A party of 35 young players, coaches and parents from Datchworth Rugby Club jetted off to South Africa this week. Datchworth head coach Mark Pittaccio, who arranged a similar tour five years ago, was clearly pleased to be going again. He enthused: South

A party of 35 young players, coaches and parents from Datchworth Rugby Club jetted off to South Africa this week.

Datchworth head coach Mark Pittaccio, who arranged a similar tour five years ago, was clearly pleased to be going again.

He enthused: "South Africa is a fantastic tour destination.

"It's reasonably cheap for a long haul tour, the rugby is fantastic, the hostelries are welcoming and with the garden route, township visit and safari as well, the lads will be bringing back a lot of special memories.

"We encourage all our youth teams to tour every year and to try and arrange a more ambitious trip in their last year together."

It will be a packed schedule for this year's colts with matches against Lagunya RFC and Jan Van Rieebeck High School in Capetown before moving onto Knysna to play Knysna RFC and heading for Port Elizabeth and a match against Itembelihe.

Durban follows before the safari in Kwazulu Natal.

It has now become the norm for Datchworth's colts sides to embark on ambitious tours.

Last year's trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji was successful and a further trip to South Africa is planned for 2009.

Pittaccio added: "Datchworth has always been a community based and family orientated club with many of the colts having started as mini rugby players.

"It is evident that a big tour is a great way to mark the end of a journey as a mini and youth team prior to the transition to senior rugby.