The 16 day tour has been in planning for over 14 months and will see 43 players and 15 adults compete against some of South Africas best schools at U16 and U18 level.  In all, six matches will be played against local opposition and will also include a full days coaching with one of South Africas leading coaches in Stellenbosch University.

Bandon Rugby Club will be unique in that we will possibly be one of the first teams in the Northern Hemisphere to play under the new Experimental Rule changes!
Not all the trip will involve rugby, with organised trips to Cape Towns most famous sites, including Table Mountain, Robben Island and also an opportunity to go Bungee jumping and diving with Sharks!

The players have been in training since June, to prepare for the tough rugby that will be encountered down under.  To help with our skills, the coaches have been bringing some well known outside coaches. Pictured at a training session last week was the ex-Ireland Rugby coach, Murray Kidd and a group of players who will be traveling.  Connor Burke, ex Munster Interprovincial, is also taking sessions with the players.

Over the past 12 months the players have also helped build a fantastic new all weather training pitch at Bandon Rugby Club which is one of the first in the country

The tour committee of Gary McCormick, Tom Davis, Tony Lane and Barry Bateman have put in a huge amount of work to make this tour happen and they would like to extend a huge thank you to those who have helped over the past year.

Over the course of the tour we expect to send back daily reports on our progress and a players blog.  Three of the players have kindly agreed to keep a blog of day-to-day activities. This is an opportunity to keep up with what the U16 and U18 teams are doing before during and after the grand trip.

You can view the latest tour blog at www.bandonrfcyouths.wordpress.com
 
Again a big thank you to our sponsors, adults, parents and players who have made this tour a success.
Report by; Gary McCormack Youth Officer    Filed by; Shay Graham PRO 2009
 
All Bandon RFC news details and events can be found on our website @ www.bandonrfc.com along with applications for new membership and standing order forms.
Our Function room and facilities are also available for corporate bookings BBQ's Teambuilding and many other uses in conjunction with rebel corporate www.rebelcorporate.com and of course our new all weather pitch can be booked by contacting Tom Davis on 086 1250989.
www.bandontfc.com  -  www.bandonrfc-youths.com