Akeley Wood School won 3 out of 5 of their rugby matches

Report by Tour Leader Michael Strong

28 March - 13 April 2009

After a long flight to Vancouver via Ottawa, a light training session was held in the morning before heading off to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain. The weather was fantastic and the mountain top views of Vancouver were breathtaking.

Next day saw us play our first match against what some locals had told us were the strongest club side in British Columbia. Capilano RUFC were a physical outfit and the omens did not look good as a couple of our players took some nasty blows in the early exchanges. The weather was atrocious and the pitch heavy, but we battled back and applied some pressure on our hosts. With more composure we could well have scored more points, but in the end we ended on the wrong end of a 17-5 defeat. This in itself was highly commendable, and it gave our boys a real taster of what was to follow.

After a day's shopping at Metropolis, we transferred to our friends at Aldergrove Community Secondary School. Having trailed by ten points early on, we fought back in the second half and ran out 27-22 winners.

Next morning was spent white water rafting on Chilliwack River which was fantastic fun. After a hosts’ party at Aldergrove the night before, the boys were reluctant to fully appreciate the rafting experience to begin with, but once the first boy fell in, they all seemed to lighten up!

A transfer to South Delta Secondary School followed in what promised to be a very tough match. At 15-12 in our favour and our hosts on the front foot, there only looked to be one winner in sweltering conditions, but a breakaway try eased the nerves and we eventually ran out 29-17 victors.

The breathtaking ferry journey over to Victoria on the island was stunning, before we transferred to Duncan to meet our hosts from Cowichan Secondary School. Their boys were quite a bit larger and stronger than ours, and an unfortunate injury just after half time led to this game being abandoned.

All faith and spirit was restored at Shawnigan Lake School, a quite beautiful private school and more reminiscent of an English public school. Having been fortunate enough to see a pod of four orca whales in the morning, we played our best game of rugby on the tour to run out narrow 12-10 winners. Both teams played attacking rugby from all areas of the pitch in an attempt to win, and it was a wonderful match to watch.

A playing record of three wins out of five was indeed a very pleasing and respectable return against some very big, tough opposition.

The tour was finished off with some skiing in Whistler, and a glimpse of the 2010 Winter Olympic downhill course soon brought it home to the boys what these athletes put themselves through!

The journey home offered a time for reflection on a truly wonderful experience for all concerned, and to think of new and reinforced friendships with our wonderful hosts. The Canadians are amazing people who opened their doors to their visitors as if we were long lost friends. I have certainly grown to love the country and its people, and I know the boys who toured have many life long memories to take with them. Role on 2011 - our next rugby tour!