Jr Rugby Teams Return From Successful UK Tour
The Bermuda National under-10 and under-11 rugby teams returned home this evening [April 27] today having shone in the UK following a hugely successful 4-day tour.
The U/11 team consistwd of William Nokes, Louis Hammond, Khabir Dill, Devin Augustus, Nik Froud, Gareth Cooper, Dhillon Vaucrosson, Zaire Lodge, Evan Washington and Josh Lipschutz
The U/10 tea, included Ryan Daniel, Kwame Naylor, Olly MacLoughlin, Dylan Thomas, Hugo Few, Jay Dunleavy, Peter Komposch, Cody Robinson, Oliver Pinchin, Henry Pinchin, Ajani Burchall, and Kurama Enokitohge.
“The teams competed in the St.Neots Festival of rugby with our under 11s coming up just short in the Final against an experienced and powerful outfit from Bishop Stortford RUFC and the Under 10s finishing runners up in their pool losing a solitary match against the host club,” a spokesperson said.
“The teams arrived on Friday morning to bright sunshine in England’s capital city where they spent the morning with Harlequins Rugby Club, one of the biggest and most successful clubs in Europe. Our youngsters got to witnesses up close the first teams “captains run” training session followed by lunch with the players.
“The entire Harlequins squad, including the England Captain Chris Robshaw, then spent some time with our players, passing on some valuable knowledge, signing shirts and boots before posing for photos. Connor O’Shea, the Harlequins Director of Rugby, then individually presented Bermuda’s junior rugby players with a Harlequins jersey and provided some insight into the life of a professional rugby player.
“Following the visit to Harlequins the team took part in a light training session of their own before meeting up with Lee Mears for a tour of Twickenham Stadium. Mears is a former England and British Lion international who took the teams through the royal box, presidents lounge and the changing rooms of England’s national rugby stadium. At the end of the tour the teams lined up side by side at the famous Twickenham players tunnel before running out onto the turf of the 85,000 all seater stadium.
“Saturday morning saw the teams take on Bedford Modern school in what, for the majority of players, was their first ever competitive rugby match. It was a rude awakening for many of Bermuda’s youngsters. Bedford Modern, a private school in central England and former school of World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson, started well and showed a level of intensity that the Bermuda teams were not accustomed to.
“The under-11s quickly found themselves down by 15 points [three tries] to 5 with the Bedford opponents dominating the ruck and passing the ball fluently to score in the corners. However, following some words of encouragement from the coaches at half time, the team increased their physicality after the break and start to win the ball allowing their back line to take the ball at speed to the Bedford defense. Strong direct running from the forward pack allowed Khabir Dill of Sandys middle school to score four second half tries in an exhilarating match. The final score ending 25-25.
“The under-10s similarly found themselves initially dominated by a Bedford team who, through a combination of experience and sheer determination, opened up a 15-10 lead on their Bermuda opposition despite Bermuda getting an early break away try. The second half was an attritional affair.
“The Bedford team looked to keep the ball tight and focus on retaining position having quickly identified the threat from the Bermuda pacers Ajani Burchall [Paget Primary], Kwame Naylor [Warwick] and Cody Robinson [Saltus]. This experienced play allowed the Bedford team to close out the game with the Bermuda team coming short by a couple of tries however, the experience proved invaluable going into the Tournament on the Sunday.
Following their own efforts against Bedford, the teams travelled to the MK Dons stadium in Milton Keynes on Saturday afternoon to watch first placed Northampton Saints take on second placed Saracens in the top-of-the-table premiership clash. In a near 30,000 sell out crowd, our youngsters were engaged in a tight game that Northampton eventually won 25-20.
Wales international, Rhys Gill and South African Schalk Brits both came over to the Bermuda team after the match and, despite their disappointment of defeat, gave a few words of encouragement to our future stars of Bermuda Rugby before posing for photos.
Sunday morning saw the main event. St.Neots in Cambridgeshire, England is a town with a population comparable to Bermuda. The mini rugby festival is approaching its 40th year and is a permanent fixture in the UK’s mini rugby calendar.
As the players approached the grounds, the nerves were steadily building. Over 1,500 people had turned out to watch mini-rugby teams from all over mid and East England including the likes of Peterborough, Cambridge, St.Albans and Reading. Going into the tournament, expectations of the Bermuda teams were modest given the inexperience of both teams however, following Saturday’s promising performances both set of coaches were hopeful of getting a victory or two.
“What actually happened surpassed all expectations.
“The Bermuda under-11s played four matches in their pool scoring 18 tries in the process. They won their first match 30 [6 tries] to nil against Newmarket with some wonderful, flowing rugby and particularly impressive defensive displays from Zaire Lodge [Somersfield] and William Nokes [Saltus] who had clearly benefitted from the Bedford experience the day before.
This comfortable victory was their undoing in the second match as the team lost by a solitary try against a dogged outfit from St.Ives. Slight over-confidence from their first match meant the Bermuda team did not perform the fundamentals correctly and started to play individually and not as a team. Rugby is the ultimate team game and each person on the pitch has a specific role to play. The team was reminded of this before taking on host team St.Neots in their next match.
“Having won their previous two matches, St.Neots came into their game against Bermuda u11s in a confident mood. This confidence was soon cast aside as try-machine Khabir Dill from Sandys Middle School and Josh Lipschutz [Saltus] put in wonderful attacking displays to end up eventual winners 20-10.
“The last group match saw the Bermuda Under-11s sweep aside a team from Ely 40 [8 tries] to nil and with other results going in their favor, the Bermuda outfit topped their group and qualified for the Final against Bishop Stortford who had comfortably won their group – conceding only one try in their four pool matches.
“The final was a step too far for Bermuda. With some tired bodies the Bermuda team fought hard but could not regain possession from an experienced and dominant outfit and their army of experienced coaching staff directing affairs from the touch line. Despite the defeat, the Bermuda team wiped away their tears to present the opposition with a Bermuda flag and a traditional “three cheers” with passion and a huge round of applause from the traveling proud parents and coaches.
“It was a similar story for our under 10s who also had 4 matches in their pool group, scoring 19 tries and managing to win 3 of their games. Their first match against Peterborough, saw the under 10s take a 15 nil lead at half time with 3 well taken tries. Second half saw Peterborough come back strongly with two late tries.
“This first win gave Bermuda U10s confidence for match two against St.Ives where they ran out 30 to nil winners. It was an excellent team win with expansive rugby and tenacious defensive work.
“The next game against St. Neots who had also won both previous matches provided much sterner opposition. With a try in each half St.Neots managed to win 10-5.
“In the U10s final match against Ely, the under 10s won convincingly scoring 9 tries and conceding none. Having lost only one of their pool matches the U10s would unfortunately not progress any further but received numerous compliments on their style of play and sportsmanship. It was an excellent team performance generated from all the hard work the players had put into training.
“The day ended with England International David Strettle and South African scrum half Neil DeKock presenting Team Bermuda with the fair play award for their attitude and style of rugby – as voted for by every competing club in the tournament. Numerous clubs extended invites to their own rugby festivals and many now contemplating Bermuda as a touring destination for themselves which should provide Bermuda with the regular competition needed to compete at the highest level.
“With both team comfortably surpassing any pre-tournament expectations, the future of Bermuda rugby looks extremely bright. Our young men represented Bermuda impeccably and the performances on the field against a number of UK teams with a strong rugby tradition is something our island should be incredibly proud of.
“Many congratulations to the Bermuda under-10 and under-11 National Rugby teams, to the coaches who dedicated many, many hours training these young men and to the Bermuda Rugby Football Union for organizing an incredible tour that created memories that will last a life time.”
Congratulations on a fantastic tour. What a wonderful experience for these young boys. All the hard work by the coaches , parents, guardians and players has paid off handsomely. Rugby’s Core Values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship are being instilled in our youths. The memories, camaraderie and friendships forged on this trip will last a life time. The future of rugby, and indeed our youth, is bright. Once again well done to all.
Well done boys! I can never believe how popular rugby is here at the NSC on Sunday mornings. It is incredibly well attended by kids of all ages (genders) and parent coaches. Fantastic.
I was apart of this rugby tour i have to say i my self did not expect to come this far in rugby its an incredible felling when you can go and represent your country and do it with your friends the felling is un-comparable and memories like this that last a lifetime.