Cooch on Tour

On Tour With Cooch
Gareth Chilcott, former Bath, England and Lions player and host of our rugby supporters tours for over 20 years, talks about his touring days, as a player and with Gullivers, giving you a taster of what to expect on tour with Cooch!

Which has been your favourite rugby tour so far?
So many amazing trips! If I had to say one, the most recent in my memory is Lions 2009, South Africa. Not only could the series have gone either way, the atmosphere at the games and the spirit was breathtaking. The great thing about rugby tours is that it’s all ages, all shapes and sizes – everyone is in together having a cracking time. 

What was your first tour?
Great memories – Bath to California in 1978. It was one of the club’s first big tours, as normally they would go closer to home. For me, a young man from Bristol, to go with Bath to California was massive, a dream. That started my wanderlust, my love of touring and I can’t think of anything I enjoy more as a player or supporter.

How did you start with Gullivers? 
Back in the mid-1980s when I was a player, a great friend of mine, John Hall, chairman of Gullivers Sports Travel, asked me to come along on a jolly to Hong Kong for the Sevens. I had the best time and 20 years later I’m still doing jollies with great people, albeit with a bit more responsibility now.

I don’t think I could tour with anyone but Gullivers. It’s a really unique experience, because everyone on the trips are really friendly and passionate about their rugby – even the tour managers are sports mad. There’s a special spirit that I’ve never seen on any other tour, but more importantly, there’s plenty of banter and entertainment!

Are you amazed with how Rugby World Cup has grown?
When people ask me about my best moment in rugby, it wouldn’t be playing for Bath, England or the Lions, it was when England won the tournament in 2003. I was nothing to do with England winning it, apart from being on Radio 5 Live, but it was still one of my favourite rugby moments of all time because it meant so much to wrestle the Webb Ellis Cup off the southern hemisphere sides. In 2011, you’ll go to New Zealand to see it in all its glory with like-minded people, but you go with a hint of hope that your team can win the title.

Where is your favourite place to tour?
I enjoy every country I tour, but on the horizon is New Zealand and I’m really looking forward to Rugby World Cup 2011 and revisiting this magnificent county. It has great cities, breathtaking scenery and is a country that is truly passionate about its rugby. The wines aren’t bad either!

You get the wonderful fellowship of Rugby and in between matches you visit the Bay of Islands, Hawke’s Bay Food & Wine Festival, Queenstown and plenty of other iconic destinations which make your trip the holiday of a lifetime.

And don’t think you need to travel straight there. Many people take the chance to see parts of Asia and the South Pacific, including Hong Kong, Fiji and Samoa, on their way to New Zealand or on the way back. It has become a real theme for more and more people to combine watching rugby with exploring this wonderful world of ours.

What’s your favourite memory? 
In 2009, leaving Soweto in a convey of 50 buses en route to the final Test, with around 2,000 Lions supporters. The whole of the township was there waving us goodbye and it brought tears to the eyes.

And in New Zealand – getting up early to see Marlborough Sounds as we sailed our way down to Gullivers’ Wine Festival was unforgettable in 2005. Anyone who has seen that sight will know exactly how amazing it is to experience.

Your ideal travelling companions?
I should probably say the family, but I also love being on a tour with some of my old rugby boys. The last tour to New Zealand with Gullivers saw Jerry Guscott, Jason Leonard and I on a great ship pub crawl – I was chaperoning of course! But there really is nothing better than watching world-class rugby with your friends and people who have the same love of the game.