Bury RUFC U13’s travelled on Friday 1st May to the heartland of Welsh Rugby in the valleys of the Rhonda. We departed the rugby club at 6:15pm and arrived at the Dare Valley Country Park near Aberdare at around 10:45pm welcomed by the most hospitable warden Ian and a feast of a supper for everyone.
Saturday, Door-knocker Nick woke the boys and everyone else within 100 metres early to enjoy full English/Welsh breakfast. After checking all the boys had their gum shields, boots, shirt & ties we set off for the very short journey to Aberdare RFC. We were so keen to get the tour under way we arrived well before the opposition, with the changing rooms still closed the lads changed on the coach just in time for kick-off on this wet and windy morning.
Aberdare were only able to field 12 players, so some of our players volunteered to make sure there was a full complement of players for each team. The game kicked off and it was an even game throughout the match with Bury running out eventual winners 31 – 22. They then showered and we had a short walk to the Aberdare Clubhouse in the centre of town. We were well received by the Aberdare faithful and enjoyed the early afternoon’s lunch both liquid and solid.
The boys & coaches then hopped onto the coach for the journey to the Skirmish Taskforce Paintballing event that had been booked, whilst the parents made every effort to visit every Tea Shop in Aberdare !!!
After an excellent afternoon paintballing the lads were obviously very tired, back to our fantastic accommodation for the evening meal and a chance for the lads to relax.
Sunday and the impending tournament at Llandaff RFC near Cardiff meant another early start, with Door-knocker Nick doing his duties with aplomb, breakfast, then again kit check and off we went for a 40 minute journey. When we arrived our driver tried to find several different ways to get to the car park having done a drive past many times he eventually found the way in, just in time for the boys to get ready and the parents to get the gazebo up before the start.
We were placed in a group with the host team Llandaff, their local rivals Llandaff North, Porthcawl and another touring side from Hertfordshire, Hitchin RFC. Our first game was on the very small school pitch against Hitchin. The size of the pitch really didn’t suit our style of play, yet we had good possession but neither side managed dominate the game. We thought we had scored twice, but unfortunately one of our players over-shot the dead ball area and the score wasn’t given. Hitchin then scored in the last play of the match resulting in a 10-5 loss to Bury when at least a draw would have been a much fairer result.
Bury then went on to be unbeaten in the group stages gaining wins against Llandaff (who had previously won every match) and Porthcawl and a last minute score from Llandaff North resulting in an unlucky draw for Bury. These results dictated that Bury played Rhiwbina RFC in the main trophy semi-final, this was a close match with the Welsh side just edging it 10-5.

Although we didn’t get to the final the boys should be very proud of their performance throughout the tour, they had many admirers in the way they played the game including their behaviour and attitude.
The players got changed and descended into the Llandaff Clubhouse along with a few of the other teams where they were fed and watered and the entourage of supporters could lubricate there hoarse throats after the very vocal support they gave the Bury lads during the tournament, in fact we did win the boat race !!!
After such physical exercise the players still felt hungry and had been giving admiring glances at KFC across the road from the club, so we felt they deserved a treat and duly marched them over, all 40 of us entering KFC and completely taking over the place.
The drive back to Dare Valley was very vocal and spirited just what you’d expect after a rugby match !! Back at the ranch everyone then relaxed, the coaches showing great skill in beating the lads on the Wii (well that’s how I remember it).
The next morning was not so early but we still had to wake the boys & the parents up for breakfast at 8:00am. We then had job of packing our bags, ensuring nothing was left and loading the coach. Once this was all completed we had a tour presentation but on this occasion the parents had been given the task of choosing which players deserved awards for their performances, I think it was duly agreed that although we had 7 awards to hand out it wasn’t enough as every single player had contributed to what was a wonderful and most enjoyable tour.
Well Done boys !!!!
I would also like to thank the parents who helped enormously during the tour.