat, May 29 | Opening ceremony 6 PM, exhibition 7:30 PM, social 9 PM | Team kit or smart-casual for the ceremony, light layer for later. |
| Sun, May 30 | Pool games (evening) | Full match bag, heat bag, two water bottles, fresh socks. |
| Mon, May 31 | Youth final 4 PM, Women's Social final 6 PM, Men's Elite final 8 PM | Spare everything — and something dry to change into after. |
| Tuesday (travel home) | Fly or drive home | A plastic bag for wet kit and muddy boots. |
A useful trick: pack your carry-on as if your checked bag will not arrive. Boots, mouthguard, a pair of shorts, socks and anything you cannot replace in a hurry should travel with you. Everything else — spare clothes, toiletries, the second pair of boots — can go in the hold.
Off the Field: Las Vegas Essentials
Three nights in Las Vegas means a lot of time off the pitch. A few things make that time easier:
- Comfortable shoes for walking. Distances on and around the Strip are longer than they look, and you do not want to blister your feet before a game.
- A phone charger and a small power bank. Maps, tickets, team chats and photos drain batteries fast.
- Smart-casual clothes for dinner and the opening-night social.
- Swimwear — a pool session is a popular way to recover, but keep sun exposure sensible on game days.
- A team plan. Agree meal times, a curfew before pool and finals days, and a meeting point.
For ideas on where to stay, eat and celebrate, our partner Luna Appleton publishes Las Vegas guides that are worth a look before you book. And if your club is raising money to get to Vegas, Giftabiz is building an early-access platform where friends, family and community can back a new business launch with gifts and video messages through a shareable page — a useful idea for any player whose side hustle could use some backers.
Team Kit: What the Captain or Manager Should Bring
Some items belong to the whole team, not one player. Divide them up in your team chat so nothing is missed and nothing is doubled:
| Team item | Who carries it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Match balls (2–3) | Captain or forwards coach | For warm-ups; check what the organisers provide for games. |
| First-aid kit | Team manager | Plasters, tape, scissors, ice packs, gloves. |
| Large water containers / cooler | Team manager | Ice is the best friend of a desert tournament. |
| Training cones and bibs | Coach | For a sharp, short warm-up. |
| Roster and emergency contacts | Team manager | Printed and on a phone. |
| Kicking tee | Goal kicker | The one item every kicker forgets once. |
| Spare mouthguards and laces | Captain | Cheap insurance. |
Before you travel, run a short "kit call" in your final training session: every player shows their boots, mouthguard and socks. It takes five minutes and saves a lot of frantic searching in Las Vegas. If your team is still sharpening its skills, the latest episodes of our Tuesday Skills series cover safe tackle technique, the pop pass, catching and the spin pass.
Supporters, Families and Fans: A Shorter List
Coming to cheer rather than play? Your list is simpler, but the heat rules still apply: a hat and sunglasses for the day, a refillable water bottle where allowed, comfortable shoes, a light layer for the evening, and a portable charger. Wear your team's colors. Each of the five founding Las Vegas franchises — the Vegas Kings, Vegas Knights, Vegas Blackjacks, Downtown Rugby and Vegas Lions — has its own identity, and the APR merch page shows the team jerseys. Our guide to rugby jerseys and the five APR team kits explains what makes each one different, and the holiday gift guide for rugby players is a good place to find kit for the player in your life.
APR's View: Pack Light, Pack Smart, Pack as a Team
Our take is simple. The players who enjoy a tournament weekend most are the ones who arrive organised. They have their boots, their mouthguard and their paperwork sorted, they respect the heat, and their team has divided the shared jobs before anyone gets on a plane. None of that is complicated — it just has to be done before you leave, not in a hotel lobby at 5 PM on Saturday.
The rest is rugby. Ten a side, two 20-minute halves, floodlights, and a desert sky going purple behind the posts. Pack well, and you get to spend the whole weekend thinking about that instead of where your other sock went.
The APR Games is made possible by our partners. Please support the businesses that support American rugby.
Travelling to Las Vegas? Luna Appleton covers where to stay, eat and celebrate, and In Too Win works with Las Vegas businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I pack for a rugby tournament?
Pack a match bag (boots with legal studs, a spare pair or spare studs, two mouthguards, shorts, a fresh pair of socks for every game, tape and a water bottle), a heat bag for Las Vegas (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, cooling towel, electrolytes you already use, light clothes) and your paperwork (ID, travel confirmations and USA Rugby registration).
Is a mouthguard required in rugby?
World Rugby's Law 4 says World Rugby recommends all players wear a mouthguard or dental protector. Some competitions and unions require them. Bring two so you always have a spare.
Can I wear gloves in rugby?
Not full-finger gloves. World Rugby's Law 4 bans gloves but permits mitts, which are fingerless gloves.
Can I play rugby with jewelry on?
No. Jewelry is on Law 4's list of prohibited items, and the referee can order a player to remove anything dangerous or illegal. Leave it in your hotel safe.
How hot is Las Vegas at the end of May?
National Weather Service normals for 1991 to 2020 list a normal high of 94 degrees Fahrenheit and normal lows of about 70 to 71 degrees for May 29 to 31. APR Games kickoffs are in the evening under floodlights.
Does the APR Games entry include a jersey?
Yes. The $299 player entry includes the official APR Games team jersey, a full kit bag, a minimum of three guaranteed pool games, opening-night access and a player profile on americanprorugby.com.
When is the APR Games 2027?
Memorial Day Weekend, May 29 to 31, 2027, in Las Vegas. The opening ceremony is Saturday at 6 PM, pool games are Sunday evening, and the finals are Monday from 4 PM.
Do I need to be registered with USA Rugby?
USA Rugby's policies require players in a game to have a current, active registration in Rugby Xplorer. APR's exact roster requirements will be confirmed with player registration, so register early.
What should a team manager bring to a tournament?
Match balls for warm-ups, a first-aid kit, water containers and ice, cones and bibs, a kicking tee, spare mouthguards and laces, and a printed roster with emergency contacts.
Are the players in the images real?
No. The images are illustrations of fictional players wearing the Vegas Lions and Vegas Knights kits. They do not show a real match or result.
Keep Reading
Want more? Sign up to the APR newsletter, catch up on the latest rugby news, read what 10s rugby is, learn how long a rugby game lasts, meet the teams, or start with how to start playing rugby as an adult in Las Vegas. Questions about bringing a team? Contact us.
Sources
- World Rugby Passport: Law 4 — Permitted clothing
- World Rugby: Regulation 12 — Provisions relating to players' dress
- World Rugby: How hot is too hot to play? Updated heat guidelines explained (2025)
- National Weather Service Las Vegas: May climate book (normals 1991–2020)
- CDC: Heat and athletes
- USA Rugby: Policies
- USA Rugby: Insurance
This guide is current as of November 13, 2026. It is general information, not medical advice. APR Games rules, squad sizes, registration dates and roster requirements will be confirmed with player registration. Check current airline and TSA rules before you fly. Images are illustrations of fictional players, not real matches. Contact us.