....in terms of its size, sponsorship, theming and of course the memories that our young players and their families make on these fabulous weekends.
When else could you get to spend 3 nights and 2 days away with your rugby chums, eating sleeping and breathing rugby while mums and dads and siblings all join in with the ‘rugby spirit’?
This year saw the organising committee from the U10’s theming the weekend as a Safari Tour, with our families ‘running wild in Devon’.
The 600-strong tour group stayed at Ladram Bay once again, practically taking over the whole site. (Pity any poor holiday maker who ended up in a caravan sandwiched between a load of our ‘enthusiastic’ tourists!!).
They arrived to goody bags brimming with their ‘Tour Loot’; the tour sweatshirt, a zebra print tour playing top and matching socks, glossy brochure, beer mats, tattoos and a bottle of prosecco to get things going!
Saturday morning a fleet of buses took them to nearby Topsham RFC where they dodged the rain and had a great morning of rugby.
All 200 players then posed for the traditional tour photo just before the heavens opened and they all departed by bus back to Ladram Bay.
I understand they all then passed the afternoon quietly in their caravans resting ahead of the big night and of course another day’s rugby planned for Sunday. Although I may have been misled on this?!?!
Saturday night is of course the time when the coaches don silly costumes and struggle to get through complicated dance routines put together by someone who normally doesn’t have two left feet!!
Each age group coaches rose to the challenge and the kids and as always laughed and cheered in equal measure. Most were in keeping with the safari theme – dancing camels, and flamingos. Not sure what happened to the U11’s all dressed as storm troopers?!
In a shock result the U10 coaches were awarded the winners of the night.
The U12’s and U11’s were presented with their club ties as they now say goodbye to the Minis section of the club and head into the Juniors.
in terms of its size, sponsorship, theming and of course the memories that our young players and their families make on these fabulous weekends.
When else could you get to spend 3 nights and 2 days away with your rugby chums, eating sleeping and breathing rugby while mums and dads and siblings all join in with the ‘rugby spirit’?
This year saw the organising committee from the U10’s theming the weekend as a Safari Tour, with our families ‘running wild in Devon’.
The 600-strong tour group stayed at Ladram Bay once again, practically taking over the whole site. (Pity any poor holiday maker who ended up in a caravan sandwiched between a load of our ‘enthusiastic’ tourists!!).
They arrived to goody bags brimming with their ‘Tour Loot’; the tour sweatshirt, a zebra print tour playing top and matching socks, glossy brochure, beer mats, tattoos and a bottle of prosecco to get things going!
Saturday morning a fleet of buses took them to nearby Topsham RFC where they dodged the rain and had a great morning of rugby.
All 200 players then posed for the traditional tour photo just before the heavens opened and they all departed by bus back to Ladram Bay.
I understand they all then passed the afternoon quietly in their caravans resting ahead of the big night and of course another day’s rugby planned for Sunday. Although I may have been misled on this?!?!
Saturday night is of course the time when the coaches don silly costumes and struggle to get through complicated dance routines put together by someone who normally doesn’t have two left feet!!
Each age group coaches rose to the challenge and the kids and as always laughed and cheered in equal measure. Most were in keeping with the safari theme – dancing camels, and flamingos. Not sure what happened to the U11’s all dressed as storm troopers?!
In a shock result the U10 coaches were awarded the winners of the night.
The U12’s and U11’s were presented with their club ties as they now say goodbye to the Minis section of the club and head into the Juniors.
Tour Chairman Phil Clark handed over the baton to next year’s U10 Chairman David Goldsworth, who spoke of the plans already underway for next March 2018.
Not convinced everyone had an early night but apparently, they were all up and on the buses again at 8am and headed to Exmouth.
Here, in the glorious sunshine they had a cracking days rugby against hosts Exmouth RUFC and Sidmouth RFC
And so, another years tour was done. These momentous weekends take an extraordinary amount of work. With the committees working for over 18 months to secure sponsorship, arrange fixtures, book accommodation, sort kit and theming etc.
We are very proud of our minis tour and would like to thank this years committee;
Phil Clark -Chairman and Finance, Lisa Thompson – Location and merchandise, Ed Simpson – Rugby God, Daniel Josty – Artwork & Brochure Design (Josty Design josty.com), Shonagh Woods – Website, Comms & Social Media (Indent Marketing – indentmarketing.com). Susannah Russell – Planning & Misc, Kerry Ellis – Transport & Misc, Alex de Mierre – Sponsorship plus considerable help from Mike Ridle, Claire Turnbull, Mat Evans, Ant Godard and others.
We must of course also extend our thanks to all our sponsors;
Barons Farnborough, Base Quantum, EI Global B2B Media Intelligence, Bourne Homes, Allium Printing & Design, Town and Country Couriers, Velsheda Consulting.
"We are so lucky to have such willing and capable members of our club who are happy to give their valuable time to work on creating this unique weekend of rugby for our young minis section to enjoy.
Looking forward to next year already and Well Done!!!", Geoff Robins, Chairman FRUFC