Rugby juniors line-up German trip

Jun 13 2012 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

EAST Kilbride Rugby Club’s Primary Six squad will break new ground for the club next year when they undertake a tour of Germany, with the trip culminating in their participation in the prestigious Frankfurt Junior Tournament.

The Primary Seven tour is a long-standing tradition in the club, marking as it does the end of the boys’ time in mini-rugby before they make the move up to the midi-section.

England tends to be the destination of choice, with Gloucester and Southport being the last two, but the plans for May, 2013, have upped the ante for future generations.

The trip has its roots in East Kilbride’s own tournament last year.

Germany’s top rugby club, Frankfurt 1880, were over in the UK but were left in the lurch when their scheduled Saturday game in Glasgow was cancelled.

A quick call to the SRU revealed that there was a tournament in East Kilbride that same afternoon. A second call was made... this time to EKRFC. Fixtures were rearranged and the German P6 champions were made welcome at Torrance House.

This hospitality was repaid in proper sporting style as the Germans proved to be the top dogs on the day, beating EK 7-5 in the final. This was apparently the closest game that Frankfurt had all season, while it was the only defeat EK suffered during that period.

Unsurprisingly, given the intensity of what was a very physical, high-quality game, a great deal of mutual respect was engendered and the sides mixed well after its conclusion.

To reflect both the hospitality and the standard of East Kilbride’s play, the Frankfurt committee met on their return home – and promptly sent an invitation to EK to participate in their 2013 tournament.

The Frankfurt 1880 event is generally accepted to be the top junior event in the country, and while that may seem like a case of damning with faint praise, there are thousands more junior rugby players in Germany than in Scotland.

Thus, Frankfurt’s position as German champions is quite some achievement and the side has represented Germany at events in England, France, Holland, Denmark and Sweden over the past two years.

Needless to say a trip to Germany takes a huge amount of organisation and, more importantly, fundraising.

The first such event takes place on Saturday with a Bring-and-Buy Sale at the club, with many more events to follow.

EK’s tour committee are also looking to speak with any local businesses who can help between now and May, 2013.

Any interested parties should contact Gordon Ferrie on 07810 014711.