CDUL RUGBY CLUB VISITS BATH WITH FOUR YOUTH TEAMS

The tour firstly consisted of two coaching days with the technical staff of Bath Rugby Academy, co-ordinated by Jimmy Dean, where the players were split into their respective age groups. The groups were taught exercise drills and games situations not only used by youth rugby players but also regularly by the first team and as such all the youngsters gained valuable skills and attributes needed in order to progress within the development of rugby.

It wasn’t all rugby though as CDUL Rugby Club were also fortunate enough to the visit the local cultural and heritage site of Stonehenge, were they learnt about the mystical and historical aspects of this world famous site.

After training on the second day CDUL were treated to lunch at the player’s lounge at the famous Recreational Ground, home of Bath Rugby where they began to feel what it was like to be a professional rugby player. It was then on to watch what top flight rugby in England can lead to with hard work and determination, a Guinness Premiership game. CDUL travelled to Reading to the Madejski Stadium to watch a strong top 4 London Irish take on Bath, who were lying mid-table. The game was intense and free flowing and a revitalized Bath punished London Irish for a catalogue of errors as they secured their third-successive Guinness Premiership victory with a resounding score-line of 35-22.

The final day saw CDUL visit what the finest Welsh rugby has to offer by visiting the infamous Millennium Stadium. Home just days before to the six nations clash between Wales and Scotland, with the Welsh team victorious winners 31-24. The players were able to visit the player’s dressing room and envisage the passion and desire necessary for a huge international.

All fired up after their visit to Millennium Stadium it was then onto Bristol to play Clifton RFC, where four fixtures were arranged, one game for each of the age groups. Up first were the U11’s & U12’s who despite the obvious physical size difference of their opponents, both ran out victorious due to neat handling and superior will.

Up next were the U13’s playing for the first time on a full pitch and with posts. Although eventually overwhelmed by superior speed and strength, CDUL U13’s showed all that they had learnt in the past three days, desire, determination and teamwork, thus they fiercely battled until the final whistle whilst still displaying some good technical rugby.

The final game of the evening saw a fired U14’s take to the field. The stands were now filled with a decent sized crowd who watched the ultimate match. Both sides showed good technical skills with great handling and a high standard of physical tackling. Eventually Clifton RFC ran out winners but CDUL U14’s showed the potential that Portuguese Rugby has to offer.

All games played with great spirit and gamesmanship and such CDUL RFC gained many admirers from the crowd watching and both the coaching staff and players of Clifton RFC.

Overall the tour was a huge success as it provided a great rugby experience and will surely leave a long lasting impression on what the world of Rugby has to offer the young generation of today for Cdul Rugby Club.