With only 15 brave warriors available (and Sparky proudly taking on waterboy duties—“Now that’s what I call high quality H2O!”), the lads were ready for anything.

We were lucky to have fantastic support from our travelling parents and grandparents, who didn’t just claim a corner of the ground… they practically claimed half the bar on both evenings too!

Drawn in a tough group of five teams—including sides stacked with private school players fresh from National Schools competitions and Midlands County champions—the standard was sky high. But our boys never took a backward step. They battled hard in every match and came away with a very respectable 3 wins from 7 games.

There were some cracking tries scored by Elliot, Finley, Oliver B, Harry, and Riley H, while the forwards earned special praise from the top teams for their work rate and physicality. Around the ruck we were sharp, and when the defence pressed, we looked solid and determined.

We had a slight wobble in our penultimate game, but true to form, the lads saved their best until last—turning on the style in the final match and scoring for fun through sheer grit at the breakdown. That was despite being a player down and carrying more than a few bumps and bruises.

Of course, no tour would be complete without a few “disciplinary measures.” Fines were handed out for crimes such as wearing matching socks, texting girlfriends, failing to present the required cosmetics, and neglecting the tour mascot. Punishments included press-ups, surprise makeovers, and even the occasional wax strip—leaving some players (and a few parents!) heading home with slightly smoother legs than expected!

In the end, the trip was about more than just rugby. It was a chance to bond as a team, make lifelong memories, and celebrate the end of a long season in style. The lads represented the club brilliantly and were a real credit to their families.

And finally, a massive thank you to Cymon Swords-Lee for organising the whole adventure. It’s never an easy task, but he absolutely smashed it and made the weekend unforgettable.

Bring on the next tour!