Ahead of our travelling Welsh rugby fans following the Series against the Springboks, touring students from Coleg Gwent depart today as our official advanced party.
We are delighted they’ve been able to embark on this journey after their original tour – due to coincide with the Lions in 2021 – was cancelled due to the Pandemic.
With lots of hard work, planning, late access to funding and sponsorship donations, the tour has become a reality, including prestigious tickets to South Africa v Wales in the first Test at Loftus Versfeld stadium.
As a Coleg Gwent alumni, managing director Mark Gardner has personally organised this tour, knowing the value of it to the boys, having toured with the group to South Africa as a player in 1996.
“Despite two and half decades passing, our group from the ’96 trip remain a tight unit with friendships made for life. When the opportunity arose to get the Coleg back in the skies, no stone has been left unturned in making this happen at the most affordable price for the students and staff.” – Mark Gardner
Read what the college has written about their tour and what it means for the group:
The Coleg Gwent Rugby Academy depart on their whistle stop 9-day tour of South Africa on Sunday. The 2-match itinerary includes 4 nights in Cape Town and 2 nights in Pretoria, affording opportunities to experience a range of cultural and heritage excursions including walking up Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsular tour to the southern tip of Africa, a safari game drive, a visit to Soweto and the Apartheid Museum.
The 27-player squad have fixtures against a Noordhoek Schools XV at Masiphumelele RFC in the Western Cape and Pretoria Harlequins on the morning of the 1st Test between the Springboks and Wales- we will be there- try and spot the Coleg Gwent flag and Dewi, our mascot, on TV!
The boys have been training hard on and off the field, the choir practice with our very own musical director Paul Morris, will hopefully ensure we can maintain the strong Welsh tradition and perform a rousing rendition of Calon Lan to our hosts.
This once in a lifetime tour is just what is needed to compensate for the restrictive years these young men have all had to endure.
Pob lwc from all at MSG to Steve Llewellyn and his backroom staff on this exciting adventure to the most challenging – and rewarding – of rugby environments.
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