South Africa Tour 2010 Report

SOUTH AFRICA U15 RUGBY TOUR 2010

v Royal Bafokeng U15 XV Won 48-0
v Hans Strijdom HS, Naboomspruit Won 61-0
v St Andrew’s School, BloemfonteinWon 22-5
v North Cape HS, Kimberley Lost 18-24
v Parel Vallei HS, Somerset West Won 48-5

The Party: Dick Mowbray (Manager), David Gibson (Senior Coach), Richard MacKay (Forwards Coach), Ben Mahoney (Backs Coach), Oliver Holt (Captain), Charles Adams, Michael Andrews, Max Baldry, Iain Billington, Henry Bragg, Brett Cohen, Fredrik Dixon, James Forrester, Dominic Fraser, Ben Frost, Ross Gardner, William Gilbey, Angus Hardy, Edward Hart, Daniel Jones, Christopher Katanchian, Alasdair Leighton, Adam McAteer, Christopher McCarthy, Charles Rider, Edward Rocca, Mobolaji Sanusi, Robert Thomas, Angus Tidey, Thomas Turnbull.

Where does one start to describe what masquerades as a rugby tour but in reality is a life experience? What happens on the pitch may be of the most immediate importance to all of us, particularly the boys, but already it is history, already it is lost in the ambitions of a new season. Of course, the tour is preserved in over 2000 official photographs, which in the digital age have a divine immortality out there in the ether and which will act as memory prompts for the rest of our lives, but of greater significance will be all the concomitants of such a tour: the discipline of preparation, the camaraderie of shared goals, the joy of victory and the sobriety of defeat, the social and geographical perspectives of all travel, and the appreciation of home and our loved ones. Already, two months into the new season, these boys conduct themselves with greater self-discipline and self-knowledge. All these things are difficult to define, but as we pass one another around school, there is the secret smile of the shared experience.

As far as the rugby is concerned, South Africa is a special place. Wherever there is a television, there is wall to wall rugby. Games at all levels, national, provincial and schools, are celebrated and replayed interminably until the next round of matches take over. The competitiveness is awesome. We were lucky enough to witness the annual derby fixture between Paarl Boys High and Paarl Gymnasium. A crowd of 20,000 shared this with us. The fixture began in 1929. In its first 40 years no side had managed to score more than 11 points! By the Year 2000 no-one had managed 20!

The boys fulfilled all our expectations. Throughout the tour they conducted themselves as true ambassadors for their School and country and played with imagination, discipline and no little courage. All 26 members of the squad could be trusted to play their part: there were no passengers. Two games were thoroughly memorable. St Andrew’s had lost but two games in two years and one of them to arguably the top rugby school in the country. It was a classic: the opposition had the edge in scrum and line-out, but our ball-handling and distribution, were at times sublime and we richly deserved the win. North Cape were unbeaten in two years. We hauled ourselves back from 24-8 to be a try adrift with minutes to go. In the dying seconds we had a try disallowed under the posts - for which the referee was subsequently corrected by his assessor. In all the mutual back-slapping after the game, no-one was much bothered: fortune plays a part in any sport – and did North Cape know that!


We last toured RSA in 1996. Already it is a different country. There is always the fear and uncertainty that attends on any kind of change. For some whites, they are simply relieved to be free of the shame of apartheid and proud to have welcomed the rest of the world to join them in the celebration of the FIFA World Cup 2010. For others there is the fear of losing what they have to policy or even anarchy. Views inevitably differ. What struck me is the obvious truth that for children who are truly children, there is no black or white. Black and white are comrades on the pitch and comrades off it. The ability of all sport to break down barriers of class, creed and colour is truly extraordinary. Rugby’s traditions of shared endeavour and hospitality have a special contribution to make here. Arriving only a few days after the World Cup Final it was evident how a new South Africa had pulled together to meet its challenge and, despite the scepticism of those who anticipated a shambles, had overwhelmingly succeeded. The unifying effect of the project cannot be understated. I was also struck by the way in which the country celebrated all aspects of its history and the forgiveness which is implicit in such universal acknowledgement. The Voortrekker Monument is such an example: historically a shrine for the white supremacist, but now a Mecca for all who would learn of the Great Trek and its influence on the thinking of generations of whites to come. With knowledge comes understanding; with understanding comes forgiveness.

Our thanks go to all who have facilitated this tour. Our particular gratitude goes to the Old Berkhamstedians for their material assistance and to the Principal for his moral support. There are countless others, among them Profitt and Holt, our sponsors, Andy Gomersall who spoke at our dinner, and Nike who produced a magnificent strip, but, above all, we must remember the hard-work, energy and great generosity of the parents. Lucky boys, indeed!

Dick Mowbray