Vision

LAST UPDATED 24 JULY 2026

To provide a high-quality, representative competition opportunity for talented rowers and coxswains within the Home Nations who aspire to Great Britain or Ireland representation.  

To provide an appropriate learning opportunity for organisers, officials, umpires, coaches and athlete support staff.

The Events

Home International Rowing offers two events, each known as a ‘Match’. These are hosted in turn by each of the Home Nations across a 4 year rolling cycle. The venue will be set by the Host Nation. The following programmes for hosting the events are agreed: 

1. Home International Rowing Regatta

2026 England

2027 Ireland

2028 Scotland

2029 Wales

2. Home International Rowing Beach Sprints

2026 Scotland

2027 Wales

2028 England 

2029 Ireland

The Host Nation shall appoint an Organising Committee and a Match Director (MD) to plan and deliver the Match in accordance with the HIR Event Handbook and Rules. A Welfare Officer for the Match shall be appointed by the Host Nation to act as a central point of contact responsible for managing and promoting safeguarding.

The Host Nation shall take responsibility for hosting and liability for the match including costs for conducting the Match as well as any insurances required to safely host the event.
Each team is responsible for covering the cost of their food, travel, transport, and accommodation. The Host Nation is responsible for covering the costs of delivering the Match. 

Governance 

The Matches will be managed by the HIR General Management Committee (“GMC”).  

The purpose of the GMC is to co-ordinate the organisation of the Match and to act as a representative and consultation body on the format and rules for the event.  The GMC and its members have delegated authority to make decisions on the interpretation and application of the Event Handbook and the Rules. Each Home Nation should ensure that consultation is undertaken with relevant performance experts (e.g. Performance Directors) so that the Match provides for an appropriate pathway for those aspiring for Great Britain and Ireland selection.   

One member of the GMC, decided annually at the AGM, will chair the Event Management Committee. The Event Management Committee is responsible for supporting the delivery of the Matches and the Chair shall liaise between the other GMC members and the current and forthcoming Match Directors. The composition of the Event Management Committee will be determined by the Chair but is expected to comprise previous Match Directors from each nation as well as those Match Directors for forthcoming matches.

The GMC is also responsible for reviewing and where necessary proposing amendments to the: 

1. Rules 

2. Event Handbook. 

Changes to the Rules, the Handbook and the Terms of Reference can only be made by the GMC following consultation with and approval from their respective decision-making bodies. 

Constitution of HIR General Management Committee (GMC)

The members of the GMC will be appointed by Scottish Rowing, Welsh Rowing, Rowing Ireland and British Rowing (who will be representing England). Each nation will be entitled to appoint one GMC member as a delegate who will each have one vote. 

It is recommended that each nation reviews their delegate at least every three years, with any changes taking immediate effect. GMC members can be withdrawn from the GMC at any point by their nominating organisation and replaced. Each nation should be represented at each meeting by either the delegate, or a deputy. The Match Director should attend the GMC meeting in the second half of the year preceding the match that they are responsible for. 

Management 

The GMC will meet as and when required but as a minimum the GMC must meet annually:

• in the autumn, between HIRBS and 10 December, and

• in the spring, between 1 January and 1 April.  

Notice of any meeting of the GMC should be given at least four weeks prior to the meeting date. Any proposed amendments should be submitted to the Secretary of the GMC no later than three weeks prior to the meeting and sent to all GMC members and the CEOs (or equivalent) of the respective nations. An agenda for each meeting should be produced no later than five days before each meeting and sent to the GMC members and the CEOs (or equivalent) of the respective nations. 

Questions arising at meetings of the GMC shall be decided by a majority of votes.  In the case of an equality of votes, the Chair shall have a second or casting vote. 

Minutes of each meeting should be produced and sent to the GMC members and the CEOs (or equivalent) of the respective nations no later than seven days after the meeting. 

Additional representatives from the nations can attend any meeting with the consent of the Chair but will not be permitted to vote or stand as Chair. 

In the case of in-person meetings, delegates should attend wherever possible. Where this is not possible, delegates can attend via online video call. The Chair of the GMC shall change at the first GMC meeting held following a HIRBS Match. The Chair should be the delegate of the Home Nation hosting the HIR Regatta in the following year. At the first GMC meeting held following a HIRBS Match, the outgoing Chair of the GMC should become the Secretary.

Match Delivery:

ENTRIES: 

Team entries, names of individuals and their respective clubs shall be supplied to the Match Director by the Monday before the Match (an alternative date for submission of entries may be agreed directly between the GMC and the Match Director) in the format of the Match Director’s choosing. A template spreadsheet is provided by the GMC.

ELIGIBILITY: 

No athlete may row/scull/cox for a country in either of the Matches if he/she has rowed/sculled/coxed for another country in either HIR Match in the previous year.

Each athlete must be qualified by one or more of the following conditions: 

a) ​Having been born in the country which they seek to represent. 

b) ​Having a parent or grandparent born in the country which they seek to represent. 

c) ​Be resident in the country which they seek to represent for six of the 12 months before the advertised Match Date in which they are seeking selection.  

d) Having had five years of primary or secondary education in the country which they seek to represent.

e) Having competed for the country which they seek to represent previously, subject to the requirement associated with competing for different countries in subsequent years. 

RACING COLOURS: Competitors shall use the following colours: 

Nation: England

Blade: White

All in One: White and red with lion and rose motif

-

Nation: Ireland

Blade: Green

All in One: Green with shamrock

-

Nation: Scotland

Blade: Blue

All in One: Blue with white thistle motif

-

Nation: Wales

Blade: Red (with dragon)

All in One: Red with Prince of Wales feathers motif

A Volunteer Trophy “The Griffiths Family Trophy” will be awarded annually or at the discretion of the GMC, to an individual(s) who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the development of Home International Rowing.