Day One: 1st XV Sanix World Cup Campaign
9.30 am and we meet in No 1s at Auckland Airport. After months of fundraising and training, we are finally on our way to the Sanix World Schools Rugby Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan. A huge haka to our parents and loved ones, and we move through to the Departure lounge. Sean Maitland is traveling with the Crusaders to Perth; he comes over to see us. He talks about how his 1st XV rugby experience at Hamilton Boys’ has been the most enjoyable of his career.
We get on the plane and movies, games and music help us to pass the 11 hour flight to Bangkok. We stop over for four hours before flying another five to Fukuoka. We all try to catch some sleep, then board a bus for the 40 minute drive to Global Arena, where all of the teams will stay and play. A quick orientation tour of the facilities and then off to practice. I’m named as a starter tomorrow – I am rapt!! A little weary from the travel, we start training poorly, but with a few encouraging threats from the coaches, we manage to pull things together. We have showers, a team bath (quite an experience) and dinner. We have rice, dumplings, chicken and salad. All good. The coaches have a special dinner with the other coaches, and they present our gifts to the organisers. We practice our team item which is a lipsync song and dance, and we are all in bed and asleep by 8.30 pm.
Sayonara
No 17 (and proud to take over from the Legendary No. 16)
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