Published on:
09
May 2008
On the evening of 8 May Councillor Bobby McGill met the Clackmannanshire Colts U14 Rugby Team as they prepared to go to France wearing their new strips sponsored by Norland Joiners. There are 24 players and their coaches travelling to Brittany in the North West Coast of France.
The team will arrive at their host clubs on Friday evening where they will be shown the local sights and experience some French cuisine. The team will then play in a major youth tournament on Sunday 11 May with teams entered from all around the world. The event is called the "Tournoi Des Trente" and celebrates its 8th year. The team has also been asked to be part of the town parade, in which they will all proudly wear their kilts as they march through the streets.
Grant Bonar, U14 Colts Coach said "The boys are all very excited about the trip. It will be a great experience for them, not just to play in a major tournament with good quality teams from around the world, but also to have the opportunity to tour through France."
The team will return home on Tuesday 13 May 2008 after travelling through Paris with an extra excursion to Euro Disney. The Colts are members of both Hillfoot RFC and Alloa RFC and along with their coaches and families have been working hard to raise funds for this trip. While supported by Clackmannanshire Council, the tour has been organised by the Colts and their coaches. This tour will be the high point of a first year of a combined Clackmannanshire rugby team who have been training and playing together since August 2007.
Ben Hanvey, Clackmannanshire Council rugby development officer, and two of the rugby apprentices, Martin Hogg and Andrew Simpson, are among the supporting adults. Ben said; "There is tremendous rugby talent in Clackmannanshire and it is great to see the Colts benefiting from the Wednesday night training at Tulligarth and the extra conditioning sessions. The boys will benefit so much from participating in a national rugby festival and return stronger players."
The Hillfoots RFC, Alloa RFC and the Clackmannanshire Colts would like to thank everyone who has sponsored the team and made the trip possible.