The coaches and players set off from Midleton College in the early hours of Friday morning, bound for Cardiff and Swansea in Wales, for what turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable tour.

We played Cardiff & Vale College and came away with a 24-all draw (!!) — a fantastic match and a brilliant experience for the team. Cardiff & Vale are coached by none other than former Wales international and British & Irish Lions prop forward, Dai Young — making the fixture all the more memorable. The squad was captained on tour by Rory O’Sullivan, who led the group with great commitment and positivity.

One of the highlights of the weekend was attending the Munster vs Cardiff game at Cardiff Arms Park, where the players had the chance to meet several Munster players, including former Midleton College student Mark Donnelly.

There were many memorable moments throughout the trip, including sharing our hotel in Swansea with the Leinster senior team. The players got to rub shoulders with members of both the Leinster and Dragons squads, which was an unexpected bonus. Another fun experience was watching the Ospreys vs Dragons match, followed by a light-hearted competition in an all-you-can-eat restaurant, and rounding out the night with bowling and plenty of laughs.

On Saturday, the squad took part in a professional training session with members of the Ospreys coaching team and development squad — a very positive experience for all involved.

Special mention must go to our sixth-year players who travelled on tour and played their final game for Midleton College: Sam Speakman, captain Rory O’Sullivan, Lucas Brennan, Paul Macropoulos, and Diego Rodriguez. We thank them for their contributions to rugby in the College and wish them every success in the years ahead.

We’d love to share more details about the weekend, but unfortunately that would breach one of the golden rules of any good rugby tour: what happens on tour, stays on tour! Safe to say, great fun was had and lasting memories were made.

A huge thank you goes to the parents who supported the tour and helped make it happen, as well as to our sponsors: O’Sullivan Montagen OMS, Fox & Co Menswear, Grandons Toyota, Hurley’s SuperValu, and the Midleton College PTA.