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Match Day 5 - Chile U17 & U18

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The last two games of tour saw RGS pit themselves against Chilean national sides. The 2nd XV made up of almost predominantly Year 11 students played the Chilean U17 side. Many of the RGS boys were therefore giving away a year of physical maturation, size and power. It was a very brave performance with George Ashton claiming the first try against the Chilean national side. Despite a lack of physical size, the line out dominated and eventually the team succumbed to the Chilean power as opposed to a lack of skill. Special mentions to Finn O’Mahony, Toko Avalani and Ben Webber for their commitment throughout the game. The final score was 42 - 5 did not reflect the game, with Chilean fresh legs scoring 3 late tries against a tired RGS team after a long hard tour.  The 1st XV were keen to bounce back after a heavy defeat against Craighouse. They played with intensitiy, pace and skill and dominated large parts of the first half. Two superb tries by Efan Morris and Jack Burniston and sever...
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Craighouse School, Santiago

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Having arrived into Santiago on Friday, our first stop was Craighouse School where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch surrounded by the mountains. Unfortunately the wet and cloudy weather meant we could not see the beautiful scenery many had promised. Mr Zair, ever the optimist, ensured the boys we would wake up the following morning to blue sky and fresh powder on the magnificent surrounding mountain peaks; surprise surprise, Mr Zair was right! Saturday morning, game day and what a beautiful morning it was. With early kick offs we arrived at Craighouse just before 9am to be surrounded by some of the most amazing scenery; a once in a lifetime opportunity to place at such a venue. We anticipated both games to be the toughest on tour.  The 2nd XV produced some excellent rugby with considerable progress seen in the set piece and some good attacking play by the backs. Finn O’Mahoney threw superbly and Louis Hudson managed the line out well. In the backs Tom Bantock offered some good running ...
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Match Day 3- Los Tordos

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The trip to Mendoza saw RGS challenged on many fronts. Mendoza is a hot bed of Argentinian Rugby famous for its tough forwards, scrummaging and its hospitality. The hosting was exceptional with a full barbecued chicken dinner on arrival at Los Tordos Rugby club. This was after an overnight Cama coach experience with the whole party enjoying the snoring of one or two individuals that shall remain nameless.  The language barrier was soon overcome with a joint training game run by Mr Huelin. Match day three on Weds 25th July meant that the 2nd XV kicked off first in beautiful sunshine with the Andes providing a stunning backdrop. The 2nds lost 26-19 conceding a try in the dying seconds after pressing for the winning try at the opposite end of the pitch. Try Scorers Will Howells, Tim Wraight, Max Jankiewicz, conversions Oli Stonehouse (2). Tim Wraight scored an incredible solo effort and all the boys battled gamely against a well organised Mendoza side. special mentions for Alex Russel...
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Game 2 - Club Athletico Rosario

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So it’s time for the proper Rugby to properly begin. Last night we dropped the students off at the Rugby club to taken back to their new hosts for the evening. There were a lot of nervous smiles and anxious questions, but finally the last student was picked up.  We met them back at the club the following day to begin match day preparations, in glorious sunshine.  As usual for an RGS team the away support was plentiful, making deepest South America seem like an Autumn day in South Croydon.  The Rosario players lined up on the half way line arm in arm. I think they may have been expecting a Hake, but we just huddled up for the start.  The game started at a good pace with Rosario stringing together attack after attack, and eventually camping on our line, but at no point did it look like breaking. We eventually exited with class, and finished with a penalty 10 m out and in front of the posts. Ben Tope stepped up to settle the away teams nerves and slotted an unconvention...
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Game day baby

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Day 2 - Match day one.  What a day! We started the day with a guided tour of the South American metropolis that is Buenos Aires, with a more than capable tour guide, Sol (Fot) We were taken to parliament square, and the start point of the revolution, the grand cathedral, and the cemetery and burial site of Eva Peron. Back on the coach and onward to Boca, a less affluent area, and home of Argentina legend Maradona. A colourful and vibrant area in which the lads were immersed in local culture. Despite Nick Moss doing his best impression of a bull in a china shop, we were ready to move on to the main business of the day - Rugby ( I flipping love Rugby!). Greeted from the coach, staff and students were clapped into Buenos Aires Cricket and Rugby Club,  one of the oldest Rugby clubs in the world, and one of the four founding clubs in Argentine Rugby, by all the home players. A touch of class from the opposition.  5mins until game time and the heavens opened with a dramatic ele...
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Day 1 - Jetlag Zombies

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So the trip the airport was uneventful and apart from Faris leaving his rucksack unattended in the departure area, the airport itself was also an easy affair. All good so far, the the trip stepped onto the BA plane which happened to be piloted by Captain Jankiewicz (father of yr 13 tourist Max), two of our more mature staff members were asked to turn left while two more were asked to move a bit further up the plane, leaving Messers Pettifer and Huelin looking after the boys in economy. Men of the people right there!! The main experience of both the students, Pettifer and Huelin, was the large Argentinian man who managed to fall asleep immediately upon seating himself, and managed to snore, non-stop, for 10 straight hours!!!! A quick nd painless transfer saw us landing in the cosmopolitan and centrally located Hotel El Conquistador, and a shopping excursion to the local shopping mall.  The boys are buzzing about playing the first warm up game and excitement is building for Wednesday...
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Opening Tour Blog!

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On Monday the 16th of July 2018, 43 students and 6 members of staff will depart from RGSHW headquarters to Heathrow airport. The intention being to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina and play some Rugby. The onto Chile, some more Rugby and some memories made.  Friendships will be forged, relationships will be tested and everyone one of the people travelling will learn something about themselves they did not know before.  This blog will update almost everyday with match reports, trip and excursion reports and vital information for people wishing to follow the trip from a far.  The content will be mainly written by the students involved on the tour, but will be monitored by staff before posting. There will also be plenty of Twitter updates to give the shorter version of events. Twitter: @RGSHWSport  The lads have been training for the tour and are working hard to ensure it is a success and trip to remember.  Please ensure you subscribe to the blog to mak...
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