The Final Post

Well that’s it. As I sit here having had a proper nights sleep (and a lie in!) reflecting on the tour and wondering how we managed to pack so much in. It was a great tour. Many highs, a few lows. 

What struck me about the people of Canada was their wonderful hospitality. We met some guys who are extremely enthusiastic about rugby and who manage to turn out some great teams in the face of the dominance of Ice Hockey and the extremely short season. It was great to see the passion to play that exists within the players and the desire to be part of good quality rugby.

Our tourists were a great bunch. The tour started in great humour and that was the thread that held the whole thing together right until the end. Much of this was due to the tone set by Roger, however this was embraced and taken forward by the players.

The intention of this blog was that it would encourage the players to share their own thoughts on the tour however a combination of lack of time, limitations of web access and the predominance of facebook meant that while many of them read the contents few added their views. At first this was concerning however once we realised that their was a “alternative” blog going on on facebook, we realised that was probably a better place for them to express their thoughts. I have thoroughly enjoyed keeping the blog up to date and would like to thank those few who regularly added their comments to the Posts. I would also like to thank all the silent majority who I know from the blog statistics were regularly accessing the blog for updates. We averaged about 350-400 hits per day and it was this that gave us the encouragement to keep updating the info.

I would like to thank my fellow coaches/leaders/medics/disciplinarians/drinking companions, Roger and Patrick for their company and humour over the tour. Our shared stress about making sure we had 23 players in tow, making sure they all got on/off the bus, making sure ipods/wallets/kit etc weren’t left anywhere, trying to encourage them to eat more than cookies was aleviated in small part by our late night sojourns to the hotel bar to “plan the following day”.

So that’s it, the blog is complete. I hope you have all found it entertaining and informative. I can definitely recommend it as a fun way of keeping people up to date and giving those at home and those that we have visited a chance to share some of the tour experience.

Before we went much was made of the statement “What happens on tour stays on tour” and I was always conscious that this blog might breach that confidence however I believe we kept the right balance. For a more detailed account try and get access to the Facebook accounts of the players! To conclude, in the words (almost) of Brian Hanrahan when reporting on the Falklands conflict “We counted them all out and we counted them all back”……thank god!

Colin (the Blogmeister)

PS If anybody would like a copy of any of the photos that appeared on the website at full size (4mb) then please email me on colinkrae@blueyonder.co.uk and I will email them back. I should say however that all of the players will get a copy of all of the photos on cd in the coming weeks. C

Toronto Airport

Sitting in the airport, having had a tortuous time through the check in and security. How many fail to realise that a baseball bat would be considered an offensive weapon!……or that Maple syrup was a liquid!

Prize for the heaviest bag goes to Pete, weighing in at 26kg, a clear 11kg more than he was meant to bring (and his hand baggage is not that light either!). Pete was not the only culprit however following some sweet talking from Roger we managed to group all the bags weights and due to some sterling performance on the part of some (Finlay won the prize for the lightest at 13kg)  It made us realise how smoothly things went in Glasgow.

Next stop Glasgow…….thank god!

Extract from “The Pathfinder and the Owlery” the final unpublished leather stocking tale by James Fenimore Cooper – Part 2, “Inside the Owlery”

As the party, weary from the great journey, were welcomed into the bosom of the Owlery, spirits showed a remarkable recovery and a great deal of anticipation grew for the sustenance that lay ahead. The owls themselves were a special breed and their selection showed little evidence of equal opportunities. As the owls stretched their wings to display their plumage, it became clear that once the eyes of those invited into the owlery met those of the great owls they were immediately transfixed. Even basic functions, such as ordering food, now seemed almost beyond the party as they struggled to even glance at the menu. 

However, as the evening progressed the party had much to feast on and when finished their appetite was almost satiated.  By now the party were so enthralled by the owls that they found it virtually impossible to resist their suggestions. 

 When the great owl suggested that some may like to follow her to acquire the owls memorabilia, there were many volunteers, indeed, it seemed to the Pathfinder and his lieutenants that no other instruction given in Canada was obeyed with such enthusiasm. As the owl rummaged in her great chest she produced articles of clothing and other trinkets which were immediately traded with the party.  Even an ancient calendar, so ancient that at least half of its life was already past, was purchased.

 

Not satisfied with the clothing and other trinkets, members of the party sought to show their devotion by acquiring primitive body markings from the owls.  The owls were well equipped for this task and set about ‘bra’nding their worshippers.  Initially, it seemed that the worshiper’s arms would be sufficient for the owl’s markings, but soon it became apparent that to demonstrate their greater devotion the worshippers were prepared to offer their chests and stomachs.  It is fortunate that this provided sufficient skin for the owls to work with, as we can only speculate which part of their anatomy may have been offered next!

 

Only the Pathfinder possessed the moral fibre to resist the hypnotic eyes of the owls.  Just as all seemed lost and it appeared that the party would never break loose from the Owlery, the Pathfinder gathered himself and ordered them forth into the night.  Still under the influence of the owls, the journey back passed quickly with much debate as to whether the great tufted one was a finer specimen than the tawny.

A River runs through it

Our final days adventure involved us leaving at 7am to get up country to get to the destination of our white water rafting experience. Given the nature of the rafting experience there are no pictures from the event as to quote one of our guides “don’t take anything you value as the river is expert at ripping anything off you, including rings, glasses and watches”. The camera was left on shore! We did however get a couple of shots before and after. (a video has been purchased of the day for those that are interested however limitations with technology stops me uploading it to the website)

Before......

 

Is that a nervous smile?

 

.......and after. All back safe and sound.

You can decide which one is Maverick and which one is Goose but shouldn't they be playing volleyball?!

That's better!

A great end to a fantastic tour! 

Edinburgh Borderers v EORU (the full match report)

For the last game the boys were to play together, the setting at Twin Elms Park could not have been grander, where the team was following in the footsteps of England, New Zealand Maoris, France and Canada. Befitting such a setting the game was played in a competitive and entertaining style, in which EB were eventually to prevail.

Throughout the first half the EORU breakdown play and strong running of their centres largely kept EB on the back foot.

Scrums were hard fought

Despite this EB were to open the scoring from a run from distance from M Firoozi (10 mins), converted by E McGonigal,(7-0). Despite this setback EORU continued to press and were justifiably rewarded with a well worked try when Man of the Match, Yehia offloaded in the tackle to leave an easy run in for the equalising try, (7-7). The half remained a tense affair but a forwards try from H McNeill close to half time helped to settle the nerves. Half time score 14-7.

Hamish pushes over

Ross converts

The second half opened with an exchange of scores with EB maintaining their lead from a second try from M Firoozi, (19-12). As the game entered the final quarter the superior fitness of the EB team began to tell and it became difficult for EORU to maintain any control of the game. Two tries were to follow from the forwards driving the ball close to the breakdown before spreading it wide for M Arnold and J Rae to run in the clinching tries.

J Rae runs in the final try

Full time score 31-12 to Edinburgh Borderers.

Two teams together

As with all our Canadian hosts the hospitality was exceptional.

Some final private words

The end of an era

From Tarzan to Terminator

Our second last day of activities was filled with real outdoor adventure stuff. In the morning we were climbing amongst the trees and whizzing down zip cables.

Smile! It won't show you're scared!

Fin and Mike hang loose

Ross walks the plank.....s

Ryan hangs out

After the high wire excersions we travelled to the next location for an afternoon of Paintballing.

 

……and so we were ready to go to war!

Watch out Arnie!

By the end of the day we were all covered in a variety of bruises and several mosquito bites! Without doubt however we would all do it again given the chance!

This trip’s had everything…….

We’ve visited one of the iconic wonders of the world at Niagara falls, we’ve travelled on Greyhound buses, we’ve eaten Poutineand Beaver tails and visited the worlds first stadium with a fully retractable roof. It would be fair to say that one of the further highlights was when we discovered that we would doing all of our local travel on that other iconic mode of transportation the North American “School Bus”. That dependable workhorse, trusted by millions……or so we thought. Following our final game against Eastern Ontario we were hurtling home to the hotel with the players in strong voice after their victory, when the bus started to emit a warning alarm. Our bus driver very calmly brought the bus to a halt at the side of the freeway and then shouted “Get off the bus as quick as you can!”. The tour leaders equally calmly got out their 50 page risk assessment booklet and reviewed what to do in this eventuality. Failing to find a section covering these circumstances they agreed that it would be best to follow the drivers suggestion however by the time they looked up all the players had come to that conclusion already and were off the bus!

According to the driver an oil pipe had come loose and sprayed oil across the engine. We therefore needed to wait for a replacement bus.

Could someone call a taxi!.......or maybe 5 taxis!

After all was said and done it did allow us to tick a further icon off the list…….a highway patrolman!

After the post match entertainment it was lucky we weren't driving!

While it ended in a very late night for all after what was a hard game thanks go to the driver of our school bus. On this occasion it turned out that there was nothing that put anyone at risk, however by his actions the whole party were dispatched from the bus safely and with speed and a replacement bus was found with consumate speed given it was 11 o’clock at night.

Edinburgh Borderers v EORU u16

Unfortunately when returning from the match the team bus broke down. We now only have 5 hours until we need to be back up for the white water rafting tomorrow morning. Therefore a more detailed report of the match will follow tomorrow when we return however here are the match highlights:

Full time score 31-12 to Edinburgh Borderers

Scorers for EB were:

M Firoozi (10 mins) – 7-0, EORC (15 mins) – 7-7, H McNeil (28 mins) – 14-7

Half time – 14-7

M Firoozi (33 mins) – 19-7, EORC (45 mins) – 19-12, M Arnold (52 mins) – 24-12, J Rae (56 mins) – 31-12.

First conversion scored by E McGonigal all subsequent ones by R Phillips.

Return tomorrow for more detailed match report with pictures.

From Fergus to Ottawa

The longest journey we have had on the trip has been from Fergus to Ottawa (7 hours by bus). It did however give the team the opportunity to reset the batteries from the stresses and strains of the rugby. I am sure it had nothing to do with the especially good hosting that they received in Fergus……..!

Catching flies!

Scott recovers from nursing duties

As a new nurse, the strain proves too much!

Particularly patriotic (for Canada that is!)

Praying to the great rugby god!

Will didn't wake up no matter how much he was provoked!

Ali cuddles his bottle

....and if anyone knows who this is could they please claim him!

Hoops hobbles

After the Highland match it bacame apparant that Hoops had picked up a toe injury. In an unusual act of kindness the guys offerred to help him to get about!

Hoops carriage!

We are hoping the swelling will had gone down in time for him to play the Eastern Ontario game.