2012 Rugby Tour brochure

Headmaster’s Foreword ...
What a prospect - 45 tourists for 16 days in the other
hemisphere with 10 fixtures against high quality opposition what a prospect!
I am sure that the competition will be robust. There is no
greater compliment. Equally, I’m sure this will be
overshadowed by the new friendships made and the contacts
forged.
Our senior teams have been great to watch this year, and I
hope that the 1st XV will demonstrate their mercurial best, to
impress our hosts as much as they have the regular
Saturday “Memorial” crowds. Will the 2nd XV remain
unbeaten? They will certainly be pushed hard, but there will
be no lack of effort in trying to maintain this proud record.
There is so much to anticipate off the field as well. This great country of so many contrasts
will surely have a personal impact on all involved.
My sincere thanks go to all the staff and parents who have contributed so generously to
make this tour such an experience, both here as fund-raisers, supporters and taxi-drivers,
and particularly in South Africa as hosts, guides and friends.
Good luck and best wishes to you all - what a prospect….
Andrew Jarman
Headmaster, LRGS
James Worlock (6) and Damon Hall picture in action during the
31-5 victory over Millfield at the Sedbergh Tens (April 2012)
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From the Tour Manager ...
Touring isn’t for the faint-hearted - ask OL Brian Ashton, who toured South Africa with
England or more recently Stuart Lancaster - it’s demanding, tiring and not without the usual
ups and downs. However it does present a
fantastic opportunity to the 39 players
selected to represent the school with a
playing itinerary that includes the alma mater
of a host of Springboks including current
captain Jean de Villiers – the famous Paarl
Gym. For some it’s the last leg on a LRGS
journey they will never forget and once they
touch down back in England, pastures new
await. Yet for several others they will be
pulling on the LRGS 1st XV rugby shirt for
their very first time.
The LRGS brand of rugby has travelled well since the 1860s whether at Preston
Grasshoppers with our U16’s in the floodlit competition or down at Rosslyn Park for the
National Sevens, somebody will invariably make a positive remark or comment about the
Royal Grammar School, Lancaster. It might be a reflective glance at some of the
successes the school has enjoyed over recent years - the Daily Mail semi-final in 2003-4,
beating Millfield this year at the Sedbergh Tens and the emphatic performance in the final
of the Stonyhurst Sevens, or perhaps just a fond memory recalled about some of the
tussles they have enjoyed against a LRGS side in previous decades. Some might even
remember with pride the 14-3 victory over Sedbergh in 1969, the first time the game had
been played after the fixture was resumed as a full 1st XV fixture and the 31-0 victory the
year after! Whatever their age, their memories are always positive.
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Sport presents opportunity - opportunity to perform, to compete, to enjoy, to meet, to
discuss and to have a passion for your activity. Sport is unique in the way it instils qualities
in people that cross well beyond the fenced perimeter of any playing field, often in such a
positive way that its influence can be huge on you, both as an individual or as part of a
team. Characteristics such as pride, respect, integrity, discipline, teamwork and leadership
are, I would hope, an integral part of every successful LRGS rugby player. This isn’t just
evident with a rugby ball in their hands and grass under their feet but also when challenged
with a pen between their fingers and
an exam paper under their nose!
LRGS isn’t an “either/or” school but an
AND school - where sport and
academic rigours stand side by side in
the tunnel, ready to make that slow
walk out on to the hallowed turf to
meet head on the many challenges
that lie ahead. Though achieving
victory should always be the aim, “The
sign of a good sportsperson is not
whether he/she wins or loses but how
he/she responds to defeat and disappointment” - a decent message for life as well!
What better preparation for these challenges than to experience touring another country,
sampling different cultures, enjoying the camaraderie of one another’s banter, making
friends and taking on the best the South Africans have to offer on the rugby field?
With South Africa topping most leading sportsmen’s list of favourite touring destinations, I
cannot really think of a better way for the 2011/12 1st XV leavers to finish their school
careers.
Andy Rice
Master i/c Rugby
“It has been a privilege. It is a privilege,
because we are something special.
You will meet each other on a street in
thirty years’ time and there will just be
a look, and you will know just how
special some days in your life are.”
Sir Ian McGeechan
Coach of the 1997 Lions to
South Africa
Lancaster Royal Grammar School squad - South Africa Tour 2012
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A History of LRGS Rugby ...
Rugby Football has been played at LRGS
since the 1860s, and the inaugural match of
Preston Grasshoppers in 1869 was against
the School. Regular fixtures took place
with Sedbergh, Giggleswick, Liverpool College
and Heversham GS, but with a depressing
lack of success, relieved only by wins against
Heversham. By 1903 the Sedbergh and
Heversham fixtures had been discontinued,
but Giggleswick continued to inflict
embarrassingly large defeats.
From 1913 a recovery began, with
several new fixtures and a fair
measure of success. A very good
XV in 1927-8 registered ten wins,
losing only to Bradford GS and St
Bees, and the late thirties also saw
some good seasons - ten games
won out of 12 in 1937-8 with
unbeaten seasons in 1938-9 and
again in 1942-3 and 1943-4.
1st XV 1938/39
In the 50s and 60s results continued to be good. By then the regular fixture list included
Merchant Taylors’, Crosby, Manchester GS, Arnold School, Stonyhurst, Bradford GS,
Leeds GS, King Edward VII Lytham, King George V Southport, Wallasey GS, St Bees,
Barrow GS and Rossall. The XV of 1962
suffered only one defeat and its captain,
K O Beeston, played in the final England trial
as did his successor, M H Berryman. C W
Aspden (1966) gained an England Schools
cap. The 1968/69 side won ten and drew one
of its twelve fixtures. Its finest performance
was a 14-3 win over Sedbergh, the first time
the XV beat Sedbergh at 1st XV level. The
following year the 1st XV were unbeaten,
winning twelve and drawing one
1st XV 1966
(Glenalmond) of its fixtures.
In 1970/71 the 1st XV won ten of its
eleven games, a record that
included a 31-0 victory over
Sedbergh. The XV in each of these
three seasons were coached by
Laurie Rimmer, a former England
international who played against the
1961 Springboks. Trevor Glover,
who went on to become a double
blue at Oxford, was captain of the
5
XV for these three highly sucessful years. The 1974 1st
XV was captained by Nick Preston who went on to
represent England at full international level with Bill
Beaumont’s Grand slam team of 1980. The 1st XV of
1976-77 was as strong as any, including Paul
Tillotson, Mark Nelson (an 18 Group International),
Mike Derbyshire, Steven Gill and Doug Walker who all
played in the best ever Vale of Lune team that won the
National League Division 3. In the last match of the
1977 season, the 1st XV beat the all-conquering
OL Mark Nelson, who coached Sale to
Cowley team who had won all their previous 25
the Premiership title in 2006,
matches.
pictured with Philippe Saint-André
In the 80s, results continued to improve
with only one or two defeats in each
season and the 1981 XV lost only one
match - to Cowley School who could field
seven England 18 Group Internationals. In
the inaugural All England 15-a-side
competition, LRGS had by far the best
record in the first four years, reaching the
quarter-final, two semi-finals and losing in
the 1982 final to the first score of extra
time. This competition included two
victories over the full Japan High Schools
side - a guest entry. Paul Hamer played
for England at 16 Group and 18 Group
scoring three tries against Wales at Cambridge, playing wing outside Will Carling. Tom
Connor and Ian McFarlane played for England 18 Group sides and Sean Hockey played at
16 Group.
Following the Oxford Blues of the 70s, Trevor Glover and John Taylor, Doug Walker, Steve
Gill and Richard Bailey all played for Cambridge in the early 80s. The 90s saw LRGS begin
the tradition of overseas tours, starting with a highly successful tour of Canada in 1994,
followed by South Africa in 1999. The standard of play in the nineties continued on an
upward path with many fine XVs, including the unbeaten 1st XV in 1994. England 18 Group
caps were earned by Matthew Dobson, Andrew Miller, George Donoghue and Phil
Christophers, who went onto play at full international level. Lancashire Cup competitions
started at this time and LRGS won the first
three on offer at U13, U14 and U15 level,
leading to confirmation as Lancashire
County RUFC “School of the Year.”
In the 2000s, there were 18 Group
International caps for James Keany, Robin
Boot, Oliver Viney and Magnus Lund, who
went onto play at full international level. In
2003, with the inception of a Lancashire
Cup competition for 1st XVs, LRGS were
Pictured representing Lancashire RU,
to show real dominance winning the cup
Adam Armstrong, Oliver Viney, Evan Stewart (1st XV
for four seasons in a row between 2003
coach) and Dan Birchall after victory vs
and 2007 and again in 2009. England 18
Northumberland in the 2012 County Championship
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Group caps were won by Dan Birchall, James Williams, Sean Cox and Selorm Kuadey. In
the Daily Mail Cup, LRGS regularly reached the quarter-final stages and a semi final in
2004. Junior sides won Lancashire Cups on a regular basis and the decade ended with a
highly successful tour of South America.
A history of Lancaster Royal Grammar School asserts “Rugby Football now is probably as
strong as it ever has been at LRGS”. The coaches over most of the last forty years were
Doug Walker, who coached England 18 Group for three years and their successful tour of
Australia and New Zealand; Shaun Higgins, who coached Lancashire Schools to an
unbeaten record on tour against New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and
ACT in 1986 and the North of England 18 Group to consecutive unbeaten divisional
championships in 1988-89 and Mick Curran, whose record stands comparison with
anybody. Brian Bonney’s influence, especially in organising major tours, has been massive.
Under 18 winners of the Lancashire Schools Cup 2010
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Good Luck Messages ...
Tim Stirk
I am particularly pleased to write on behalf of the England Rugby Football Schools Union to wish everyone
in the tour squad bon voyage and good luck on their forthcoming tour of South Africa. Touring is one of the
great traditions of rugby union and it is good to see that each of the Home Unions has gone on a tour in the
Southern Hemisphere this summer. In 1995 I was the assistant manager of a Lancashire Schools tour to
South Africa soon after the Springboks victory in the World Cup. The boys were all struck by the interest
shown in them as rugby players and by the all-pervading passion for the game in the country. The locals
were also surprised that we played such open running rugby, a strategy developed to keep as far away as
possible from the large forwards we met everywhere!
When I was on the staff at LRGS, I enjoyed coaching rugby at various levels and going on modest tours
which only went as far as Scotland or the south of England. Since then it is wonderful to see how
sophisticated touring has become and the opportunities afforded to boys in schools like LRGS with its great
rugby tradition.
Touring has been shown to be a breeding ground for success, as well as a great way to see the world. I
have been fortunate enough to have travelled with teams to Canada, USA, South Africa, Australia and New
Zealand. I often reminisce about the matches and events of these tours and the players who went on them.
Lancashire Schools in South Africa was captained by Pat Sanderson, later captain of England, and included
Iain Balshaw, a World Cup winner in 2003. The most remarkable was the England Schools Tour of Australia
in 1997 which won every match. This was not surprising since the party included Iain Balshaw, Simon
Danielli, Mike Tindall, Jonny Wilkinson, Andrew Sheridan, Lee Mears, Steve Borthwick, David Flatman and
Alex Sanderson, who subsequently became full internationals, and many others who played Premier
League rugby.
So, I urge all players on the tour to use the opportunity to learn from your
opponents and to enhance your own skills. Most of all take time to enjoy
yourselves and absorb all the experiences of a different culture and a country
blessed with stunning scenery. I hope you all have a wonderful tour.
Tim Stirk
President ERFSU
LRGS captains Andy Abraham,
Josh Hillis and James Worlock
at the Lancashire RUFC
presentation evening in July 2010
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Brian Ashton
Before the majority of you were born, both staff and pupils ,
I embarked intrepidly as a fourteen year old with the LRGS Cricket
1st X1 to Scotland on a half term tour. it was to be the first of many
experiences of wandering the globe as a schoolboy, schoolteacher,
amateur rugby player and professional rugby coach.
Touring is the icing on the cake for any group of players and it
often, at your level, is a fitting denouement to a school career of
sporting achievement. What a fantastic country you are about to
visit! Certainly life has changed in South Africa since 1974 when I
visited with a North of England side during the apartheid regime. I
have been extremely fortunate to have returned on many
occasions since, including twice with the England Senior Team, to
embrace the SA welcome both on and off the field.
There is no hiding away from the truth that it is probably the toughest place physically to match up against
opponents in the world. No quarter will be asked or given and I am sure that you will be prepared for this, the
South African boys are no mugs either in the skills department of the game and you can be certain that they
will play with a pace and intensity that can be testing. If you can match the opponents in these areas then the
traditional streetwise rugby of LRGS pupils will ensure that they will also have to worry about you.
You are visiting some beautiful places. Cape Town
is one of my 3 most favourite cities in the world (the
others are Vancouver and Perth Australia ). The
Atlantic and Indian oceans meet and the backdrop
of the famous Table Mountain is sensational. I have
no doubt that you will visit the Victoria and Albert
waterfront to sample the night life of cafes and
restaurants. Stellenbosch has a Mediterranean
climate and produces the best South African wine.
The chocolate and wine tasting experience at one
of the wine farms in the mountains is a must.
Stellenbosch also produces some pretty good
rugby players so you will need to keep a clear
head! My first game on the 1974 tour was in Port
Elizabeth at the Boet Erasmus stadium. We had
great support from the blacks and mixed race
section of the crowd who cheered our every score.
I understand that your performances on the field will be an important focus for you all but I do urge you to
immerse yourself in the South African way of life and culture whenever appropriate. They are very hospitable
people and, while they can and most certainly will make life interesting for you on the pitch, post match at the
traditional "Brai" you are certain to enjoy the food and whatever goes with it!
So meet the challenges thrown up by the various
opponents, enjoy the company of people from
another nation and show the South Africans what the
boys of LRGS have to offer.
Good luck and have a fantastic trip!
Brian Ashton OL
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Stuart Lancaster
I am delighted to be sending you my best wishes for your forthcoming tour to South Africa. Going on rugby
tour is exciting and an experience not to be missed! As you are aware, England are going out there this
summer and I know, having spoken to a lot of the players they are really looking forward to it and many of
them have never been there, so to get this experience at Schoolboy level really is special.
I hope all the preparations and training go well, I understand you have had some great performances
this year against QEGS Wakefield, King's Parramatta, Stonyhurst and nearly turned over Sedbergh.
Looking at your tour schedule you will need to be at your best as the South Africans take their rugby very
seriously, so make sure you prepare well and, above all, make sure you have really worked on your
conditioning as that will be of huge importance.
Lancaster RGS has a great sporting reputation to uphold. I went to school at St Bees and was born and
brought up in Cumbria so I know the area well and have great memories of playing against Lancaster RGS
in many sports but Rugby was always the greatest contest. There is no reason why you can’t come back
from the tour unbeaten but, above all, regardless of the results demonstrate the passion and pride in the
Lancaster RGS shirt and for those teammates that you have been brought up playing alongside over the
past few years.
A special bond is created by those on tour - the experiences you’ll share with your team mates will never be
forgotten. Enjoy it, believe in yourselves and give it your best!
I’m sure you will do your school, yourself and your family proud.
Yours sincerely
Stuart Lancaster
England Head Coach
Stuart Lancaster attended St Bees School around the
same time as our own Mr Rice (both pictured back
row) and was part of their triumphant campaign at the
Rosslyn Park VIIs in 1986. The side came within two
games of being the first school side ever to win the
triple of national sevens titles (Oxford University and
Rosslyn Park double). Only Ampleforth have won
both Rosslyn Park titles. After graduating and
spending some time as a teacher in the Lancaster
area, he became involved in coaching at the Leeds
Academy. His skills took him through to managing
the Leeds RFC 1st XV and his performances there
earned him the position of England Saxons coach.
Stuart was appointed the interim England coach after
the departure of Martin Johnson and subsequently
was appointed on a full time basis.
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Magnus Lund
I'm honoured to be able to wish the boys from LRGS all the best for their tour to South
Africa. I've been lucky enough to have taken on the Springboks in their own back yard
and can assure you all that playing out in South Africa is one of the greatest challenges
in rugby!
That said, both myself and my brother (pictured)
learnt our trade at the Memo Fields and LRGS is a
strong rugby school - I'm sure you'll enjoy some
great victories. Going on a rugby tour is a fantastic
way to not only learn about a country, but also
yourselves and your team-mates.
I'm sure you'll bring home everlasting memories from
both on the field and whatever you get up to away
from it. Just remember that through working hard
together as a team and enjoying yourselves the tour
will be a huge success!
All the best
Magnus Lund (OL)
Bill Beaumont
I am delighted to wish you well for your tour to South Africa.
I have fond memories of visiting South Africa both as player, Rugby Manager, and supporter and I am sure
you will have a memorable trip. Not only will you enjoy the magnificent scenery, wildlife etc but you should
relish the challenge of playing against in one of the world's great rugby playing nation.
I was fortunate to witness one of the great Rugby World Cup Finals South Africa v New Zealand when it
took a Joel Stransky drop goal in injury time to win the match, but I will remember it also for the
appearance of President Mandela walking onto the pitch wearing the no 6. jersey of skipper Fancois
Piennar, indisputably an historic memorable moment in sporting and South African history.
As a player, I captained the Lions in 1980 on a gruelling 18 match tour that included a 4 match test series.
We played well, but lost the test series 3-1 but had the satisfaction, as with the 2009 Lions, in winning the
last test.
I have stood on the touchline at Lancaster watching my 3 sons play
both cricket and rugby at your school, rarely winning, and not enjoying
the smell on the back pitches when the wind was in the wrong
direction! LRGS has a strong sporting history and I am sure you will do
yourselves proud.
May I wish you good luck and I am sure that you will come back with
life-long memories from both on and off the field.
Good Luck.
Bill Beaumont
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Geoff Wappett
My relationship with Lancaster RGS goes back many years when I was
Master i/c Rugby at Bradford Grammar School. We had many tough and
epic encounters against each other but, whatever the result, I always
enjoyed the company afterwards of Shaun Higgins, Ian Whitehouse, Ian
Ralston, Brian Bonney and Doug Walker - great rugby stalwarts. The
School has had the good fortune to be led by some top men. In the last
15 years or so I’ve got to know Andy Rice too and he, both as player and
coach and more latterly Evan Stewart as Captain have played an integral
role in helping Macclesfield RFC reach the heights it now has in Division
1 of the National Leagues. Boys you are very lucky! I had the privilege
of seeing you beat Millfield at the Sedbergh Tens by five tries to one something that doesn’t happen too often and something that was clearly enjoyed by all spectators outside
of the Millfield camp. Somerset must have seemed a long way away!
Playing rugby on tour with your friends has to be the highlight of any young player’s career to date.
Whether you are going on a long weekend to Bridlington or a two week trip to South Africa, it offers so
much to all concerned giving you the opportunity to cement friendships and memories within the squad
which will last a lifetime. Some of you will think you are mad on rugby; wait until you meet your new friends
in South Africa. With the exception of New Zealand, I have never met a nation which is so fully occupied
with the sports of rugby and cricket and as well as being so truly knowledgeable on the game. I recall a
chat I had with a 70 year old great grandmother whilst watching a school game in Cape Town and her
depth of understanding and comments on what was happening, and should be happening in the game was
amazing. If you love rugby, you will find South Africa the place to be. It is a beautiful country with so much
to see, a diverse culture and full of truly nice people who will welcome you with open arms within the
medium of rugby…..but don’t beat them as they don’t take to losing all that well!!
Rugby has been extremely kind to me taking me to countries throughout the rugby-playing world several
times over and each one holds special memories for me. Whatever glamorous destinations you might visit
– Fiji was brilliant, Hawaii was awesome and Copocabana Beach was even better – a rugby tour is all
about people. The people you travel with, the people you meet and the people who made it all possible for
the tour to happen in the first place – Andy Rice and his rugby staff and your parents who have all worked
so hard in various fund-raising efforts. Having done many tours from BGS in the long and distant past, I do
know from first-hand experience the amount of work that goes into such a venture. Players spare a
moment’s thought and appreciation for all those that have made it possible – once you’ve done that make
the absolute most of the opportunity.
Of all the tours that I’ve done, one stands out above the rest
because of the players I had with me. I had the pleasure and
privilege of being Head Coach of The England Schools’ U18s for 5
seasons and in 1997 we went on tour to Australia. That year we
won The Grand Slam in the 5-Nations, but not easily, having beaten
Wales away with a last minute drop-goal by a certain Jonny
Wilkinson to win the ‘slam 19-18. We set off with a bunch of
unknown 17 year olds (most of the squad were a year young which
we thought would make our task even harder) and returned with the
largest group of players ever to graduate to the full International
honours.
The tour was almost seven weeks long and entailed enormous
amounts of travelling which meant we were moving on every 3-4
days and I insisted we train every day whether it be before flying or
on arrival. We warmed up in Darwin and had a full week’s
preparation before playing Northern Territories U19s which we
demolished 118-3 – we were magnificent and they never stopped
tackling – it was awesome. We moved on to play New South Wales Country XV and disposed of them 7210 and onto Sydney Concorde Stadium to beat New South Wales 64-5. From there we went to Canberra
and beat A.C.T. 41-0.
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In Melbourne we ravaged a weak Victoria Sate side 111-0 with all our reserve squad players and then had
a 3 day “holiday” on the Gold Coast, where we relaxed for the first time in what seemed like ages.
Then on to to beat Queensland 59-7 at Toowoomba. Then we met a Queensland Select XV at The
Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane, winning 48-15, only 3 days prior to the Test match v Australia in Sydney.
Everyone had worked so hard for so long for this one match and Australia had kept their Test players
purposely out of the early games so we had had no opportunity to see any of them play. Their side was
captained by Phil Waugh and their star was Ryan Cross who went directly to League with Sydney
Roosters and has only recently returned to Union with Western Force and Australia. We played at the The
North Sydney Oval and it was a magnificent game which we won 38-20 and the boys became the only
England representative team to go to Australia and win all its games – fantastic eh! You might recognise
some of the team that played that night:
1. Dave Flatman: England / Bath
2. Lee Mears: England / Bath
3. John Dawson: Wasps / Harlequins
4. Andrew Sheridan: England / Sale / Toulon
5. Steve Borthwick: England / Bath / Saracens
6. Alex Sanderson: England / Sale
7. Tony Roque: London Irish
8. Andy Beattie: England / Saxons / Bath.
9. James Grindal: Newcastle / Leicester
10. James Lofthouse: Sale (retired early)
11. Lee Best: England Saxons / Bristol
12. Jonny Wilkinson: England / Newcastle / Toulon
13. Mike Tindall: England / Gloucester
14. Simon Danielli: Scotland
15. Ian Balshaw: England / Gloucester / Biarritz
That tour was successful and immensely enjoyable because they were a great set of lads who laughed
together, socialised together, worked hard together and all played for each other.
Have a wonderful time in South Africa and don’t waste a minute of this precious opportunity you’ve been
granted. I know a couple of the 2011/12 squad have already progressed to the ranks of Fylde RFC in
National One so should you be based at University in the North West please feel free to come to
Macclesfield Rugby Club and join in the pre-season training and tell us all about the tour - I look forward to
hearing about the experience of playing in front of the partisan Paarl Gym crowd,
Good luck and hopefully you will follow on the heels of Stuart Lancaster’s improving England side and do
the country and LRGS proud!
Geoff Wappett
Head Coach: Macclesfield Rugby Club
Former Head Coach: England Schools’ 18 Group, England U19, England U21
Richard Pool-Jones
Richard Pool-Jones played flanker for Stade Français from 1997 to 2002. In his first season with Stade
Français, the sleeping aristocrat of French Rugby returned to the elite after 80 years in the lower
divisions to win the French Rugby Championship.
Rather than a bland good luck message I thought the LRGS boys might enjoy my first experience of French
rugby which was an equal eye opener! Enjoy South Africa and good luck at Paarl!!!
Paris: Theatre of Dreams: “We are in a London pub one evening at the end of summer 1997. Pre-season
training is paradoxically, chez moi, in England. We’re a mixed bunch of thirty five players, twenty five of whom
have not yet worn the Stade Français shirt. We are part of the biggest recruitment in the history of French
rugby. We have come from all four corners of the world. Eight nationalities and ten languages. Thirty five
perspectives on the world. Thirty seven if you count those with split personalities.
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But no one is moving. In this modest London pub, the French are all
sitting at tables waiting for a waiter who will never come. The French
don’t know any of the codes to be respected in an English pub! If we
leave them to their own devices they will remain thirsty all night!
Initially, the quality of our play was nothing special, but the raw talent
of some of the players soon shone through. Christophe Dominici was
completely unknown, but his anonymity couldn’t last. He had an
acceleration to take one’s breath away. When he hit the turbo, he flew
like a jet fighter. I found a strange and cruel pleasure looking at the
unbelieving faces of the wingers that Dominici had left reeling in his jet
stream.
The Anglo Saxons among us lean nonchalantly on the bar whilst still
displaying the same hesitation. We English are all new arrivals so we
don’t want to take the initiative of ordering a drink for the more
established players. The hierarchy has to be observed! But there is
also a financial issue: with 35 beers to buy, the bill for the round risks
being painful!
I size up the task facing us. I knew why I was there. My quest was the same as all players in the French rugby
championship – to lift the Bouclier de Brennus, the 100 year old shield that is awarded to the winners of the
French Championship. But I didn’t know the players around me in that pub. What was I doing with this
shambolic group? How could we hope to compete with the polished outfits of the French Championship?
Unable to come up with any satisfactory response to my doubts, I took the plunge and ordered thirty five pints
of bitter instead! It was a good pint: real ale from the old school. And so we begin to sketch out our common
future in the froth of the familiar tasting malt. Although this first jar was a useful first step in bringing this new
group together, training worked in the opposite direction! I had come through a rather complicated time in
sporting terms – five consecutive seasons lost to a series of knee operations. Newly competitive, I was in no
mood to take the physical challenge of training lightly. Those first training sessions were tougher than many
matches and many fireworks left the doc busy stitching up the wounded. With so many new players, how
could it be otherwise? Everyone wanted to win their place in the team and impress Bernard Laporte, our
coach. The physical challenge was ever present and players often crossed the red line.
In such an odd group, there were some fascinating species. Every day was a safari! Bernard Laporte was
among the most exotic of creatures. It was difficult for me to understand Bernard. He spoke so quickly in
language rich in imagery. It took me years to decipher him! I knew that he had quit school at sixteen, but I
soon realised that he had an exceptional natural intelligence which was evident in his piercing stare. His eyes
shone, betraying his ambition and sporting passion. He was a poet, a sort of rapper who ruled the group,
joining humour and severity with finesse. All of it in excess. Indeed we were all excessive.
The after match parties were old school but with Parisian style. Paris is a theatre of dreams for such
adventures.
There was talent everywhere. There were even sacred
monsters like Pieter de Villiers who couldn’t make the first
team. A powerful prop forward, he put the back row to
shame in sprint training. Fortunately for us, after a few
months he even started to overtake the three quarters
over short distances. The back row was relieved! Pieter
was categorised as an extra-terrestrial so we no longer
had to suffer the comparison!
The individual talent was there, but we were still a group
of individuals with strong characters and different
perspectives. Gradually, though everyone maintained
their own style and approach, we started to break down
some of the mutual suspicion. This progress resulted from
hard daily training, from the team effort each weekend
and from the parties, steeped in excess, which became
the highlight of our weekly ritual.
15
The old rivalry between Paris and the provinces guaranteed an explosive reception at all the grounds,
whoever our opponents were. I learnt many new unprintable French expressions! We dodged beer bottles.
The animosity of the provinces towards our team suited us and provided and helped to bring us together in
adversity. However, as team mates, we remained in parallel universes.
The King’s Macclesfield education which I considered myself
fortunate to have received proved inadequate for “dealing with the
French”. Of course it was completely obvious that God was an
Englishman! I never had any doubt that being English meant one
had won the first prize in the big game of life. The French, bizarrely,
took issue with these irrefutable facts! To fully exploit the talents of
this rabble and transform us into a true team, something else was
necessary. This something we had in plenty - hunger! It seemed that
every player in this group had unfinished business. Our second row
Hervé Chaffardon had been out of top level rugby for 3 years, in
premature retirement whilst still in his prime. Max Guazzini, our
enigmatic Président, resurrected his career when he found him
knocking on doors selling wine in the Alps! Christophe Julliet who
had been discarded on the bench at Montferrand despite the
immense talent that was to take him to a World Cup Final. But if
hunger was an essential ingredient for our transformation into a
Championship winning team, it wasn’t enough on its own. We
needed a second ingredient: fear. Having reached the final stages, we still had not called on all the potential
of this group. The individual talent of players like Franck Comba and Cliff Myton had got us through to the
semi-final, but our next opponents were Toulouse: a different ball game. At the quarter final stage we had
seen the Toulouse set its beautifully oiled Championship Winning Machine in motion.
In the changing rooms before the Semi Final match against Toulouse, two explosive sensations mixed
together: fear of ridicule and sporting hunger. We were condemned men but we weren’t ready to die.
From the kick off, we co-ordinated our efforts in almost perfect harmony. This was Rorkes’s Drift: if we were
going down we would do so together and take as many of them with us as possible! Little by little, the tables
turned: we started to impose our new found power. Our fear and hunger transcended us. Our championship
winning team was born during the first 20 minutes of that match. Even Toulouse, mighty Toulouse, couldn’t
resist us that day. At the end of the encounter, with a lead of more than thirty points, we were drunk with
happiness.
A week later we were playing in the first French Championship Final played at the new Stade de France.
Intoxicated by our new understanding, we felt that no team could stop us: we were invincible. From then on,
despite an unbelievable 80,000 strong Catalan crowd supporting Perpignan, we scored five irresistible tries.
Lifting the Bouclier de Brennus, we were Champions of France. I had longed for the moment for a lifetime.
Each one of us had dreamed of it in his own way. As we lifted the trophy, the flashes of the photographers’
cameras stopped time for a fleeting, eternal moment.”
16
Staff Profiles ...
Name:
Andy Rice
Role
1st XV Backs
Coach
Playing
Position
Scrum Half
Name:
Playing
Position
Mr Stewart teaches Business Studies. He is Captain of Fylde RFC
for the 2012/13 season and is also a former England Students
1st XV Forwards International and Loughborough University Captain. This season
he has managed to combine playing National Division 1 rugby
Coach
with coaching the 1st XV and U14s at LRGS. Evan played for
Lancashire in the County Championship final vs Hertfordshire at
Flanker
Twickenham in May.
Name:
Ian Ledward
Role
2nd XV Coach
Playing
Position
Second row
Name:
Ian Ralston
Role
U16 Backs
Coach
Playing
Position
Wing
Name:
Andy
Wilkinson
Role
U16 Forwards
Coach
Playing
Position
Number 8
Role
18
Director of Sport at Lancaster RGS. A first class rugby playing
career spanning 20 years including Saracens and Bath RFC and
latterly at Macclesfield RFC as player coach. Andy has also
coached in Wellington New Zealand where current England No.8
Thomas Waldrom played in the school 1st XV. Has yet to be
beaten over 3000m by Mr Wilkinson.
Evan Stewart
Mr Ledward teaches Geography and is Master i/c cricket and
has done much to drive cricket forward at the school. The recent
redevelopment of the Douglas Cameron Pavilion and the 2012
RGS Cricket Festival held at Lancaster bare testimony to his
hard work and dedication. As coach of the 2nd XV he is also
integrally involved in senior rugby at LRGS. Ian was brought up
in Zimbabwe so claims to have some local knowledge! In 1981,
the former Lancashire U25 cricketer, interrupted a nation
enthralled by ‘Botham Ashes’ appearing in The Sun with a
glamorous page 3 girl.
One of the game’s more ferocious tacklers, punching above his
weight. Liked getting involved in the dark arts with the forwards.
Was in his prime and majestically strolling around the paddock
when a young Mr Rice came down to civilisation from the hills of
Cumbria. Claim to fame is teaching Mr Wilkinson all he knows
about rugby, which doesn’t say much for the members of the
coaching team. Seen his way around a few physio benches in his
time, but not as many as Mr Stewart in the last three months. A
talented sportsman, despite only being a winger, Ian is a former
Lancashire Schools Cricket captain.
Mr Wilkinson teaches Biology and as an OL and former 1st XV
No8 is on his second trip to South Africa with RGS. Andy is still
young enough to play the game and therefore keep his fellow U16
coach Mr Ralston up to date. As the forward half of the coaching
duo coaching discussions often centre around whether the
Tractors or the Rolls Royces are going to be released occasionally
meaning neither get out of the garage! Andy played rugby at
Dundee HSFP in National Division 1 whilst at university in
Scotland and is a former Lancashire schoolboy representative.
Name:
Barny Calvert
Role
Fitness Coach
Playing
Position
Wing
An enthusiastic, if clumsy, athlete when in his youth, he has won
over many doubters of his ability with a never say die attitude,
and a surprising turn of pace. A preference for football at school
limited his rugby career, Whilst at Durham University he also
rowed at a college level. Always pacey, Barny has recently
turned his hand to longer distances and impressed on his debut
at the half marathon distance. His relative fitness compared with
the other touring staff made him the stand out option for the
coveted role of fitness coach, a role that he impressed in during
the gruelling pre-season trip to France in 2011, and one which he
is delighted to continue with on this tour.
Player Profiles ...
Name:
Andrew Bargh
Position:
Fullback
D.O.B:
27/06/1994
Height:
195
Weight:
75
Name:
Scott Abraham
Position:
Fly Half/
Scrum Half
D.O.B:
03/03/1996
Height:
184
Weight:
65
Andrew is a very exciting player who has undoubtedly the best
passing skills in the squad and is one of the most offensive
tacklers, making him a great fullback who fits comfortably into
a successful LRGS side. His skills were evident in the VII and
X season. 'Barghy' has toured Europe with his former school,
Sedbergh and will have an unforgettable time in South Africa
with the Lancaster boys. He studies Technology, Physics and
Mathematics at school and is a prospective student at
Loughborough University reading Product Design Engineering
and where Andrew should go on to play representative rugby.
Name:
Matthew Beatty
Position: Hooker
Name:
Dom Bowskill
Position:
Prop
D.O.B:
25/02/1995
Height:
186
Weight:
104
Played for U16 A, all of this year and play at Kirkby Lonsdale
Club also. Good at reading the game, passing and kicking.
Enjoys playing most other sports including cricket and
basketball for school. Planning to take Geography, Physics,
Biology and Technology to A-level next year.
D.O.B:
08/05/95
Height:
185
Weight:
86
Matt has represented Lancashire, North of England and
England at U16, U17 and U18 age-groups and is a member
of the Sale Academy. He is a presence on the pitch with a
high work rate and good game awareness.
Dom has played for the year group teams and has always
been proud to represent them in any position. He has always
played in the front 5, but most recently has been moved
permanently into the front row as a more 'mobile' loosehead.
Towards the end of the season he has taken to the position
and scrummaging is something in which he has improved
significantly. He enjoys the physicality of the contact zone and
thrives on the challenge faced by good opposition. He is
studying Chemistry, Geography, Biology and Economics at AS
level and hopes to continue further with Economics. Outside of
school he enjoys going to the gym and weight training.
19
Name:
20
Elliot Casson
Position:
Wing
D.O.B:
19/02/1995
Height:
178
Weight:
75
Name:
Ben Cottam
Position:
Flanker/
Second Row
D.O.B:
20/12/1993
Height:
188
Weight:
80
Name:
Tom Bradley
Position:
Centre
D.O.B:
11/10/1993
Height:
177
Weight:
82
Tom has consistently represented his age group throughout
his time at he school and had a solid season playing for the
1st XV. Tom was part of the squad that reached the quarter
finals at Rosslyn Park Sevens. Outside of rugby Tom also
plays first team football - scoring a vital goal to put the side
into the local cup final. He has also been a representative
school athlete in the past. In his spare time Tom enjoys
socialising and fishing. He is currently studying Biology,
Chemistry, Physics and Maths and is hoping to read Medicine
at Oxford.
Elliot is a strong runner with a lot of power. He is often seen
striding down the wing to score In the corner, both for the
school and The Vale of Lune Rugby Club. Elliot scored the
winning tries versus Kings Parramatta and RGS High
Wycombe. He is also known for putting in crunching tackles.
He enjoys the gym and horseriding.
Name:
Harry Cole
Position:
Flanker
D.O.B:
14/08/1995
Height:
183
Weight:
80
Harry started his career on the wing and took a few years to
settle down to the flanker position. This season was spent in
the 2nd XV. Harry had a starting spot at No.6, and played
every game. The team was undefeated. Harry worked
exceptionally hard on his fitness during the gruelling French
pre-season trip. He plays cricket for the school and also
participates in drama.
An athlete rather than a powerhouse in the forward pack, Ben
is a versatile player. He has played across the back row and in
the second row throughout a successful season for the
currently unbeaten 2nd XV, scoring 13 tries so far. He has
represented North Lancashire. Ben has experience of preseason tours with school and also tours with the club side
Preston Grasshoppers. He is also a keen cricketer playing for
the school 2nd XI. Outside of sport he is interested in reading
and the gym. Ben hopes to study Natural Sciences at
Cambridge.
Name:
Tom Deakin
Position:
Fly Half
D.O.B:
26/09/1994
Height:
180
Weight:
79
He has played most first team games this year at fly half when
not injured and represented Lancashire 18's and been part of
the Sale Sharks Academy. He has played rugby since he was
8 for Preston Grasshoppers. His main strengths are his vision,
understanding of the game and ball distribution. Tom also a
keen cricketer and previous tour experiences include a cricket
tour to Barbados with the school first XI where they came
runners up in the Gary Sobers tournament.
Name:
Position:
Mauro
Diggle-Messina
Hooker
D.O.B:
18/11/1994
Height:
170
Weight:
70
Mauro is a small, yet strong player who has played rugby
throughout his school career. He moves around the pitch well
during play and packs a punch in both rucks and mauls. He is
a strong tackler and gets involved in every situation possible.
At school he studies Art, Technology, Economics and
Geography. When he is not playing rugby, Mauro enjoys
playing badminton, listening to music and spending time with
friends.
Name:
Height:
Jordan Dorrington Jordan is a good confident rugby player who has represented
his county for 3 years at U17 and U18. Jordan has played for
the school’s first XV for 2 years since joining the school from
Centre/ Fullback/
Sedbergh. Outside of rugby Jordan enjoys socialising, football,
Wing
gaming, fishing, and motorcross. Jordan is currently taking PE,
02/09/1993
Business, Economics and Design Technology and hopes to
pursue a career in the RAF.
178
Weight:
75
Position:
D.O.B:
Name:
James Elliott
Position: Second Row
D.O.B:
14/10/1993
Height:
193
Weight:
86
Name:
Alex Gardner
Position:
Winger
D.O.B:
30/09/1994
Height:
178
Weight:
72
James has captained this year’s unbeaten 2nd XV. Playing in
the second row he adds height and safe hands in the line-out
where the team have been strong, and gives a solid presence
in the scrum. Always working hard around the pitch, James has
scored a number of tries during the season from close range.
He has led the team in a number of close-fought matches,
where he emphasises the need for discipline and patience, a
mentality the team have shown collectively and has been vital
to their success. After his final year at the school James is
taking a gap year in Kenya before University. He is the School’s
Head Boy and has represented LRGS in other sports including
cross country and rowing.
Name:
Adam Gardner
Position:
Scrum Half
D.O.B:
14/05/1996
Height:
175
Weight:
75
Adam Gardner is a member of the U16A squad and is a very
talented player at such young age. Throughout the season his
skills have improved due to the hard work he has put in.
Hopefully, all his efforts will cement him a place on the 1st XV
squad. His debut for the 1st XV was against Kings Parramatta
where he impressed everyone due to his determination to
work hard and get across the pitch to provide the backs with
the ball. Adam also enjoys playing basketball, cross country,
gym, cricket, snowboarding. Adam's musical interests are
confined to dubstep, Mozart and the Top Gear theme tune.
His current favourite film is Due Date although he enjoys the
occasional romantic comedy.
Alex has county representative honours for Lancashire and
Cumbria from U15 to U17. He has played for both the 1st
XV and 2nd XV this season, his debut being in 5th Year. He
is a budding athlete and in the summer enjoys representing
the school at athletics. His forte is in the 100m and so he
enjoys running the ball and is a deadly weapon in space. He
is studying Economics, Maths, Biology and History and
would like to continue with Economics at university.
21
22
Name:
Rory Hodgson
Position:
Centre
D.O.B:
27/02/1995
Height:
182
Weight:
83
Name:
Giles Jones
Position:
Hooker
D.O.B:
16/03/1995
Height:
180
Weight:
84
Name:
Damon Hall
Position:
Full Back/Wing
D.O.B:
19/07/1994
Height:
185
Weight:
75
Damon is an experienced rugby player who has played the
game since the age of 6 at the Vale of Lune Rugby Club. He
is a talented athlete who has improved greatly in the past 2
seasons of playing 1st XV rugby. He is a strong kicker with
good vision and a dangerous runner in open play.
Representative honours include playing for Lancashire from
U14 to U18 level, trialling for the North of England U18s in
early 2012 and he has trained with the Sale Sharks Academy
squad. Damon's other interests include listening to music,
motor sport, poetry, football, video games, socialising with
friends and the gym. He is currently studying Physical
Education, Business and Economics with hopes of studying
Sport at university.
Rory is a powerful running centre that will challenge any
defence. Not only will he break the line but he will always look
for the offload and has been likened to Sonny Bill Williams. As
well as terrorising the opposing teams back line, he fronts up in
defence and you can always rely on him to make the tackle.
Along with being a regular first team player, he has played at
his local rugby club, Kirkby Lonsdale, in previous years. When
he is not playing rugby he enjoys working on the farm and
shooting the local grouse.
Name:
Olly Jacques
Position:
Centre
D.O.B:
19/06/1995
Height:
193
Weight:
87
A regular in the 2nd XV this season, Olly forced his way into
both the Sevens and Tens squads, being involved in all 3
tournament victories and the quarter-final at Rosslyn Park.
Olly is a talented player with outstanding ball skills. He likes to
run with the ball, creating a lot of breaks, and is an extremely
hard player to get down once he gets his roots planted. He
won both county cups last year with his club, Preston
Grasshoppers, and the School.
Giles Jones, a breakout sensation, has worked extremely
hard throughout his rugby career. Starting in the ‘D’ team in
1st Year, he has stunned members of the 1st and 2nd XV
with his performances and attitude to training over the past
few months and has now earned a spot in the squad. Off the
pitch he enjoys sailing, shooting, skiing and going to the gym.
Giles is studying Biology, Chemistry, Business studies and
Technology. He is a very committed player and hopefully he
will continue to astound the team and become a true
underdog story!
Name:
Rob Jones
Position:
Scrum Half
D.O.B:
19/06/1994
Height:
177
Weight:
76
Rob Jones is a 2nd team scrum half who has made several
appearances for the 1st XV. He was a proud member of the
unbeaten 2nd XV. He achieved second highest try scorer
with a season total of 16 including 2 tries against a very
strong Sedbergh side. Outside of rugby, Rob is a keen
musician who plays both guitar and bass guitar. Rob is
currently in his final year of A-levels and is studying
Geography, PE and Biology.
Name:
Alex Kenyon
Position:
Second Row/
Back Row
D.O.B:
15/10/1994
Height:
192
Weight:
95
Name:
Griff Lewis
Position:
Flanker/
Second Row
D.O.B:
01/06/1995
Height:
186
Weight:
91
Name:
Marcus Mollinga
Position:
2nd Row
D.O.B:
17/10/1994
Height:
184
Weight:
89
Alex Kenyon joined Ormskirk RUFC at the age of 4 and was
the “go to” man of the side thanks to his “crash ball” strategy.
Six years later he moved to Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC and
learned to pass (occasionally) and has once been seen to sidestep, although playing at No.8, or lock forward, “tanking it up
the middle” seemed like a good option. He has been selected
for Cumbria District and their Schools of Rugby development
squad and Cumrbia U16. He played 1st XV rugby for his
previous school. Alex moved to the LRGS Sixth Form partly to
develop his rugby skills further. Alex went on the pre-season
LRGS fitness camp in France where he was injured and is only
just returning to rugby having missed most of this season.
Name:
Rob Kingston
Position:
Scrum-Half
D.O.B:
08/09/1993
Height:
179
Weight:
79
Having represented the 1st XV as flanker last year, Rob made
a successful transition to scrum-half at the start of this season
and managed to hold down his position in the team. A
naturally aggressive player, Rob doesn't back down in the
tackle and puts plenty of pressure on his opposing number. In
his spare time, Rob enjoys having fun with his friends, playing
squash, climbing and unicycling! Rob is taking a gap year and
then hopes to study Naval Architecture at Newcastle.
Griff Lewis is well respected member of the 1st XV and has
been a member of the squad since 5th Year. Likened to Simon
Shaw, he rarely misses a tackle and has an exceptionally high
work rate on the pitch, personifying destruction at the
breakdown area. Griff may not have great hands but makes up
for this other areas, such as exemplary fitness. He has played
rugby for six years and displays his dedication by attending
every training session. Off the rugby field, Griff has other
interests in football, basketball and gaming. Clearly an able
student, he takes Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Economics
A-Levels.
Name:
Matthew McKean
Position:
Open-side Flanker
D.O.B:
17/10/1994
Height:
183
Weight:
85
This season Matthew has been a member of the extremely
successful LRGS second XV and has represented the 2nd
Seven. Previously he was a member of both the LRGS U15
and U16 Lancashire Cup winning sides. The strongest
attributes of his game are his tenacious tackling and ball
winning skills, but he is also a good carrier of the ball with
quick feet and a powerful hand off. Aside from rugby,
Matthew is an expert skier who has represented the school in
the North West Ski Federation School’s race. He is currently
studying Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Spanish at A-level.
In the 2011/2012 season, Marcus has represented the
1st XV at LRGS since becoming a new student here in the
Lower Sixth, he has also plays Preston Grasshoppers. He
also enjoys playing cricket and occasionally going out at the
weekend. His favourite food is Spag Bol.
23
24
Name:
Will Mossop
Position:
Full Back/Fly Half
D.O.B:
27/10/1994
Height:
186
Weight:
80
Name:
Declan Pickvance
Position:
Full Back
D.O.B:
25/02/1994
Height:
185
Weight:
78
Name:
Sam Moorby
Position:
Outside Centre
D.O.B:
18/07/1994
Height:
185
Weight:
80
Throughout Sam's 7 years oat LRGS, he has represented the
school at 1st XV Rugby and 1st XI Cricket. He has often been
selected as captain for these sports and is currently captain of
a very successful rugby VIIs side. Sam is a very powerful
player in attack and also in defence, this power and pace
helps him to exploit gaps in the field. He is a very motivational
player who never likes to settle for second best. Sam is
studying Physics, Maths and Chemistry at A-level. And he is
hoping to continue studying at The Imperial College of London
were he will study Physics and excel further in his rugby and
cricket.
Will has joined the school this year and has played his rugby in
the 2nd XV, helping the team to an unbeaten season. He also
plays for his local side, Vale of Lune. He is a good decision
maker and also a good footballer with a good side step. His
sporting interests apart from rugby include cricket, football,
snowboarding, skiing and mountain biking. His interests
outside school include playing the guitar, a lot of Call of Duty
and Fifa. Will is currently studying Maths, Economics, French
and Physics.
Name:
Richard Phillips
Position:
Second Row
D.O.B:
22/12/1994
Height:
186
Weight:
78
Richard started playing rugby when he first came to LRGS,
beginning in the ‘B’ team and progressing through the lower
and middle school teams, eventually becoming part of the U15
and U16 Lancashire Cup winning squads. Last season,
Richard was part of the unbeaten 2nd XV, where he played
2nd row. During the summer, Richard is a keen cricketer and
hopes to play in the 3rd team at school.
Declan has been 'B’ team full back throughout his school
career and has played for the 3rd team during Sixth Form. He
was a key member of the 3rd team tour to Shropshire in the
Lower Sixth. Outside of rugby, he studies Biology, PE and
Business Studies.
Name:
Ben Pinder
Position:
Hooker
D.O.B:
03/02/1994
Height:
180
Weight:
78
Ben has been playing rugby since the U7' at Preston
Grasshoppers and recently received his 10 years service to
the club. Ben has represented LRGS for 7 years playing for
the 'A' teams in both cricket and rugby for the first 5
years. Recently he has been plagued with injuries consisting
of an ankle dislocation at the start of the year and then a
shoulder dislocation, resulting in an operation at the start of
this calendar year. Ben will be fully fit for this tour and is
looking forward to playing to his potential. Ben is taking
Religious Studies, Biology and Chemistry at A-level and is
hoping to study Biomedical Sciences at Newcastle University.
Name:
Tom Rhodes
Position:
wing
D.O.B:
23/05/1994
Height:
185
Weight:
79
Tom has played rugby throughout LRGS and represented the
1st XV this year on the wing. He offers pace and quick feet
and is therefore a strong runner with the ball in hand. In
school Tom studies 3 subjects: Business, Economics and
Geography with the intention to continue with Business to
university. Outside of school Tom enjoys other sports such as
football and golf as well as him being a qualified ski instructor.
Name:
Position:
D.O.B:
Height:
Weight:
Name:
Scott Rudd
Position:
Wing
D.O.B:
10/04/99
Height:
170
Weight:
80
Name:
Richard Skinner
Position:
Second Row/8
D.O.B:
06/06/1996
Height:
191
Weight:
96
Matthew Robinson Matthew has played rugby for 10 years, initially at the Vale of
Lune Rugby Club, where he still plays for the Junior Colts. He
has played in his year’s ‘A’ team from 1st to 5th Year, picking
Number 8
up Player of the Year twice. He enjoyed his first 5 years
playing rugby, playing in a competent team with good team
spirit; a team that won the Lancashire Cup twice. He has
21/12/1994
represented Lancashire at U14, U15 and U16 and played for
the unbeaten 2nd XV. He is an aggressive player with a
174
passion for tackling and a talent for surreptitiously winning the
ball back. He is a good support player and an all-round team
player. Matthew enjoys cycling, swimming, sailing and
78
kayaking.
Scott has played rugby for 10 years and has built up skills in
running with the ball and the tackle area. He has represented
the LRGS 2nd XV and also played for Preston Grashoppers
U16. Scott Plays fullback and wing and, outside of rugby, has
a number of hobbies including skiing and wakeboarding.
Aside from playing sport, Scott occasionally finds the time for
some work and is studying Biology, Business, Economics and
Technology.
Name:
Duncan Ryan
Position:
Prop
D.O.B:
06/09/1994
Height:
175
Weight:
110
Duncan has played for County (Lancashire) at U15 and U16
level. He played for the 2nd XV and the A XV throughout the
lower school. His strengths are scrummaging, as he is the
perfect build for a prop. Duncan has been on 2 pre-season
tours over the past 2 years to France. He also enjoys a variety
of sports, notably athletics. His interests include eating and
drinking. At school he studies Chemistry, Biology, PE and
Technology.
Richard has been consistently in the 'A' Team throughout the
age groups at school, playing for the U13 and U14 Lancashire
Cup winning sides. This year he has been training with the 1st
XV. He also plays for a local club side that are in the final of
the regional competition. Richard fell just short of a Sale
Sharks development group place last summer, but has
improved markedly since then and hopes to push for a place
for the coming year. Richard is a very effective player at the
breakdown and prides himself on his ability to turn the ball
over or force a penalty. He has also shown to be a very strong
runner with the ball in-hand. Richard is also a keen handball
and squash player. Outside of sport he enjoys playing the
guitar and physical outdoor activities.
25
Name:
Alvin Tsoi
Position:
Prop
D.O.B:
20/09/1995
Height:
180
Weight:
105
Name:
Zain Sultan
Position:
Prop
D.O.B:
16/11/1994
Height:
180
Weight:
78
Alvin Tsoi is a member of the 1st XV & 2nd XV squad whom
has recently joined LRGS this year. He was a hot prospect to
the school, however has not lived up to his true potential due
to lack of fitness and inability to adjust to the British weather
(or so he claims!). Alvin represented the Hong Kong U14
squad in 2009, when the squad went to Singapore on tour.
Outside of rugby, he enjoys other sports like basketball,
football and tennis. He looks up to Andrew Sheridan and
hopes to become a player like that in the future. In his
A-levels, he studies Chemistry, Maths, Business Studies and
Economics.
Height:
Tom Vaughan Jones Tom is in his second full season with the 1st XV. He has
performed consistently at this level and has been a key
member of the leadership team. He is a very instinctive player
Flanker
who links well with his backs while performing all the key skills
of a top drawer open side. Tom is now in his final year at the
29/09/1993
school and his experience and work rate will be missed as an
influential member of the team.
97
Weight:
90
Name:
Position:
D.O.B:
26
Name:
Ben Wilkinson
Position:
Second Row
D.O.B:
28/04/1994
Height:
194
Weight:
88
In the 2011/2012 season Zain was a regular in the LRGS 2nd
XV. He is a forward and has mostly played in the prop position
since he started to play rugby in 2007. Since then, every year,
he has represented LRGS in the ‘A’ teams. In the 2007/08
school season he received the 'most improved player' award
for his efforts in developing his skills over the season. In
2009 he trialled for the Lancashire U15 team. He has won the
Lancashire Cup with the school's ‘A’ team on 3 occasions.
More recently he has played regularly for the LRGS 2nd XV
and has represented the 1st XV on a few occasions. He is a
dynamic player who can, if required to, play anywhere in the
Ben has been unlucky with injury this season as he dislocated
his knee, then broke his hand. He then returned stronger, to
finish with the second team in an unbeaten season. He plays
outside of school for the Vale of Lune, for whom he has played
for since the age of 5. He works hard around the field and uses
his shovel like hands and height as an asset in the lineouts and
in open play. He has a good sense of humour with little shame
as he paraded around in an ill-fitting mankini during the tour in
France last August. Ben is taking a gap year teaching English
to primary school children in Rwanda.
Name:
James Worlock
Position:
Back Row
D.O.B:
11/03/1995
Height:
185
Weight:
91
James has played for the LRGS ‘A’ teams from 1st Year and
has been a regular 1st XV player since the 5th Year where he
played Lock. He has been a player at Preston Grasshoppers
RUFC for over 10 years, currently playing in the Back
Row, and is a member of Sale Sharks U19s Academy. He
represented Lancashire as Captain at U15, U16 and U17 and
also played for the U18s. Other representative honours include
North of England U16s and England Blues U16s. His playing
style has been likened to David Pocock, and some say he
possesses the mental and physical aggression of a young
Sebastian Chabal. His strengths are his work around the
breakdown area, as a lineout jumper and support runner. His
main attribute is his ability to work hard on the pitch.
M a r t ec
For noise solutions
Acredited Sound Insulation Test
Planning & Environmental Assessments
Noise / Vibration / Impact
Part E Testing
Noise at Work
Tel: 01524 222000
www.MartecEnviro.co.uk
[email protected]
Wish the LRGS boys
Good Luck on their
tour to South Africa
2012
3 Dalton Hall Business Centre
Burton-in-Kendal, Cumbria LA6 1BL
27
The Barbados Story ...
Neville Cardus said ‘It’s far
more than a game, this
cricket’. I think everyone
involved in LRGS’s 2011 tour
to Barbados tended to agree
with him. We backed
ourselves. n paper, we were
one of the strongest sides
we’d sent as a school.
However, as we know, sport
isn’t played on paper. In
unfamiliar conditions we
finished 2nd out of 25
schools, better than any of our previous efforts and only the 3rd English side in the history of the
Garfield Sobers International Tournament to get to the final. How? Well, we prepared well. Our
fielding, still across many levels one of the most neglected but most most important areas of the
game, was especially well honed. At least 10 of the 16 lads on that tour had played with the same
players for 6 years or more so we knew our own strengths and weaknesses. And we played hard
cricket. More than anything else though, we showed character when we were down. More than once
we had been ‘out of it’ and fought back. Returning to Cardus’s quote, our contests and the pivotal
moments on which so many swung, displayed how wonderful and engrossing the sport is.
Getting on that plane and watching the in-flight film, ‘Fire in Babylon’ on a loop was an interesting
experience. Seeing Malcolm Marshall felling Andy Lloyd and the endless barrage of West Indian
quicks of the past bruising English batsmen made us realise, if we didn’t already, we were in for one
heck of a fight. I didn’t learn from this and found out quickly to my detriment, more than once, that the
opening bowlers didn’t particularly appreciate my appearance in a cap. Looking back it’s hard to
condense the tour as there were so many moments that exhibited the greatness of the game,
however there were a few that stood out.
We played our third game on the back of a loss, against a side called New Amsterdam from Guyana
and I recall it being absolutely roasting. We bowled first and there was a young lad who was ‘giving
us a bit of tap’ so they got to about 80 for none off about 10 or so overs, and the heat was getting to
a few of us. We were looking at a mammoth task ahead and I remember thinking back to a few
occasions in the past where we’d spent a long day in the field. Then we brought Jimmy Roberts on
with his right-arm slightly-quicker-than-dobbers to offer a bit of control. The big hitter swung across
the line to Jimbo and he didn’t time it, but the boundaries were small and it looked like another half-adozen to the total. Then the youngest player in our side, Dan Chambers, who incidentally had a really
good tour, jumped and stuck out a right arm and plucked a catch he had no right to hang on to. We
later went on and won that game. So many times Jimmy came on, slowed the run rate down and took
wickets – can’t argue with the old corridor of uncertainty Jim!
Another occasion that sticks in my mind was against the Lodge School from Barbados. They came
with a reputation as a top side and one that liked to rotate the strike... they were 0 for 2 after the first
over... both run outs. Our opening bowler Jack Brown, a tall lanky figure, had only been bowling pace
for a year before the tour after a snap decision in the nets to give up on off-spin. This day he would
be bowling with what we would term ‘wheels’ as the Lodge upper-order were hopping all over the
place. Sam Moorby our ‘keeper kept taking the ball well above his shoulders and he must have been
about pitch-length back – he was nippy that day. I’ll never forget the look on the face of their number
6 when he was walking in to face Jack after his skipper has just fended a snorter to Tom Deakin at
gully. This was from a man who less than a year an a half before was bowling inconsistent off breaks
– the joys of cricket!
28
The tour however exhibited to me the greatest game of cricket I’ve yet had the privilege of playing in
or witnessing, better even than Edgbaston 2005. The 18th and 19th July at Banks Brewery Cricket
Ground, Barbados, LRGS v Queen’s Park Trinidad was a game with everything that a cricket game
should have. With the tournament staged during the Barbadian wet season, the late afternoon rains
often put pay to any play after about 4 o’clock on an ever increasing basis. We inserted Queen’s and
once again Jack was aggressive and the young lads Dan Chambers and Tom Whitehouse, as well as
old-timer Alex Metcalfe, picked up wickets with the help of the fielders as we reduced them to 110-8,
in the words of David Lloyd, ‘We’d flippin’ murdered ‘em! They say ‘when it rains, it pours’, never had
this been more apt. Many of us had never experienced a proper tropical rainstorm, I certainly hadn’t
anyway. If you haven’t I can only describe it as the heaviest rain you can imagine in this country from
a heavy thunderstorm, constant for about an hour and half. When it stopped the ground was
underwater, so we thought we might as well try as best we could to remove as much as possible as
we hadn’t travelled 6000 miles to get beaten by rain – it had happened more than enough at home!
Piercing holes with stumps and brushing water with brooms we tried our best but it was in vain. We
were distraught, as by a technicality we’d be knocked out by a side we’d dominated for half the
game. We shook hands with a delighted opposition and thought that was that. Back at the hotel our
tour organiser, Mr Chambers, had been on the phone and called in favours from left, right and centre
to somehow conjure up a delay in the final and a second day to complete the semi the following day.
We were back on! I can recall us turning up for fielding practice the following day, and for some
reason we weren’t as sharp as usual, perhaps it was the subliminal complacency we’d been warned
of. Anyway, cricket has a funny way of biting you on the backside if you’re not concentrating. Queen’s
made 168-9 off 40 overs, 58 runs off the final 6 overs! The outfield was long so forcing it through the
gaps was difficult. We made a good steady start of 30-0 off 12 overs, but our batting crumbled to the
scoreboard pressure apart from skipper Mark Walling - an exceptional batsman and certainly one of
the best players the school has ever turned out - who stuck there with his 45. After he fell it was all
over. We told the last two men as they went in (Jack Brown and Jonny Wells) to enjoy themselves at
100-9. Jack planted a huge 6 into the brewery straight over their off spinner’s head but we considered
it a mere consolation going into the scheduled tea break at 114-9 with 5 overs left. Being the ray of
sunshine that I am, I rated our chances worse than a snowball’s in hell. Dan Whitehouse, our fast
bowler who’d injured his back and was team scorer, came over to me at the tea break waxing lyrical
about Jack’s batting ability and how we still had a ‘30-70’ chance; I felt like sobbing into my chicken
and rice!
Queen’s, however, had fallen foul of the same error we’d committed in the morning. They waltzed out,
I suspect, with the Kensington Oval and tomorrow’s opponents in mind; little did we know that Messrs
Brown and Wells had other ideas. Jack used his long levers to good effect, continuing to clobber their
spinners straight while Jonny, I wouldn’t say scampered, but gave Jack the strike with some ‘choice’
running. I’m sure Jonny was run out at least once, but I think the opposition hadn’t endeared
themselves to the officials as the official said he ‘didn’t see it’. The Queens’ faces dropped and I’ll
never forget the delirium when Jack struck the winning runs off the back foot through the covers to
take us to the Kensington Oval. This is why cricket’s great; a game that lasts two days which can
swing both ways with great skill from both sides, a bit of luck and both outcomes possible on the last
ball makes a tasty recipe for a sporting fixture.
It’s a shame we lost the final against Combermere in retrospect, and we weren’t far off pulling an
upset in that! However even that loss contained great performances; Mark Walling cracking sixes into
the Worrell, Walcott and Weekes Stand and 15 year old Dan Chambers conceding 2 an over in front
of over a thousand people on a huge stage deserves commendation. It says a lot that we were
absolutely distraught in the dressing room afterwards, even though we’d upset all the odds time and
time again, and performed remarkably well. But such is cricket; far more than a game!
Alex Metcalfe
Member of the LRGS 2011
Barbados Squad
29
Tour Itinerary ...
Day 1:
Wednesday 11 July 2012
2100 hrs Flight departs Manchester.
Day 2:
Thursday 12 July 2012
1800 hrs Arrive at the Stellenbosch Rugby Academy for two nights.
2000 hrs Training session booked – 90 minutes.
Day 3:
Friday 13 July 2012 - Cape Town
1000 hrs Training at Academy.
Day 4:
Saturday 14 July 2012: Malmesbury north of Cape Town.
1030 hrs Arrive at Swartland High School - boarding houses for two nights.
1330 hrs VREDENBURG HIGH SCHOOL v LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2nd XV
1830 hrs TYGERBURG SCHOOL v LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1st XV
839 3276 96 www.livingwiththelions.co.u
Day 5:
Sunday 15 July 2012: Transfer to central Cape Town.
1000 hrs Arrive at the V and A waterfront.
1245 hrs Bard Ferry 1300 hrs Ferry departs Robben Island Tour, a guided tour of the island and prison.
Day 6:
Monday 16 July 2012: Paarl
Training session this morning on the Swartland High School grounds. Transfer to Paarl. Like Stellenbosch, Paarl
is in the Winelands area of the Cape, is in the shadow of the Hawequas Mountains and is situated east of Cape
Town.
1330 hrs Arrive in Paarl. Horse riding!
1800 hrs Arrive Paarl Boys High School, hosted for two nights.
Day 7:
Tuesday 17 July 2012
0800 hrs The boys will come to school with their billets. Local sightseeing in the Paarl area.
1610 hrs PAARL BOYS HIGH SCHOOL vs LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2nd XV 1610 hrs
PAARL BOYS HIGH SCHOOL vs LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1st XV
1800 hrs Cape Town
30
Day 8:
Wednesday 17 July 2012
0815 hrs After arriving with your hosts bid farewell and transfer to Cape Town.
1030 hrs Arrive in Cape Town. Transfer to Table Mountain: cable car to the top (weather permitting). Later in the
afternoon check into the Protea Hotel Break Water Lodge for two nights.
11 2JP TEL: 020 7223 6650 VAT NO: 839 3276 96 www.livingwiththelions.co.uk
Day 9:
Thursday 19 July 2012: Cape Town
Transfer to Newlands Rugby Stadium for a guided tour.
1300 hrs Arrive at Laguna Rugby Club which is located in Nyanga Township.
1400 hrs LAGUNYA v LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2nd XV
1500 hrs LAGUNYA v LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1st XV
Day 10:
Friday 20 July 2012: Knysna
Transfer to Oudtshoorn for a visit to the Cango Caves and an Ostrich Farm.
1500 hrs Arrive at the Cango.
1630 hrs After the tour continue on to Knysna and check in at Brenton-on-Sea cottages for two nights.
Day 11:
Saturday 21 July 2012: Knysna
0700 hrs Breakfast at the Nauticus Palace Restaurant.
0900 hrs KNYSNA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL v LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2nd XV
1000 hrs KNYSNA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL v LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1st XV
Day 12:
Sunday 22 July 2012: Port Elizabeth
0900 hrs Continue east to Port Elizabeth.
Overnight: Pine Lodge.
Day 13:
Monday 23 July 2012: Port Elizabeth
0830 hrs
1200 hrs Depart the lodge for the New Brighton Oval.
1430 hrs ITHEMBELIHLE SCHOOL v LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2nd XV
1530 hrs ITHEMBELIHLE SCHOOL v LANCASTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1st XV
Day 14:
Tuesday 24 July 2012: Kariega Game Reserve
Transfer to Kariega Game Reserve.
1530hrs You will head off on an evening Game Drive before dinner.
Overnight: Kariega Game Reserve.
Day 15:
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Early morning game drive.
0930 hrs Transfer to Port Elizabeth Airport.
Overnight: in-flight
Day 16:
Thursday 26 July 2012
0515 hrs Arrive in Dubai and remain in transit before connecting with flight EK 17 to Manchester.
1225 hrs Arrive back into Manchester Airport where you will make your own way.
31
32
Acknowledgements
Particular thanks go to:
Clearview Home Improvements, S & G Plant Services and Centrica
We would like the thank the advertisers in this brochure
and also the following for their support:
North Lancashire Primary Care Trust, Mr Ian Bailey, The Runner’s Centre,
Dr I P Jones, Dr J Abraham, Lockleys Westgate News, Bowerham Butchers,
Bowerham Chippy, Jan Kent Hair, Lancaster Guitar Studio
and Sunbury Coffee House