Welcome to the ARCH Cricket Tournament for Schools

Now Inviting Applications for the 2024 Tournament

The ARCH Cricket Tournament was started in 2006 to provide schools with an overseas experience to develop their U15s and test their 1st XI talent. Taking place at Easter in the UAE ever since, it is now the world’s largest international cricket tournament for schools.

It comprises the 1st XI ARCH Trophy, U15 ARCH Cup, Girls 1st XI ARCH Festival and new ARCH Hockey and Netball Tournaments.

✓ Fixtures at world class venues

✓ Top rate international opposition

✓ 40-over matches including day/night fixtures

✓ Guaranteed four matches on turf wickets plus training sessions

✓ Extensive range of cultural, fun and educational downtime options

ARCH 2024 Places are strictly limited to 8 teams per category. We are now inviting expressions of interest to apply for a place in the 2024 line-up.

Contact our team for details

Who competes in the ARCH Tournament? ARCH is an international event. We welcome schools from the UK and overseas every year, and invite the strongest UAE-based teams to play our international guests. Current and former winners include Winchester College, Epsom College, Gillespie Academy from Australia, Benoni High School & Waterstone College from South Africa, St. Kentigern’s from New Zealand, Dubai College from the UAE and Eastbourne College from the UK.

What does ARCH offer? ARCH enables schools and academies to compete against opposition they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to play. It also provides a cost effective way for junior teams to play on professional standard wickets at world-class venues. We believe there isn’t a better value-for-money tour.

When is ARCH? ARCH takes place every Easter in the UAE with a girls’ festival in the February half-term:

✓ 1st XI ARCH Trophy for Boys – 24th to 29th March 2024

✓ U15 ARCH Cup for Boys – 26th to 31st March 2024

✓ 1st XI ARCH Festival for Girls – 8th to 15th February 2024

✓ Girls’ ARCH Hockey U15 & 1st XI Tournament – 8th to 15th February 2024

✓ Girls’ ARCH Netball U15 & U18 Tournament – 22nd to 29th March 2024

ARCH Package In addition to tournament entry, our package includes direct flights, all ground transportation and accommodation, with a choice of excellent 4* hotels.

You can also count on 24/7 Sporta Tours team liaison from the moment you touch down to departure. To help schools get the most from their time on tour we tailor every itinerary to incorporate varied cultural, fun, sporting and educational activities.

“An excellent tour and one you all do brilliantly. We felt very well looked after and all the Sporta staff we dealt with were fantastic.”

Michael Powell, Rugby School

“Another well organised tour from Sporta. To train and play at The Int’l Stadium in Abu Dhabi was an experience our cricketers will never forget.”

Shelvin Gumbs, Bradfield College

“Sporta know what they’re doing from start to finish and make the running of a tour easy for a trip leader.”

Ian McGowan, Merchant Taylor’s School

✓ 7 day / 6 night tour

✓ Excellent quality accommodation

✓ ARCH tournament entry

✓ Match food and water

✓ All ground transportation

✓ Airport ‘meet and greet’ service

✓ Dedicated Sporta Tours team liaison

✓ Use of a local mobile phone

✓ Extensive range of excursion options

✓ World class cricket venues

✓ U19 ARCH Trophy & U15 ARCH Cup categories

✓ Well matched competition from international schools

✓ ECB ACO umpires

✓ Choice of 4* & 5* accommodation

✓ Great weather & safe destination

✓ Award-winning cultural excursions

✓ Extensive range of downtime options

✓ Direct flights & ground transportation

✓ Sporta Tours team liaison

✓ Potential to combine tours with major sporting events

Day 1 – Fly to the UAE. On arrival, a member of the Sporta Tours team will meet you at the airport and accompany you to your hotel for check in. Afternoon net training session to stretch the legs after your international flight.

Day 2 – First match day at the ICC Cricket Academy preceded by a warm-up session at the facility. Hot lunch between innings and water throughout the day.

Day 3 – Second match day at the Sevens, Dubai. Experience a day/night match under floodlights.

Day 4 – A free day enabling schools to explore and sightsee. Options include a visit to Dubai Creek with lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding or a visit to the souks. Alternatively, spend time on the beach or head to Dubai Mall and take a trip along the city’s spectacular new canal. After lunch head off for a desert safari, BBQ dinner and cultural show under the stars.

Day 5 – Transfer to Abu Dhabi. Third match day at Abu Dhabi Cricket with a warm-up session before and a buffet lunch between innings plus water throughout the day. Check into your new hotel in Abu Dhabi in the evening.

Day 6 – Enjoy a free day and time for a further excursion such as a waterpark.

Day 7 – Check out of your hotel in the morning. ARCH Finals Day fixtures for all. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your return flight(s).

*This is a sample itinerary – Sporta Tours create tailored packages based on schools’ individual requirements and budget.

The ARCH package offers a choice of excellent quality 4* and 5* hotels and apartment-hotels, all specially selected for their suitability for touring groups. Apartment-hotels are a popular option, allowing more people to room together. This often provides a better tour experience for students and makes for an easier arrangement for schools to manage.

Our accommodation options are also chosen for their location. It means transfer times are kept to a minimum and teams are within easy reach of nearby restaurants and attractions, whether city-based or near the beach.

Packages include breakfast as standard. Our selected hotels and apartment-hotels feature gyms, pools and lounge areas for groups to enjoy during their downtime too.

2019 – Cheltenham College, UK (Trophy) Gillespie Academy, Australia (Cup) Epsom College, UK (Shield)

2018 – Eton College, UK (Cup)

2017 – Stowe School, UK (Trophy) Bedford College, UK (Cup) Midland Academy, UK (Shield)

2016 – Zayed Academy, UAE (Trophy) Zayed Academy, UAE (Cup)

2015 – Waterstone College, South Africa (Trophy) Zayed Academy, UAE (Cup)

2014 – Zayed Academy, UAE (Trophy) Zayed Academy (Cup)

2013 – Zayed Academy, UAE (Trophy)

2012 – Bradfield College, United Kingdom (Trophy)

2011 – Stowe School, United Kingdom (Trophy)

2010 – St Kentigern College, New Zealand (Trophy)

2009 – Dubai College, UAE (Trophy)

2008 – Eastbourne College, UK (Trophy)