Canada 2008
© Crypt School 2010
site by biggreenfurrythings
After 3 years of preparation and 12 months of solid fund raising we can now look back on what was an outstanding and very successful tour. The tour was jam packed with 14 games of rugby. Our first taste of the Canadian style of play was in a Youth Festival at Twin Elm Park. Both the 1st and 2nd XV comfortably won all 4 of their games to get the tour off to a remarkable start.
We travelled from Montreal to Ottawa and then onto Peterborough, Toronto and finally Oshawa with no longer than 3 days in any location.
Both teams then continued their unbeaten start to the tour by convincingly beating Peterborough RFC. The highlight of the tour had to be playing Ontario State at Fletchers Fields. Unfortunately both teams lost by the smallest of margins with the 1st XV losing with the last kick of the game. Ontario State is a selected team and is our equivalent of playing for the regional team such as the South West. Every player lifted their performance and exceeded any expectation on the pitch. For the year 13's that were leaving, the game was their last for the school and the privilege of playing against a state team with a number of capped Canadian international players at U18 and U16 level was second to none.
The tour was as hectic off the pitch as it was on it, with sightseeing to the breathtaking Niagara Falls, The CN Tower in Toronto and Canada's Wonderland. We also went to watch a Baseball game at the CN Dome.
The hospitality we received at each stage of the tour was outstanding, everyone was extremely friendly and very willing to help out in anyway they could to make the tour the success it was. The 42 pupils who toured were an absolute credit to the school, it was a pleasure to hear the comments that were made by our hosts, staff on the flights and in accommodation about how polite, well behaved and mature the boys were.
As a school we made a real impact with the people we met, the friendships and memories that were made will last a lifetime and the tour could not have been a bigger a success!!
