During the summer holidays, a group of pupils from Years 11 and 12 travelled to South Africa, accompanied by Mr Sam Beckett and Director of Sport Mr James Gaunt, to participate in a rugby tour around the country. The trip consisted of playing various matches, alongside rigorous training procedures. The trip, which lasted two weeks, was a fantastic bonding experience for the team, and aimed to bring the two year groups together through training and playing, ahead of the rugby season and school fixtures.
Arriving in Cape Town, the boys were met by an England Rugby Travel representative, and transferred straight to the hotel, to settle in before departing for the first training session. The first day seemed easy by comparison following this; the pupils would wake up, before a training session, pre-match meal and then a fixture. Travelling around the area allowed the team to play against a variety of different schools at different levels, experiencing different techniques and pitches. Of the five fixtures played throughout the two week training course, Shiplake struggled to get a win, with their closest score being 33 to 35, in a match against a local school, Wittedrift High. Despite the low scores for the team, their fighting spirit was not lost – spurred on by the tough competition and the desire to better themselves for the coming rugby season back in the UK!
The trip was truly a chance to immerse themselves in the culture and way of life in South Africa. Indeed, the boys were put up with host families from Outdshroorn High School for two nights, between playing fixtures against the team from the school.
The intensity of the training throughout the two weeks meant that the boys deserved a couple of days off to explore the beautiful landscape of South Africa. The boys enjoyed post match functions with the opposition, socialising with local pupils. As well as this, excursions were arranged, including a trip to Cape Point Tour, famous for being the place where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet. The boys also got to experience a wine tour of Anura Vineyard, and visit a local elephant sanctuary. The group also had the chance to experience a game drive, seeing a variety of animals in their natural habitats. A safari walk along hiking trails meant that the pupils were kept active during their excursions, whilst allowing them to see incredible wildlife.
The team found the experience to be a fantastic way of creating bonds and increasing their fitness and motivation, in beautiful surroundings and with flawless weather. Mr Beckett was impressed with their behaviour on the trip, stating that ‘the boys were really involved with the matches and the training, eager to impress and gel as a team. Despite the results of the fixtures, fighting spirits were high returning to the UK and we have to hope that the boys take this determined attitude into their coming fixtures.’
