Day 3 - Cape Point

A mass of girlish squeals filled the RPC this cold, windy morning as Shiplake boys jumped in the outdoor pool for their recovery session. (Mr Cane-Hardy managed a 15-second dip before “losing all feeling [his] legs” and clambering out.)

The group excursion for the day was to Cape Point, the most southern tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Along the way we stopped off at various coastal bays along the Cape Peninsula including Boulders Beach, home to a colony of miniature penguins. We then arrived at Table Mountain National Park to start a blustery uphill walk to Cape Point lighthouse and viewing area.

Feeling windswept but invigorated we jumped back on the bus to get some of the “best fish and chips in the Cape” at the quaint seaside village Simons Town. Then, after some free time to walk off the deep-fried hake, the coach headed home to the Rugby Performance Centre (cue team nap).

After some room-tidying time and a hearty dinner, Mr Beckett and Mr Cane-Hardy took a high-intensity gym session for the squad while the team’s professional physio, Paul Holmes, attended to any injuries.

Early night.

Day 2 - Match 1 & Langa Township, Cape Town

A great day. Started with a 46-7 win against Riebeek Valley School XV. Many of Shiplake’s trys came through their greater physicality and power over the opposition. Fantastic to see some home supporters in the stand (the Arbuckles, Laphams and Platos) who were welcomed to the after-match braai (barbecue) and presentation. 

Tries: Davis, Thomas, Law, Glover, Pearce (2), Wright, Waldron
Cons: Thomas (3)

In the afternoon we headed into central Cape Town to pick up our guide for a tour of the outer-city townships. A thought-provoking experience. Our guide, himself a township resident, lived through the apartheid segregation in 1983 and recalled the day when police came to remove his family from their home. He was shot twice in the legs for resisting and although he walks perfectly now it is clearly a painful memory to retell. This, among other facts and stories, gave us an insight into township communities. 

We were taken through the major townships of Langa, Nyanga and Kayelitsha where we were told, despite poverty and vast unemployment, there is a strong sense of community and support. The coach stopped off in Langa township where Shiplake boys had the opportunity to meet a few residents and give out mini rugby balls, colourful stationary and activity books to a group of excited children (who also turned out to be world-class hagglers).

A delicious dinner was served at a restaurant in the township while a ‘very cool’ local band played cultural music on glockenspiels and drums. In fact, as it was David Plato’s  17th, everyone sang a special edition of Happy Birthday accompanied by the soulful voices of the kitchen ladies who emerged especially for the song.

Then it was back to the V&A waterfront for a drink before the bus journey back to RPC. 

Day 1 - Heathrow Airport to Cape Town

Impeccably dressed in chinos, jackets and ties, the Shiplake rugby side landed in sunny Cape Town at 10am this morning after a great South African airways flight. The boys looked particularly smart compared with another touring team on the same trip dressed in mismatched tracksuits, flip flops­ – one of them even wore a pink cowboy hat.  

In fact the Shiplake side looked so professional walking through Heathrow T1 that various rugby fans ambling around the boarding gates, including the headmaster of Wellington College in New Zealand, stopped them to ask about the tour and offered tips guaranteed to secure wins in South Africa, including “have the full back cutting in to the line, works every time”.

The team made a swift transition from baggage claim to bus and departed straight for the waterfront. On route we passed the imposing, cloud-shrouded Table Mountain, at which time a debate took place about which ridge ‘was meant to look like a lion’.

Upon reaching the infamous V&A marina and shopping area, the boys had free time to look around and returned having bought ostrich burgers, dried biltong and vuvuzelas (which of course had to be confiscated within minutes on the coach).

 At 4.30pm the team arrived at the Rugby Performance Centre in Riebeek West after a scenic journey from Cape Town.

Shiplake was welcomed by father-son team, Alan and Alan, with an adrenalin-pumping video about the RPC including its host list of teams such as the South African Super 15 and footage its training sessions like ‘The Graveyard’ (to improve strength, power and stamina) or ‘House of Pain’ (to improve individual skills).   

The boys then had a light training session to prepare for  tomorrow’s game against  Riebeek Valley School XV, which included team runs.

The centre’s motto: ‘perfection in execution’, is evident here in everything from the world-class training facilities to the delicious, healthy food and a rugby pitch in an amazing setting against green mountains and wine country. If Carlsberg did rugby centres...

Pre-Tour Training

The boys worked really hard on various aspects of their game including contact skills, kick chase, team play, passing, offloads and scrummaging to name but a few. Obviously Nick Pearce and Henry Corke are going "head to head" for the centre positions in the team....

Mr Tom Haynes (Henley Hawks and a Judo/Self Defence Coach) came into Shiplake to run a morning session on how rugby players can take a huge amount out of the discipline of Judo. He taught the boys techniques to tackle larger players than themselves, and ways to move an immovable prop (Toby Stevens) at ruck time! See photo below!

The boys have come on leaps and bounds as a team since Monday at 9am, and I look forward to seeing how they progress over what will be a tough and demanding tour to the Southern Hemisphere.


See you all in Heathrow at 6pm!

Pre-Tour Training

Monday 18th July
Arrive at Shiplake College	Pavillion	0900
Who we are/tour standards/other admin	Pavillion	0900
Kit hand out	Pavillion	1030
Defence/Attack, positioning - what from where	New Field	1100
Lunch	Great Hall	1300
Contact skills - 'take the space - then keep it'	New Field	1430
Speed/Speed Endurance	New Field	1545
Depart from Shiplake College	New Field	1700
Tuesday 19th July
Arrive at Shiplake College	Pavillion	0900
Forwards Weights/Backs Kick chase	S&C/New Field	0930
Judo - Tackle/Ruck Technique	Squash/New Field	1115
Lunch	Great Hall	1300
Set piece/kick offs/teamplay	New Field	1430
Speed/Speed endurance	New Field	1600
Depart from Shiplake College	New Field	1700