Scotch College

Seven Scotch boys gain great rugby experience

Lifelong friendships, new skills and a positive future for rugby.

Words: Dylan Coleman • Teacher-in-charge of Rugby

Seven Scotch boys are kicking off the 2007 rugby season with considerably more than the usual enthusiasm, following their inclusion in the under 16 Victorian Schools’ Rugby Union Tour to the UK, Ireland and Dubai at the end of 2006.

Max Barrows (lock/flanker), Lachlan Fenton (flanker/forward), Rob Goodwin (wing), Angus Hamilton (lock), Brody Molloy (half-back), Jack North (prop forward) and Patrick Swan (lock/#8) were among the 42 boys from 23 Victorian schools selected for the tour.

The boys played more games – 10 games in all – than in a normal school season, against teams at Reigate Grammar, Dulwich College, the Glantaf School (Cardiff), St Mary’s College (Dublin), Limavady Grammar (Northern Ireland), Kelso Harlequins under 18 (Scotland), the Manchester Grammar School, Pate’s Grammar (Cheltenham), Reading Blue Coat School and the Arabian Gulf under 16s in Dubai. Scotch families had billeted touring sides from Glantaf and Reading Blue Coat School in 2005, so there were opportunities for several boys to catch up with old friends.

The tour got away to a great start with wins at Reigate, Dulwich and Glantaf. The first team’s win against Glantaf was especially sweet, as the Victorian Schoolboys firsts had not defeated Glantaf in Wales in the 30 years of tours.

While in Wales the boys attended a Cardiff Blues v London Irish game at Cardiff Arms Park, where they cheered on Old Scotch Boy, David Fitter (’94), the Wallaby prop, who was playing with London Irish. The boys were delighted when Dave acknowledged their support.

The strong win against the under 16 Arabian Gulf side in Dubai concluded with a short visit to the local accident and emergency department for Jack North and Rob Goodwin, but overall injuries were minimal.

Tour Manager, Kevin Culliver said the tour, which is held every three years, provides a range of educational and personal development opportunities not available in most other sports.

‘Opportunities to witness the way the game is played in other parts of the world, to enjoy the hospitality of other families, to experience the camaraderie of travelling and sightseeing together, and the opportunity to establish lifelong friendships and develop skills on and off the field make the tour unique, and contribute positively to the future of rugby in Victoria.’

Mr Culliver said the tour reinforced the growing popularity of rugby union among Victorians and continued the fine tradition that Australian rugby union has on the international stage.

‘The games were suitably matched so as to provide high skill level games during the lead-up to the 2007 season, but as there is a nine-month difference in the UK and Australian sporting year, most opposition teams were under 17 or older,’ he said.

‘When the Victorian team experienced a loss it was generally only by one score, so overall the team’s performance was outstanding.’

Rob Goodwin received the tour award for ‘most outstanding qualities as a player’.

Angus Hamilton, who is in Year 10 this year, was subsequently invited to attend the three-day Australian Institute of Sport Brumby Camp in Canberra in January, together with four other Victorian players.

Jack North, also in Year 10, has been selected to join the 2007 Australian Rugby Union Talent Development Squad.