We are returning to Canada for our second tour, in July 2012. This will be for both the boys and girls high school teams, and we are planning matches in the Ottawa area in addition to the four matches we will play in the National Capital Area Summer Rugby Festival.
The tour will take place in late July, and will take 7-8 days. The tentative cost will be $400 per player.
We will need volunteers for paperwork/compliance, planning, and to accompany us as drives and chaperones. Sibling may attend, but only if a parent accompanies them.
The info below is for the 2010 tour, and will give a very good picture of our 2012 tour. We will update this page as our details firm up.
Fort Hunt Rugby executed its first-ever tour, a five-day/four-night trip to Ottawa, Canada, 16-20 July 2010.
We took 21 16-U rugby players and 3 13-U water boys, and had an excellent rugby experience. We played in the Canadian National Capital Youth Rugby Festival, and went 2-3-0 for the weekend. We beat both club sides that we played and learned a lot about rugby when we faced a Canadian provincial select side, a Canadian sub-provincial select side, and an English touring select side (and they learned a lot about us and how we play, too!). We played 240 minutes of hard rugby, 5 matches in 3 days, and learned a lot. Our young men were extremely well behaved on and off the pitch, and were excellent ambassadors of our sport, our club, and our country. We’re extremely proud of these first-time rugby tourists.
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Canada tour photos:
WHO?
Leadership
Coaches Dale Roach (boys), Andy Vonada (girls) and John Dacey (head coach) are in charge of this tournament. Click here for his and other leaders’ contact info.
Players
This tour is open to all registered Fort Hunt Rugby players, age 14-18.
Tour players must be registered with USA Rugby to go on this tour. Registration in the FHYAA summer program is not required.
As planning for this tour takes shape, and as the numbers become more clear, we may open this tour to a few of our rugby mates at other local rugby clubs. Fort Hunt Rugby players will have preference and will take precedence.
Parents/Spectators
All parents who wish to attend are encouraged to do so, and to assist in planning and executing this tour.
Siblings
Minor siblings are welcome on this tour, but no Fort Hunt Rugby player will be responsible for any attending sibling. All siblings who attend the tour must be accompanied by a directly responsible parent or official adult guardian.
WHAT?
We propose a 7 or 8-day trip to Ottawa, Canada to play in a two-day tournament.
The tournament will be a 15-a-side rugby tournament. Play will be in accordance with International Rugby Board and Rugby Canada Laws of the Game, with appropriate youth variations.
We intend to play in four matches at the tournament (2 Saturday, 2 Sunday), and hope to arrange 1-2 additional matches with local clubs.
We will have one or two days off to explore the local area and engage in a group social activity or two.
WHEN?
The dates are late July, dates not yet final.
We propose to depart in privately owned vehicles early and drive straight through to Ottawa, Canada (approximately 9 hours).
Saturday and Sunday will be the tournament, with a minimum of two matches each day.
WHERE?
This tour will take place in Ottawa, Canada. The exact place of the tournament is Twin Elm Rugby park outside Richmond, Ontario, Canada.
Lodging
We will lodge in student housing at Algonquin College in Ottawa. Players will bunk together. Attending families/siblings also will bunk at the college, but will be separate from the touring team. Boys and girls teams will be billeted in separate locations at the college.
WHY?
Going on tour is one of the best things about being in a solid rugby program. All strong rugby programs incorporate a tour program, usually on a recurring basis (every 2-3 years). A successful tour this year opens the door to tours in following years. This is something that younger players can see take place, and something for them to look forward to as they grow and mature as young rugby players.
It also gives them a chance to get out and see the larger world of rugby, meet new mates in a different setting, and learn more about playing rugby and the global community of rugby.
You are playing your favorite sport, but at the same time are traveling to a new location, seeing and experiencing new things, and are meeting new rugby mates.
Ideally, we will meet other teams and invite them to visit us, and we can host touring teams in the future.
HOW?
More than anything, this will take parent-volunteer assistance. The Fort Hunt Rugby coaches have gone on tour before, and have experience with youth travel in Boy Scouting, so this is not necessarily a difficult undertaking.
There is paperwork to collect and keep track of, and also funds.
- Permission slips (medical info, medication info and permission to administer, permission to allow treatment for injuries) from parents
- Notary Public-approved letter from parents approving the crossing of an international border with a non-related minor child
- Passports
- Full USA Rugby registration (CIPP)
- Signed USA Rugby liability waiver and release
And of course, we will need drivers of vehicles to Canada and back.
There are many opportunities for assistance. All you have to do is ask.
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