Rugby Union

The boys spent the previous night cleaning rooms, regathering scattered clothes and such, and packing for the early morning departure. After breakfast, we loaded the bus, took some final photos, and headed for the Manchester Airport. It was a bus ride full of mixed emotions as the boys would be leaving a place they had thoroughly enjoyed and grown accustomed to but at the same time were ready to get back to the States.

It will certainly be missed but...we will return.

We at S&C sincerely hope the group enjoyed their tour and we look forward to welcoming the school back in the very near future.

Following a long day of adventure and rugby, the boys loaded the bus on a cold and dreary morning for a tour of Liverpool. We unloaded at the docks and had a little bit of time to check out the area before a formal Beatles and Liverpool Football Club Stadium tour. The boys enjoyed a bit of shopping and a latte before returning to the bus for the remainder of the afternoon.

The tour of Liverpool first took us around the downtown area and gave us quite a lesson in the history of the streets, buildings, and such. We then were shown places around town made famous by the ever popular Beatles. We also saw one of the largest cathedrals I think anyone on the bus had ever seen.

After the tour of the city, we made our way to Liverpool Football Club for a tour of the stadium and club museum. Much like the stadium tour at Old Trafford, we saw the players' dressing rooms, their post game lounge, and the players' tunnel entering the playing area, and the field and how it's maintained. The tour guide told stories (and the history) of the development of the stadium and the different seating areas which the boys enjoyed. The day in Liverpool ended in the stadium gift shop where the boys made a few souvenir purchases.

Before returning to the youth hostel, we stopped at Trafford Centre Mall to spend the last of our pounds (gifts, souvenirs, food, etc). After a good two hours, we left for what would be our last night at the youth hostel and in England.

Today the group’s stamina, bravery and physical fitness were tested once again but this time not on the Rugby field. They undertook the Go Ape challenge!
A Go Ape course is physically demanding and requires a degree of agility, strength and stamina.
Each Go Ape course comprises of a challenging high ropes course and participation is not without risk. The boys took the challenge by the horns and had a great day out.
Their last fixture of the tour was a flood lit evening kick-off at Matlock RUFC. The boys had a great evening and an even better match. Matlock’s coach was full of admiration for the US squad and proudly said that the score was an irrelevance – Rugby was the winner!

Match Report:

The match began with a lot of intensity and stingy defense from the Farragut boys as the Heber offensive attack kept the ball inside Farragut’s half for a better part of the first period without a score from the very skilled English high school side. The first score of the match came off a penalty from Farragut resulting in a penalty goal by Heber. Farragut answered back with a penalty kick of their own after some hard running and continuity from the pack. Late in the first half, Heber took advantage of the Farragut defense with an overlap out wide to run across the first try of the match. But before the halftime whistle blew, Farragut’s forward attack moved the ball aggressively supporting and linking well forcing a penalty from the tiring Heber side. The penalty kick was made and the halftime followed.

The second half produced just as much action and even more scoring as Heber opened with early scores coming from fine passing in the backline and a poorly defended outside by the Farragut backs. Heber scored their third try of the half from a nifty weakside kick from the winger. Farragut regrouped to score their first try of the game starting with a long run from Dominic DePaoli and followed by some hard, tight running from the pack. Matt Neuhart took the final pick resulting in their first score and a bit of confidence for the Farragut boys. Farragut wasn’t finished though, as the pack’s aggressiveness and continuity took them to within five meters of Heber’s try line. Chris Davidson took a quick tap on a Heber penalty to score Farragut’s second try of the game and the boys seemed to be gaining some momentum. Heber, however, soon answered with a counterattack from a poorly placed kick and took advantage of some missed tackles to run Heber’s final try of the game across. Not to be outdone on the half, Farragut scored the final try of the game on a rolling maul from what appeared to be the entire team. Aaron Hall touched the ball down just prior to the final whistle. The Farragut boys had not won the game but certainly a moral victory, losing only by a converted try.

Farragut Scoring:

Tries– Neuhart, Davidson, Hall
Penalties – Noon (2)
Conversions – Noon (3)

Man of the Match: Chris Davidson

After watching the professionals on Friday night the boys drove to Sale Sharks training ground at Carrington for a training session with a member of the Sale coaching staff. They were put through their paces and duly rewarded with a Shark sized lunch.




In the afternoon the group boarded their coach and headed into Manchester. Their destination Old Trafford the awe inspiring 'Theatre of Dreams' home to the world famous Manchester United FC.They toured the grounds including the changing rooms,the overflowing trophy room and museum. They walked down the tunnel leading to the pitch a path trodden by the likes of George Best, David Beckham and Christiano Renaldo.

The squad played their first fixture today against Aldwinians RFC

Saturday, and the boys enjoy a day off! The Sale Sharks match proved to be very exciting when Sharks beat league leaders Gloucester 22 - 15. The group were made welcome at Sale's home ground Edgeley Park with their presence being announced over the loud speaker before the match and a write up in the match programme.
Today the boys explored their English country home in deepest Derbyshire.

After much build up in the USA. Team Farragut arrive in Manchester bright and early on Friday Morning. The boys were tired but looking forward to the Sale Sharks match that evening. With a full itinerary, English rugby and hospitality the lads are sure to have memories which will last a lifetime!