South Africa Rugby Tour Team -
July 2009
This will be the
fourth time Woodhouse Grove School has visited South Africa for a Rugby
Tour. Each trip has offered a fantastic opportunity to a different group
of students to experience and explore a wonderful country providing
memories that will last a lifetime. I am sure this Tour will be no
exception.
Our Tour Party
consists of 42 players and 6 members of staff - the largest group of rugby
players we have taken on a major overseas school tour. The organisation
and planning for such an undertaking has been going on for the best part
of three years and many people have contributed to make this tour
possible. Thanks go to the staff and players for their hard work in
raising sponsorship, but also in other activities such as the 10 km
sponsored run.
I would also like
to thank parents and staff for their support and enthusiastic patronage of
fundraising events over the past months. Events such as our Race Night
and Irish Night were a great success and provided a fun evening out as
well as raising valuable funds. The money raised has helped to reduce the
considerable burden on tourists’ parents and helps to make this once in a
life time experience a reality for our boys.
A specific mention
can be made of the Sports Dinner held in November 2008. Not only was this
important from a fundraising perspective, but we also benefited from the
presence of
Hendre Fourie of Leeds Carnegie who gave the tourists an insight into
what they can expect on the rugby fields of South Africa!
We couldn’t embark
on such a tour without our sponsors and we would like to extend our thanks
to everyone that has been kind enough to advertise in the tour brochure or
provide sponsorship.
Special thanks
must go to Team Impression Ltd who printed the brochure for us. Also a
very big thank you to Jackie Balaam who has taken the photos of the
touring party and collated much of the information and adverts appearing
in the tour brochure, ably assisted by Mrs Pat Hudson.
I am sure the boys
will appreciate what a fantastic tour this is and will make the most of
any opportunities that come their way whilst in South Africa. The boys
may not always show it but I know they appreciate all the hard work that
has gone on for their benefit.
Finally, a massive
thank you to John and Diane Weaving for their huge effort and commitment
to the last two rugby tours. Without their hard work many boys may not
have been given such opportunities.
Here’s to a
challenging, successful and memorable tour.
Anthony Cadman
WGS 1st
XV Coach
