Rugby Union

The last full day in France, and what a great day it's been! This morning, the girls went to Toulouse's Natural History Museum, which they all loved. The Grade 10 girls even stayed later than everyone else because they were enjoying it so much. After this, everyone grabbed some lunch and headed off to the river cruise we had planned. The cruise was beautiful and a the weather was good, most of the girls lay on the top deck, taking in the great views Toulouse has to offer.

Once the boat cruise was finished, it was dinner time! We ate at a central restaurant named La Boheme. It was quaint and pretty, and the food was delicious; the perfect last dinner of the trip. The Grade 12 girls ate at their own separate table and Chelsea Tannis even stood to give a short speech, thanking the coaches for the wonderful tour.










Now everyone is packing their belongings, preparing for the long day ahead of them tomorrow. We're up early for breakfast, heading to the airport at 10am, and then saying au revoir to Francais!

This morning the girls had a training session at Toulouse Cheminots Marengo Sports Club (TCMS), before they were given some free time in the city centre of Toulouse. Some of the girls went for lunch, and others managed to get in some last minute shopping, even on the quiet French Monday (apparently, most stores are closed not only on Sundays, but on Mondays also!).










After lunch, we were back to TCMS for a match against some Toulousian ladies! The match was really good to watch, and I imagine it was also a lots of fun to play. The girls played fantastically and won by a mile, the other team didn't even get a chance to score at all!

Unfortunately, tomorrow is our last full day in France! The girls are planning on going to a museum in the morning in the centre of Toulouse, followed by a boat cruise along the river in the afternoon, let's make it a good one!!

We checked out of the Mercure Hotel in Montpelier at 10 this morning to set off for Toulouse vis Carcasonne. It took 2 hours to get to Carcasonne but it was well worth it. We stopped off at the fortified city, which was fantastic. Picture a medieval village enclosed in stone wall, and that's exactly where we were. The girls got a good 2 hours at this attraction, choosing to walk around, check out the castle, and get some food before we set off for a next stop, Toulouse.

















Once we were checked into our next hotel (Citea Hotel, Toulouse), we walked into the city centre so we could start to get our bearings and see what Toulouse has to offer. So far, so good. There was a market to browse, shops that were closed but at least we know they are now for future reference, and a carousel to ride (which some of the girls did!). Then it was on to our restaurant of the evening, Restaurant Traiteur. We were initially quite worried as the streets were getting quieter and quieter as we got closer to our destination, but once we reached the restaurant, we saw how amazing it actually was. It was so typically French, wonderfully cosy, and the staff were very welcoming. We got the whole restaurant to ourselves, and were treated like queens! The food was delicious too, and the walk home after dinner helped with digestion as a few ate a little bit too much!

Tomorrow is yet another rugby-filled day, with training in the morning and a game in the afternoon!

What a great day! This morning, the girls got more free time in Montpelier, and then it was off to play some rugby!

We headed to Jacou Rugby Club, and pplayed Ashbury vs. Ashbury before the French team arrived. Everyone was on top form, and we could tell it was going to be a good game. After this, the French girls joined us, and played to 15 minute halfs. Ashbury played fantastically, and even though the French put up a good fight, they were no match for us. The captains (Kate Amirault, Kat Elvidge, and Steph Black) are going to give a write-up of the game, but as we got back to the hotel quite late, this will be posted on tomorrow's blog.

After the game, the girls went to shake hands with the other team, but they offered us another 10 minutes playing. Why not? So each Ashbury team got another 5 minutes each. When in France!











Jacou hosted us after the game, and provided us with homemade paella, cheeses, and chocolate mousses, which was all delicious. The England vs. Ireland game was on the television too, so we watched this before we ate. After dinner, presentations were made, and the girls were given t-shirts that Jacou had specially made for them! Jacou were so welcoming and kind, and their girls were sat with the Ashbury girls the whole time (giving them a chance to practise their French!).










Then it was back to the hotel, where we got to watch the France vs. Wales match on the television in the hotel restaurant before heading upstairs to pack for the long travelling day tomorrow.

So today was pretty much rugby, rugby, and a little more rubgy. The girls loved it!

Tomorrow, we leave Montpelier, and set off to Toulouse, stopping off at Carcasonne on the way (where the film A Knight's Tale was filmed!).

First real day in Montpelier and so far, so good! The girls had a free morning to see the sights of the city before we headed to the beach! The weather was great and a dip in the Mediterranean sea was mandatory so everyone had lots of fun. Some went for a walk along the beach, while others took the opportunity to catch some rays.




In regard to rugby, the training session we had planned for this morning was a bit of a no-go so instead the girls got to undertake a training session with a French team this afternoon! Straight away, the girls were conversing in French with the other team, and the training session was a huge success. So tomorrow, the girls will play a mixture of the girls they met and played with today, and girls from Jacou Rugby Club.



As the girls were starving on the way home after the training session, we ordered takeout pizza, and everyone took some time to relax and watch tv after the long day they'd just had.

All in all, today was fantastic and tomorrow sounds like it should be even better!

We were off to a rocky start today as the bus broke down as soon as it arrived to pick us up from our hotel in Lyon. Luckily, another bus came not too soon after, and we were on our way to Montpellier, stopping off in Nimes on the way! As soon as we got off the bus, we could tell we were further south - the sun was out! We all went to the Nimes Ampitheatre (the best preserved Roman building in Europe!) for an audio guided tour. The girls seemed to love this tour, getting a chance to climb up to the very top and view the amazing scenery. After this, the girls were given a couple of hours to do as they pleased in the centre of Nimes (most of the girls went shopping of course!).



















Next stop, Montpellier! Unfortunately there was a mix-up with the hotels and we are now in the Mercure Hotel, slap bang in the middle of Montpellier, which i have to say, looks great. For dinner, we went to a lovely French restaurant close to the hotel, before retiring to bed after the long day travelling.

Tomorrow, the girls have LOTS of free time, so let's hope the weather is good again so they can sample the beach!

Well today has been an interesting day...

The first stop of the day was at Lou Rugby Club for a training session. Everyone seemed on top form, ready and raring to go for the game that was taking place later that day.

After the session, we all went into the city centre of Lyon for a look around. Everyone went up the funicular to visit the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, as well as the amazing views of the whole city. Instead of getting the funicular back down, the girls decided to walk through the beautiful landscape gardens. Once down, some shopped, some ate (sushi of all things!!), some just walked around to soak in the culture. Luckily for us, the sun was out too so the experience was even better than imagined!







The day was going well so far...

Until gametime...

We arrived thinking it was going to be an exciting, competitive game of rugby, however, it turns out some of the rules in place for our girls, were not for the French team. The girls were a little disappointed but were still up for a good game. Then the heavens opened. Not just a bit of rain; torrential rain, followed by thunder and lightning. The girls were unsure as to whether they were going to get a game, but decided 'we're in Europe to play rugby, so let's play rugby! If it rains, we get wet'. This great mindset took them out on to the field for a warm-up, and everything was looking as if it might turn out ok after all. But, the rain just got harder and harder, until it became impossible for anyone to believe they could play. It was such a shame as both teams had put so much effort into training, but some things just aren't meant to be. Hats off to Frank (the French team's coach) who searched for months to find a team, and who went to so much effort to make the girls feel welcome at Lou RC. After the unsuccessful game, Lou RC provided the girls with food and drink, as wel as presenting a signed ball and flag to the captains. Ashbury presented Lou RC's captains with signed photos, flags, and jerseys. At least there are more opportunities for games in France!







To lighten up the slightly disappointing day, it turns out it was a Miss Steph Black's 17th birthday today! So the girls arranged for a cake to be presented back at the hotel, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed, finishing up the day on a happy note!

Today, some of the girls were up early to see the last of Annecy, while the others had a bit of a lie-in to catch up on lost sleep. We had our last breakfast in the Annecy Ibis Hotel before leaving for Lyon! Upon arrival in Lyon, the majority of the girls headed to the Part Dieu mall (the second largest mall in Europe!), and the others went to see some of the many sights that Lyon has to offer. We were out for a good 5 hours, but I still don't think the girls have got all of the shopping out of their systems!! Luckily, tomorrow we have more free time in Lyon, so those who didn't get to see the city centre still have the opportunity to do so.









Tomorrow is a BIG day for the girls: training in the morning, free time in Lyon, AND a rugby game! Let's hope the girls get a good sleep tonight so they're fully rested for the tiring day to come!

I think all of the girls will agree that today has been AMAZING! We were all up early to grab some snacks from the bakeries in Annecy before boarding the coach for the 1 hour 40 minutes journey to Morzine (The FRENCH Alps). Luckily for us, the sun was out and it wasn't even that cold for a mountain range! The girls split off into groups to have a walk around the ski town, which was very unique and antique-looking, and then it was UP the cable cars! The view was spectacular (as you can tell from the pics!), it was like a dream, there's no other way to describe it. Some of the girls went tobogganing, whilst others rode the carousel, some did both!! Overall, Morzine was a huge success and I'm 100% sure that none of the girls would disagree!


After returning to the coach at 3pm, we headed to Meythet Rugby Club for a training session. Even after all the walking (and tobogganing!), the girls still had a ridiculous amount of energy (videos to follow shortly!!). The rugby players who hosted us were very welcoming and we even received some gifts at the ends of the session (a scarf, a t-shirt, and a jacket) as well as lots of old rubgy magazines that the girls found very interesting, all presented by the PRESIDENT (of the rugby club)!


Now, it was back to the hotel to relax for an hour before dinner. Dinner was lovely once again, except for those who don't like cheese!! You would've thought that after such a long day, the girls would be heading for bed straight after dinner...you thought wrong. After dinner, some of the girls wanted to go for a walk to see Annecy in the evening, so off we went!! The lake was beautiful, the castles were divine, and the playground the girls insisted on playing in seemed like a lot of fun!!


Tomorrow, we check out of this hotel and off we go to our next stop, Lyon!

Well today certainly has been a looonnnggg day!!

After a difficult couple of days travelling, the tour was finally underway, and the girls were finally in Europe! First stop, Geneva!! The girls were given a few hours to meander around the peaceful (if not too peaceful!) city centre of Geneva, where they had the opportunity to take in the unforgettable scenery and sample the Swiss lifestyle! Some decided to explore the waterfront and take some pictures, some attempted to climb the wacky Swiss trees, while others thought it best to stock up on some well-needed energy food...nougat anyone?

Next it was on to Annecy. After checking into the hotel, the girls were given 3 hours to wander around the hotel area before dinner (well, more of a late lunch due to the jetlag!). Now everyone's off to get an early night before the mountain excursion up in the Alps tomorrow. I can safely say that everyone is very excited for this!

All in all, even after a hard journey, the girls still managed to find the energy and motivation to explore as much as they possibly could! Keep it up girls!!