Did about 8 spinning jig rods and 5 baitcast rods.
Do away with the rod covers and the sponge and it will be easier. All the rod butts should not be at one end of the tube. Place a couple at both ends. All the rod tips will roughly be in the mid-section. Takes a while to arrange, but its all worthwhile. Bubble wrap the mid-section and its good to go. Could squeeze in more if the bubble wrap was excluded.
Your team mates should not be too fussy with the condition of the rods. There will definitly be very minute scratches on the rod after transportation.