2007 South Africa TourTOUR NEWS
On and off the pitch the tour was a wonderfully memorable experience for all who took part.
The tour record was played 6; won 4; lost 2; points for 126; points against 71. This reflects a very successful performance in a challenging series of matches, that constituted valuable preseason training for those who are continuing in the club.
Wednesday 15 August Morning. Greetings from South Africa, where everything has gone very well so far. This is the first opportunity I have had to connect to the internet. The players are currently enjoying a lazy morning at Ushaka marine park before travelling to play our first matches against Durban High School this afternoon. They are currently billeted with families of opposition players or in a school dormitory with some of the home team players who are boarders. Management and supporters had an excellent dinner last evening with 4 teaching staff from DHS and their partners: the school is being very accommodating in putting forward two teams to play our squad as we hoped, so everyone will get a match today (except perhaps Scott, who sprained his ankle when training with the Natal Sharks Academy on Monday, but it is already on the mend). We watched the opposition train yesterday evening and they looked very fit, although the school rugby season here has been mightily disrupted by a strike of public sector workers, and the opposition has not played very many matches at all, and is grateful for visiting touring teams to give them some match play.
We do not seem to have any great photographers in the party, but I have taken a few pictures that I will try to put on this website when I get a chance. Jules is the tour video operator but keeps forgetting to bring his camera, so I fear our ability to share our experience is going to be limited! Jules did record the excellent training session with the Sharks Academy on Monday virtually from start to finish, as he was so impressed with the coaching. I will try to report on the matches as soon as possible - I am hopeful that there will be wireless internet access at Shakaland.
Friday 17 August: Today we beat Richards Bay High School 10-27 in breezy hot conditions and played very well indeed standing up to the battering that RB gave us in the ruck and getting the upper
hand, despite
conceding a soft try early on. Rob R scored all of the points but 5 (a try from Oscar) and he was selected as our man of the match by the opposition. Rob's points included a well struck drop goal from perhaps 40 yards out. His award was well deserved, but it was a real 21 man performance with much inventive and forceful play from forwards and backs. David can express it better than I but he is extremely proud and pleased with the way we are now playing and the standard of play we achieved today.
We had only 21 available because of minor bumps from having played Durban High School in two matches on Wednesday. The first match, against their "stayers" ie next season's first XV was lost 17-12 to a converted try that was the last event of the match. We started very shakily and also conceded an early try in that match but we fought our way into the match and levelled the score to 12-12 with two tries from Chris and Nick. The match was highly competitive. DHS kept it simple but we tried some more adventurous play, in gusty conditions with the result that we made many errors. We played a second match against a DHS U17 development squad, which included quite a few 16 year olds but older players too and we won this 7-13 despite having to use many of the players who had played in the first match for substantial periods. DHS are regarded as one of the top 20 rugby schools in South Africa.
We have been received wonderfully well at both match locations. Today after a "braai" (BBQ) with the opposition team and management, the lads were lined up in a beauty contest for the hosting families (mainly those of girl school students keen to meet English boys) to take their pick! They are mainly staying in large groups of 4s and even one 5. The players are attending some sort of musical event at the school this evening followed by a party there, and I am just going to join the other management and supporters in our hotel bar for a quiet night in. In between the matches we had a very enjoyable stay at Shakaland, a hotel built around a replica Zulu village and saw a wonderful performance of Zulu dancing.
Tomorrow we are off to Hluhluwe game park via St Lucia Estuary and lets hope that the wildlife is abundantly viewable, to round off an excellent week.
Tuesday 21 August:
We have spent an excellent night at a grand hotel in the Cape Town area after a wonderful weekend of wildlife watching at St Lucia estuary and Hluhluwe game reserve. I hope that I have finally succeeded in uploading some photos - they should be in the South Africa 1 file inside the South Africa tour file. It is very time consuming to do this and I must now rush so as not to miss the first wine tasting of the day!
Wednesday 22 August 6AM: I really have uploaded some pictures this time - I can see them on the screen (in the South Africa Tour 1 subfolder), so I trust everyone else can too. No idea where they went the first time I tried to upload them. They are courtesy of Ruth Sack. Yesterday we travelled on from Somerset West, where our grand hotel was, to Simons Town where we play our third match this afternoon. The lads are billetted in two rooms with bunk beds in a school house made from ships containers, and Jules, Alan and Mark are staying with them to ensure good order, while the rest of us rough it in a four star hotel on the quayside. In a subtle ruse to disrupt our prematch preparation the opposition have arranged for us to visit a ship simulator this morning followed by a short cruise on a navy boat (Simons Town is a navy town). The principal and rugby staff from Kasselsvlei HS our final opponents on Friday joined us for dinner last night, and we have agreed to play two matches there which will give everyone another game and round off the playing side of the tour well. There will be an aftermatch party and braai for the lads at the home of one of the players, so they can get to know each other a bit. Weather is bucking up after a cold front has passed through and is looking good for our planned trip to Robben Island on Saturday.
Wednesday 22 August
6PM:
Simons Town School 12 Saracens U18 40. This was a bit of a missmatch, but made worthwhile by the warmth of our reception and a truly magnificent setting for a rugby pitch with a backdrop of the Cape Peninsula mountain range on one side and False Bay on the other. Simons Town School is a small school that can field only one rugby team in the schools open age group, and so can never progress in the schools league. They have ambition to play well and welcome touring teams as giving them an opportunity to play against stronger opposition than they normally face. The folk from Kasselsvlei HS warned us yesterday that Simons Town would not be strong, and this match is best viewed as a chance to blow away some cobwebs after so much excitement, fun and travel before our match on Friday. A win is a win and the lads were very happy with the result, although if truth be told they made hard work at times of what should have been an easy task. Scorers were tries - Lewis P, Jake, Chris, Lewis H, Oscar, James cons - Jake (3), Phil (2). The visit to the ship simulator was fun and the tour of the naval support ship interesting. We then had a short cruise on a navy tug into False Bay, which was enjoyable. Simons Town School really made a great effort to entertain our party. Tomorrow we are touring the Cape Peninsula and the weather looks set to remain fair, although word has it that there has been a rock fall yesterday somewhere on the route that may necessitate a diversion.
Sunday 26 August:
After three great days based in the centre of Cape Town, we get our flight back to Heathrow at 7pm this evening.
We have checked out of the hotel and are heading for the airport via paintballing, so do not expect your players to return in ideal condition! I have to say this would not have been my choice but the lads are up for it and it will be great fun for them.
We will see you all at about 9am tomorrow at the clubhouse - check flight ETA on ceefax.
TOUR ITINERARY
On Thursday, we toured the Cape Peninsula in cloudy and occasionally wet conditions, but it was an enjoyable drive. Jules as a sailor was thrilled to visit Cape of Good Hope. We were amazed to encounter Guy Beynon with this father Huw and brothers at Cape Point - quite a coincidence - and we invited him to play in the our fixture the following day, which he did with great success. Guy had been a squad member from the U8 to the U16 seasons.
Our visit to Kasselsvlei High School on Friday could not have gone better. They are not a black African township team, but an Africaans-speaking "Cape coloured" community. When their School principal Ronald Bantam joined us for dinner on Tuesday it was amusing that he described the running open rugby played by his teams in precisely the same way David might have described our team's style (but we kept quiet, as Ronald clearly expected us to play a more traditional English game). Ronald is the Convenor (ie chairman) of South African Schools selectors. In the event we surprised KHS with our running game. We played two matches and unlike at DHS we played the weaker game first, which gave KHS a distinct advantage as they brought on their entire first team fresh for the second game, but we had only half a dozen players who had not been on at all during the first game (everyone was fit to play). Both games were excellent open games, but the second was truly spectacular and everyone agreed afterwards that you could not have wished for a better game to round off the tour. We won the first game by 10-21, with tries from Oscar, Taylor and Jonno and 3 conversions from Saul. We lost the second game 15-13 with tries from Rob and Nick, and a penalty from Rob, but we could have evened the score with a conversion that was charged down and we could have won with a narrowly-missed penalty in the final minutes. The lads were disappointed briefly at losing so narrowly but quickly saw that the result really did not matter. Chris and Oscar were named as our men of the match by the opposition in the first and second games respectively.
In a private huddle in the changing room, the players marked the end of the age group by telling each other movingly how much they had enjoyed playing together. There then followed an emotional aftermatch ceremony, with the KHS boys receiving our gift of R50,000 (about £3,500, but worth much more in local purchasing power) with rapturous applause: those of us involved in the fund-raising will remember the initial gasp of appreciation as long as we live. We gave away every bit of surplus kit we had, even including 4 club umbrellas bought originally for use when fund raising but never used either in the UK or SA. After the management and supporters became involved in a sing-song with the KHS staff over dinner (high point Ena's solo about her home town Newport and Paddy's rendition of Waltzing Matilda), everyone sang their heads off on the coach home.
Yesterday we paid our planned visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela and many others were incarcerated during the apartheid era and were guided by a former inmate who pulled no punches in telling us of the crimes that were committed there - an important lesson for all of us, particularly the boys. We then brought forward our trip up Table Mountain as the sky was cloudless, and the forecast for today was much less good. We enjoyed the breath-takingly spectacular views in perfect conditions. We then held the final Tour Dinner in a private room of an excellent restaurant. Everyone was properly thanked for their part in the tour. I am touched by the generous gifts I received. One table of players won the tour quiz and so did not have to pay for their drinks. They could not match the score of the table with David, Sheridan, Paddy, Ena, Hazel and me on it, but we were deemed to be disqualified by inside knowledge!
List of tour party
Forwards: Ben, Callum, Culainn, Dan, David, George, Harry, Jonathan, Kailash, Lewis H, Lewis P, Michael, Miles, Nick, Robbie P, Scott (total 16)
Backs: Alex, Chris, Jake, James, Marcus, Oscar, Phil, Rob R, Taylor, Saul (total 10)
Management: Alan, David, Jules, Mark, Roger, Stephen (total 6)
Supporters: Ann & Chrys; Ena, Hazel & Paddy; Ruth; Sheridan (total 7)
PLAYERS' ACCOMMODATION
August 12,13
UMDLOTI RESORT
1 South Beach Rd Umdloti Kwa-Zulu Natal Tel: 0027 31 568 1283
Fax: 0027 31 568 1200
August 14, 15
Hosted by DURBAN HIGH SCHOOL
255 St Thomas Road
Berea
Durban
KwaZulu Natal
Tel: 0027 31 277 1500
Fax: 0027 31 277 1555
Master i/c rugby: Graham Furber
August 16
SHAKALAND
Norman Hurst Farm
Nkwalini
KwaZulu Natal
RSA 3816
Tel: 0027 35 460 0912
Fax: 0027 35 460 0824
August 17
Hosted by RICHARDS BAY HIGH SCHOOL
Corner of Essenwood Way
& Via Ricardia
(PO Box 1007)
Arboretum
Richards Bay
KwaZulu Natal
Tel: 0027 35 789 3201
Fax: 0027 35 789 1221
Master i/c rugby: John Putter
August 18, 19
HILLTOP CAMP, HLUHLUWE
PO Box 25 Mtubatuba 3935 Kwazulu Natal Tel: 0027 35 562 0848
Fax: 0027 35 562 0113
August 20
ERINVALE HOTEL
Upper Lourensford Rd
Somerset West
Cape Town 7129
Tel: 0027 21 847 1160
August 21, 22
Hosted by SIMONS TOWN SCHOOL
Harrington Road
Seaforth
Simons Town
Western Province
RSA 7139
Tel: 0027 21 786 4646
Fax: 0027 21 786 1065
Master i/c rugby: Roland Mostert
August 23, 24, 25
THE BREAKWATER LODGE Portswood Road The V&A Waterfront Cape Town
RSA 6560
Tel: 0027 21 406 1911
TOUR ITINERARY IN MORE DETAIL
Saturday August 11 Departure Day
1400 Assemble Saracens RFC, Bramley Sports Ground, Green Road, London N14 1430 Dep for London Heathrow 1600 Eta London Heathrow T1 1900 Dep London Heathrow for Johannesburg on SA235 Sunday August 12 Arrival Durban-Acclimatise 0540 Players from NZ/Australia arrive in Johannesburg 0650 Main party arrives Johannesburg International Airport
Clear immigration, collect baggage, clear customs Walk to Domestic Flight terminal and check in for connecting flight to Durban 1100 Dep Johannesburg for Durban on SA547 1210 Arrive Durban Met by: Umhlanga Coaches 1305 Dep Durban Airport for Nth Durban (Umdloti Resort) 1400 Arrive Umdloti Resort Check-in: find rooms Lunch (if required - tourers free to choose restaurant in Umdloti) Rest & Relax 1600 Training session on beach 1900 Tour Party Dinner @ Bush Tavern, Umdloti Resort
Monday August 13 Practice Day at Natal Sharks
Morning free for relaxation
1245 Dep Umdloti Resort for ABSA Stadium Durban
Practice Session with Sharks Academy coaching team
1730 Dep ABSA stadium
1815 Umdloti Resort
Dinner - Braai at Umdloti resort. Tour Court.
Tuesday August 14 Training and transfer to DHS
billets
1000 Dep Umdloti for Gateway Shopping Mall including Lunch
1400 Arrive Riverside Sports Club for training
1700 Durban High School
Meet hosts and disperse with families
Players: Evening free with host families
Management & Supporters: Dine together with DHS staff and partners at Havana Grill, Suncoast Casino
Wednesday August 15 Match Day 1Durban High School
0800 Assemble at Durban High School
0900 Depart for USHAKA
marine park including lunch
1400 Riverside Sports Club
1545 KO MATCH1: v DURBAN HIGH SCHOOL "Stayers"
1700 KO MATCH2: v DHS Devt Team
After Match Ceremony
Rest of evening free with host families
Thursday August 16Transfer through Natal to Shakaland
Breakfast with host families
0800 Assemble at Durban HS
0830 Dep Durban High School
Pick Up Management and Supporters @ Umdloti Resort
Lunch en route
1500 Eta Shakaland
Check-in: find room
1600 Cultural show
Dinner
2000 Zulu Dancing
Friday August 17 Match Day 2Richard's Bay HS
Breakfast @ Shakaland
0900 Dep Shakaland for Richard's Bay
1200 Lunch at Protea Hotel, Richard's bay
Richard's Bay HS
Welcome by:
Johan Putter
Assemble in Pavilion
1330 KO MATCH 2 v RICHARD'S BAY HIGH SCHOOL
Venue: School
After Match Function
Meet new hosts and disperse with families
Rest of evening free with families
Saturday August 18Transfer north to Hluhluwe Game Park
Breakfast with host families
0830 Assemble Richard's Bay HS
0900 Dep Richard's Bay HS for Hluhluweâ€â€via St Lucia
1130 Lunch at St Lucia village
1300
St Lucia Estuary Cruise
Continue to Hilltop Camp (Hluhluwe)
1600 Eta Hilltop Camp, Hluhluwe
Check-in: find chalets
Dinner @ Hilltop
Sunday August 19 Major Sightseeing in Hluhluwe
0600 Morning Game Drive
Breakfast @ Hilltop Camp
Day of Rest & Relaxation and Sightseeing
in Hluhluwe Game Reserve
1700 Evening Game Drive
Dinner @ Hilltop
Monday August 20 Fly to Cape Town
Breakfast at Hilltop
0800 Dep Hilltop for Durban Airport
1200 Eta Durban Airport
Check in at SAA Desk
1405 Dep Durban for Cape Town on SA 617
1615 Eta Cape Town Airport
Met by
Hylton Ross Tours
1715 Dep Cape Town Airport for Somerset West
1800 Eta Erinvale Hotel
Tuesday August 21Practice and Sightsee Winery
Breakfast @ Erinvale Hotel
1100 Check-out of Erinvale Hotel
1130 Eta Spier Wine Estate
Wine taste, see cheetahs and eagles, Lunch
1400 Dep for Franschhoek
1500 Wine Visit @ Boschendal Estate
1545 Dep Boschendal Estate, Franschhoek
Transfer down the Cape Peninsula
1800 Eta Simonstown High School
Welcome by :
Rowland Mostert (Teacher i/c Rugby)
Shown to- Lawhill House (schoolboarding hostel)
Evening meal at hostel
Wednesday August 22 Match Day 3, Simonstown HS
Breakfast at Lawhill House
Training session
Visit ship simulator
Lunch
1500 KO MATCH 3: v SIMONSTOWN HS
Venue: Main Pitch SHS
After Match Function
Thursday August 23 Full Day Sightseeing Cape Peninsula
Breakfast at Lawhill House
0900 Dep Simonstown HS
FULL DAY EXCURSION
to include:
The Cape Peninsula, Stop at Boulders Beach
for the penguin colony,
Cape Point, Hout Bay, Chapmans Peak
1700 Eta Breakwater Lodge
Visit The V&A Waterfront (Cape Town) including dinner
Friday August 24: Match Day 4Kasselsvlei HS
Breakfast @ Breakwater Lodge
Visit NEWLANDS?
1330 Eta Kasselsvlei High School
1500 KO MATCH 4: v KASSELSVLEI HIGH SCHOOL
Venue: Main Pitch KHS
After Match Function
2000 Dep Kasselsvlei HS for Cape Town City Centre
2100 Eta Breakwater Lodge
Saturday August 25: Sightsee Robben Island (weather and conditions permitting)
Breakfast @ Breakwater Lodge
Dep Breakwater Lodge for V and A Waterfront and Nelson Mandela Gateway
1030
Check in for hydrofoil ferry crossing
1100 Dep for Robben Island on Cruise 4
1130 Eta Robben Island
Bus tour of island including the quarry followed by escorted tour of the prison
Dep Return to Cape Town (approx timing)
1500 Eta V and A Waterfront
Rest of day free
Sunday August 26: Visit Table Mountain (weather permitting) and fly to London
Breakfast @ Breakwater Lodge
1000 Check-out of Breakwater Lodge
1030 Visit : Table Mountain via cableway
Lunch
1500 Dep Breakwater Lodge for Cape Town Airport
1600 Eta Cape Town Int. Airport and check-in @
SAA
Desk
1900 Dep Cape Town Int. A' pt for London Heathrow on SA 220
Monday August 27Return to UK
0620 Eta London Heathrow T1
0720 Dep London Heathrow for Saracens
0845 Eta Saracens RFC
END OF THE TOUR
Roger
Tour Management Team
Youth Chairman:
Jules Davies
Tel: 0208 372 0814(H)
07786 113175 (Mob)
Head Coach:
David Mobbs Smith
Tel: 01707 642166(H)
07956 671208 (Mob)
Coach:
Alan Jobson
Tel: 0208 882 5619(H)
Coach: S
tephen Phipps
Tel: 0207 794 3947(H)
07831 248725 (Mob)
First Aid: Mark Tipping Tel: 01767 650318 (H) 07967 447979 (Mob)
Organiser:
Roger Watson
Tel: 01707 646868(H)
07890 235322 (Mob)
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2008 Tour to Holland
Saracens Reunited 10s Tournament
