Alongside pro coaching sessions and the opportunity to develop skill and technique playing in exciting fixtures, the recent Senior Rugby Tour to South Africa followed a jam-packed itinerary which also included the chance to explore the local areas and Cape Peninsula, experience wildlife tours, including whale watching and a chance to see the ‘big 5’ during a Game Drive, and a surf lesson!
The tour kicked off with a trip to the flat-topped landmark of Table Mountain, which provided a breathtaking view of Cape Town and Camps Bay, before the boys took part in their first training session in Stellenbosch. This was one of the many sessions led by a range of experienced South African Rugby coaches over the course of the tour and provided the team with the chance to experience different training styles to broaden and develop their skillsets.
The techniques learnt in training were put to the test in a fantastic match in Kylemore, surrounded by spectacular views of the mountainous landscape. Playing against excellent opposition, the U17s put on a great performance and won 34-28. The 1st XV narrowly missed out on a win, drawing the match to a close with a single score loss. This opportunity to make connections with the other team, play against challenging opposition and develop a strong sense of team spirit became a highlight of everyone’s rugby journey on this trip.
Throughout the trip, the boys also thoroughly immersed themselves in the country’s culture, trying local cuisines and enjoying a delicious Braai – a South African barbeque tradition using fire-fuelled methods-, discovering local stories and histories, and exploring the nature surrounding them.
A particular highlight for the group was a stay at Garden Route Game Lodge which included a Game Drive to see ‘the big 5.’ Lions, cheetahs, elephants and hippos were all spotted on the safari before embarking on a whale watching tour in Hermanus to see the southern right whales of Walker Bay.
On the final day of the tour, the group visited the Nelson Mandela Art Exhibition and met with the gallery’s owner who spoke to them about his work with Nelson Mandela in the early 2000’s, where he explained how he had met with him and persuaded him to tell his story through art.
They also had the chance to make their own collective handprint painting which rounded up the trip perfectly by emphasising the sense of camaraderie shared between the boys through memories which will last a lifetime and a wealth of new skills they can now bring back to the rugby pitch.
