Lindfield Junior Rugby Tour 2011
Lindfield Junior Rugby Tour 2011
Travel to Kansai International Airport via Seoul Korea (where we celebrated Zena's Birthday). Late night Bus to Kawanishi where we were greeted by the local families
Late start to Training Session at the local High School Grounds, then on to the Opening Ceremony at the Golf Club. Usual high standards of the local presentations.
Four way Gala Day with Lindfield, Kawanishi, Nishinomya-Koto and Takarazuka. Lindfield won both cups, although they were both hard-fought!
Touring to Nara where we saw the Todaiji Temple, Daibutu-den followed by the culturally significant Asahi Brewery (with tasting of course...) and finishing up with dinner at the "World Buffet"
Bus to Kyoto where we saw the Ryuanji Temple followed by Yatshuhashi Cooking (a local sweet) and a visit to the Uzumasa Theme Park (think Japanese Ninja Movies). Dinner was the President's Dinner for adults (with Bingo!) with various activities for the children.
The cultural highlight of the tour saw the day at Universal Studios Japan ... always a boys favourite! Followed by family dinners, and more get to know the host nights.
The Big Temple day with Kinkakuji temple (the Golden Temple), Nijojo Castle (with "singing Floorboards") and Kiyomizudera Temple (and souvenir hunting)
An early start to the railway station saw a train to the Bullet Train and super fast trip to Hiroshima. We spend the morning touring the memorial and Peace Park then off to Matsuyama for the welcome.
Matsuyama was a lot bigger than we thought, only having arrived after dark in the past, and is a bustling city of 500,000 people. We have a civic reception followed by a
A four way Rugby Carnival v Matsuyama, Hogo and a combined "All Stars" team ...
A four way competition v Kawanishi,
An early start saw most of the weary travellers departed Kawanishi to the airport by bus ... followed by a stream of host families in their cars. Some of the children had school, but a lot had a break as they had sport the previous Saturday
I have added some raw video footage, mainly to give future tours an idea of what they need to prepare for, but also to remind.
The Kawanishi and Lindfield Rugby Exchange and Tour Project is supported by the Commonwealth through the Australia-Japan Foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
