Bermuda Rugby U17 Squad UK Tour Report
The Bermuda Rugby U17 Tour recently concluded, with squad members traveling to the United Kingdom for their one week rugby tour in that part of the world.
A spokesperson said, “After a year of preparation and planning post coach Devrae’s memorial service in January 2014, the twenty six person squad assembled at L.F. Wade airport with family and friends on March 24th to begin their long awaited one week U.K rugby tour.
“The squad has been training since September 2014 under the watchful eye of Youth coach Patrick Calow and there were times early on when he questioned the commitment of the group. But this group came together as a team as the training got tougher and the fund raising activities commenced in earnest.”
“After interviews with Bernews and a three hour delay, the squad and support team boarded the BA flight and for many it was the first time to travel to the U.K. and for Chinua Smith it was a special day as it was his first time leaving the island – the boys allowed him to board first.
“We were met at Gatwick by our representative from Irish Rugby Tours Raymond O’Grady and our tour driver Lee Wheaton. George Hook from Irish Rugby tours did an excellent job in helping put the tour itinerary together.
“Main task of the day was to check us [39 person group] all into our hotel in Farnham near Guildford, organize the kit that had arrived from Akuma Sports and start the day with our first English breakfast of the tour. In the afternoon, we had our first coaching session with Mark Mapletoft, the backs coach for Harlequins at their training grounds at Sussex University.”
“Mark played for Gloucester, London Irish, Saracens and Harlequins, is a well-respected coach in the English Premiership, and the boys enjoyed the training session learning new skills and it helped clear the jet lag.
“Early start [on April 25] and we headed off to the Rosslyn Park National Sevens which has evolved from its humble beginnings in 1939 to the world’s largest rugby tournament with over 7,000 boys and girls aged 13-18 competing in this annual tournament.
“With our Bermuda Rugby jackets and shirts we were welcomed everywhere we went and had a very enjoyable afternoon watching some spectacular rugby played on 27 pitches and we wondered how we would have fared if had entered the competition.”
“We also experienced the seasonal nature of the UK weather with the sun shining brightly and five minutes later the rain pelting down and getting soaked.
“We headed off to our second training session at the Harlequins training ground with Tom Williams, a holder of three Rosslyn Park titles with Millfield and the boys were energized from watching the sevens tournament and the jet lag now in the past. What they did notice though was given the session was later in the afternoon, the UK chill with the temperatures at 5 degrees.
“[April 26] was a very special day as we were hosted by Saracens for the day at their wonderful facility Allianz Park near Barnet – very much appreciated. We arrived at 11am and Richard Gregg, Stadium Sports Manager outlined the history of the stadium and the many aspects of the stadium facilities.”
“We were given full access to the player’s lounge and the dressing rooms. After a stadium tour the squad got ready to be put through their paces by the highly regarded Academy manager Don Barrell, whose U18 squad recently won the U18 Premiership title.
“The boys enjoyed a very active 90 minute session and were involved in a number of technical drills especially in Don’s area of expertise the forwards who learned a very effective rolling maul off a lineout. The facilities and the setting are very special and the coaches couldn’t believe they were walking around on a Premiership rugby ground!
“After a quick lunch, the afternoon session was focused on the life of a professional rugby player and we were fortunate to have two current players Ernest Joubert and Hayden Smith take time out of their busy schedule to discuss their daily routines and their career paths with the squad – key messaging which underpins Saracens culture is Honesty, Discipline, Work Rate and Humility.”
“We saw them play Harlequins at Wembley on Saturday. Sean Vine, Academy strength and conditioning coach discussed the conditioning and nutrition aspects of a rugby player’s day and he repeatedly mentioned getting enough rest as a critical component of a professional’s routine.
“Armed with all the technical skills and knowledge from the day, the squad retired to the dressing room to get prepared for the challenge of playing London’s premier U17 squad Old Albanians under lights at Allianz Park. Old Albanians were as excited as we were to play and they arrived with thirty players all fired up to put us to the sword!
“The game started well for Bermuda with Kelin Williams making a brilliant run down the wing and offloaded to Padraic O’Shaughnessy to score under the posts. The size and power of OA’s started to have an impact and they went in at halftime 12-7 ahead with Bermuda tackling for their lives and putting up a very good fight.”
“The second half with a new team every 15 minutes, the bench strength of OA’s and their technical skills shone through and with Bermuda conceding two late tries, OA’s ran out deserved victors at 32-7. The squad can hold their heads up high as they outperformed in the scrums/lineouts, tackled to the end and many of the rookies stood up and were counted on this memorable night at Allianz Park.
“Plenty to work on but we knew we had played well against the best and it was the first time playing a 70 minute match for the majority of the squad.
“[On April 27] we woke late to a sunny morning and an injury assessment at breakfast revealed a bunch of bruised bodies but thankfully no breaks or concussions. Today was the day we hoped to be part of a world record crowd at Wembley stadium for Saracens vs. Harlequins.”
“Saracens kindly arranged 42 tickets for the group and it was a memorable experience with Saracens winning the game in front of world record 84,068 people – we like to think we will get mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records.
“[On April 28] classical UK weather with rain and 40 knot winds – the squad would get to use their steel studded boots for the first time in a mud bath at Teddington R.F.C. Bushy Park. We arranged for a triangular tournament between three clubs – Brighton, Teddington and Bermuda. We started the tournament against Brighton playing into the gale and rain.
“To be honest it took us a while to settle and we tried to play too much rugby in the windy conditions and paid a heavy price going in 17-0 down. In the second half playing with a gale, Bermuda dispensed with the fancy rugby and playing a more direct style opened the scoring with a try from Padraic O’Shaughnessy.”
“They laid siege to the Brighton line for the rest of the half and Bermuda lacked the clinical touch losing out 17-7 but had clearly showed they can adapt to the conditions with storming runs from Jonathan Alves, Hussani Samuels and Mikai Johnston. They couldn’t wait to play Teddington.
“The squad had a quiet determination about them during the warm up and they lost the toss thus played the first half into the gale and rain. Having learnt the lessons from the Brighton game, Bermuda played a much tighter game with the forwards dominating the proceedings and it was not pretty but very effective.
“Despite being camped in their half for much of the first half Bermuda scored from a breakaway with rookie “Chuckie” Smith scoring a great try in the corner. This really fired up the squad and tries followed from Azzi Mayes and Padraic O’Shaughnessy – 19 to Nil at halftime playing into a gale.”
“The second half was dominated by Bermuda with wave after wave of attack and they pinned Teddington in their half and 2 more tries followed from Jahniko Francis and Kirk Hyde. Final score 31-5 and there were many a tear shed at the end of the game as the squad played with grit and determination and delivered on their promise, Devrae would have been so proud of the performance.
“Bermuda won the triangular tournament on points difference and Camren Caines, Captain received the Bermuda friendship goblet trophy on behalf of the team.
“Teddington hosted us in their wonderful clubhouse and after a number of presentations and games we headed to Susie Noel Simmons family in Newmarket. Colin and Lesley Bunting kindly hosted 39 of us at their beautiful house and we ate them out of house and home. We shared many stories of Devrae’s travels to the UK and his rugby exploits and it was a very enjoyable evening.”
“A lazy day [April 29] started with a late English breakfast and a day to be tourist and take photo’s – we visited Madame Tussaud’s, tour bus around London including a photo stop by the London Eye and did a little shopping in London.
“Early start today [April 30] as we had to fight rush hour traffic to get to Twickenham, the home of English rugby and host of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. We had a wonderful morning with a tour guide and were joined by Will Skinner, Head of Business Development of Harlequins Rugby Club who will be visiting Bermuda with Harlequins this summer.
“There were many highlights including a number of the squad racing against a number of the athletes training at the ground with Tyquann Perinchief winning the day and we also had a wonderful speech from Will Skinner in the England dressing room giving us insight into the pre match routine.”
“A relaxed afternoon, the squad got ready for the 7.30pm kick off at Wimbledon Rugby Club. What a ground, seven fields in the middle of London and a wonderful clubhouse. After a very good warm up the temperature at game time was 4 degrees and we didn’t fare well in the opening ten minutes and we quickly found ourselves down 10-0 to two well worked tries but one’s we should have stopped with more structured play.
“We got ourselves into the game and with some very good forward play and were held up over the line for a score we would have deserved. After failing to gather a long clearance we gave up a try just before half time to trail 17-0.
“Coach Calow had some calming words for the squad noting they were not being outmuscled but were losing as we were not clinical enough in our defensive area and lifted the boy’s heads noting this was the last time they would probably play together as a squad and make sure they left everything on the field with no regrets.”
“The second half was a very even affair with Bermuda committing fewer errors and playing with real passion and pride and deserved more for their efforts with the crowd in attendance applauding their fight and spirit. Tyquann Perinchief scored the try of the tour outrunning and braking five tackles en route to a spectacular score. Final score was 29-10 to Wimbledon.
“The squad, coaches, Susie Noel Simmons gathered under the posts and the coaches each said their piece with a lot of players in tears realizing this was the end of a momentous tour and brought closure to a tour their beloved coach Devrae had wanted for this squad of players.
“Wimbledon was gracious hosts and Susie Noel Simmons presented the club with a Bermuda cedar plaque to commemorate our visit.”
“The tour was organized to commemorate the life and contributions of Devrae Noel-Simmons to youth rugby and the lives of the squad members. Though the boys lost more games than they won, it was their performances that the coaches and travelling supporters were proud of – it was a huge learning experience against top quality sides which should benefit youth rugby prospectively.
“The squad was great ambassadors for themselves, their families and Bermuda and they made friends everywhere they went and we received positive feedback from the hotel staff, tour guides, host clubs and the coaching staff couldn’t have asked for more both on and off the field.
“The benefits of the tour and preparation were not just rugby related, it was great to see the boys mature on tour, many had never been to the UK before and their friendships and teamwork grew through the tour. The squad returned to Bermuda with memories of a lifetime and made Devrae proud.
“There are so many people to thank for a tour like this and apologies if we forget someone.”
“The trip was organized with the Irish Rugby Tours Group and we were well taken care of the whole trip. We got a tour guide [Raymond O’Grady] and a bus driver [Lee Wheaton] from the moment we got off the plane and they were with us 24/7 till we got back on the plane and they became part of the team.
“Sponsors included BRFU Youth Committee, Sol, Digicel, Deloitte, BF&M, Philip and Eileen Thorne, Atlantic Philantrophy, David and Sarah Cooke, Richard and Mary Winchell, all four Bermuda senior rugby clubs, Peter and Nanette Kiernan, Paul and Lucy Ritchie, Ian and Lisa Maule, David and Sue Crofts, Sean Fung, Billy and Cathy McNiven, Nick West, Renaissance Re, Heath Robinson, Gerhard Boonstra, Peter and Angie Bell, Belco, Chris Coleman, Caroline and Richard Boyd, Leslie Rans, Peter Harding, Geraldine Smith [Fishfry], James and Jacqui O’Shaughnessy.
“Many players and coaching staff, including Patrick Calow, Gareth Nokes, Susie and Dante Noel Simmons Saracens team, Harlequins team, Will Skinner, Ian Maule, David Cooke, Kevin Mayes, Aldo Campbell, Billy McNiven, Church, Herbie and Nick Ball.
“Finally, thanks to the squad, who left us all with lifetime memories both on and off the field.”
What a fantastic tour for a wonderful group of young men. Memories are the fiber of character- The memories of this positive experience will last a life time. Well done to all- especially the fine young ambassadors of Bermuda. This is what rugby is all about- Teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship- all working together to create lifelong friendships and strong character.