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RAFRU Tour – New Zealand May 2009

After a difficult RAFRU 2008/9 season and recent rugby union Inter Services competition, thoughts and eyes were now focused on the forthcoming RAF Rugby Senior Tour to New Zealand to play two tests against the Royal New Zealand Air Force Rugby Union. A mixed squad was assembled, consisting of seasoned players, who were mainly in the forwards and a host of relatively in-experienced backs. The tour was a great opportunity for those ‘non-capped’ players to experience Senior Rugby for the first time. The fixtures were to be played on the Whenuapai Oval rugby ground at RNZAF Base Whenuapai, on Thursday 7 May and the following Wednesday 13 May.

The Flights were split in to two chalks, the first leaving midday Sunday and the second later that night. With a very quick change at Singapore, the first chalk landed late Monday night and was met by our liaison officer from the RNZAF Rugby Union, Sqn Ldr Mike Cunningham and Mr Rich Horwood (former RAFRU Physio) and it wasn’t until midnight that the first 14 members of the 26 strong party arrived at RNZAF base Whenuapai about 22kms north west of downtown Auckland. The tour party was accommodated and fed on base and were afforded the facilities of the gymnasium, mess hall and various other amenities that ensured a comfortable stay was made possible by our generous hosts. The second chalk travelled via Kuala Lumpar and arrived after lunch on Tuesday and was also met by Mike Cunningham, Rich Horwood, Head Coach WO Steve Worrall and Tour Manager FS Barney Wallace. They were met by the players at the accommodation and greetings and exchanges were carried out.

After salutations and room allocations it was straight down to business and the first training session at 4pm on Tuesday afternoon was ordered and required to get the journey out of the system and generate a little team building. With a squad consisting of 12 forwards and 9 backs, the order of the day was a very competitive game of touch; forwards V backs and that soon turned into a game of ‘stop the forwards scoring’, as they ran riot over the 90 minute session. So the gauntlet had been laid down, and the squad had soon got to know each other in very quick time. After the session a meeting was called and the squad was introduced to the base commander Wg Cmdr Richard Marshall who welcomed everyone to New Zealand, and outlined the available support and facilities that the base had for the party. Protocol completed, all the players were now fully aware of the challenge ahead, and Coaches Worrall and Flt Lt Pete Taylor, superbly supported by new captain SAC Steve Green outlined the next few days in preparation for the first test.

Rugby in New Zealand has an amazing following, and it wasn’t long before the camp was buzzing with the thoughts of the first Test looming on the horizon. It was evident that the players were the focus of attention as word got around that there was a touring team in town, and were out to claim victory on home soil. Sqn Ldr Mike Cunningham and Head Coach Sgt Rick Wadmore (former RAF Player) were also assembling the home team squad at Whenuapai, and as the base has only one pitch the hosts kindly moved their training sessions off camp to allow us the run of the pitch, and the squad was put through its paces for two sessions on Wednesday. The starting line up was announced and it consisted of 9 capped players, all eight forwards and Cpl Angelo Flammia in the backs. The team was to be captained for the first time by SAC Steve Green from RAF Benson. In the evening after training the players were taken to the local bowling alley for another forwards V backs competition, again the editor of this piece has to admit another win from the pack, although I believe that the backs were severely hampered by the assistance of the Team Doctor Wg Cdr Clive Monkley and Physio Sqn Ldr Pete Lilley (sorry chaps).

Thursday arrived and the players had a relaxing morning, chilling out and resting before the build up to the game in the afternoon. Preparation had gone well, the players were definitely gelling into a good unit, and everyone was excited about the challenge ahead. The weather was very changeable, sunshine followed by brief torrential, monsoon like downpours, and conditions under foot were becoming softer by the hour. Soon it was game time and the RAF team elected to play with the strong breeze and it soon became apparent it was a game of two differing styles, the forward dominating RAF pack against the dangerous RNZAF backline. With conditions under foot deteriorating by the minute, the visitors went into half time with a 10-3 lead, with tries coming from debutant fly half Cpl Steve Jones RAF Cosford and No 8 Cpl Al Blewitt RAF Benson. The second half started with the visitors again settling deep in the home team’s territory, and after three five meter scrums it was No 8 Blewitt who again increased the RAF’s lead to 15-3 and the conversion was made by fly half Jones to give the visitors a nervy 17-3 lead with still 30mins of the game to go. The game was put away from the hosts after a period of sustained Kiwi pressure, by a scintillating counter attack, started deep in the visitors 22. The ball went through about 5 pairs of hands before left wing SAC John Porter RAF Lyneham broke out and sprinted up the wing and evading the despairing tackles score wide out to make the score and a first test victory of 22-3. A game in which the visitors scored four tries to none in awful conditions.

So it was first blood to the visitors and both teams should be credited for a tremendous game that was played in dreadful conditions. Afterwards, the teams were hosted in the All Ranks Sports Club on the base and after a low key post match meal and awards for Man of the Match, the RAF team’s MoM was won by scrum half Cpl Richie Gunning from RAF Benson. Later both sets of players headed off on the 45min journey into Auckland for a great night, accompanied by some excellent singing from both squads and led from the choir master himself, Cpl Ben Moore from RAF Lyneham,.

Friday consisted of a well deserved morning off training for the squad and was followed by a two hour bus journey to Hamilton to be escorted around the Super 14 Team the Waikato Chief’s Stadium. An enlightening experience into the facilities and support that a New Zealand franchise team receives, this followed lunch in Hamilton at the Chiefs own CBD Bar and Restaurant. After lunch and the tour the party moved on to Rotorua, and were accommodated in the very plush Millennium Hotel, situated a couple of blocks away from the lake in central Rotorua. The party then bombursted out to explore the town and also book the many local activities available, which included white water rafting, bungee jumping, canyoning, and also a visit to a Maori Marea, which was an insight into the Maori way of life. Saturday morning commenced with a swim in the hotel pool, and then everyone proceeded to embark on the many adventurous activities that had been booked previously. With a meet to depart at 1530hrs on Saturday, all the party were refreshed from the New Zealand autumnal waters, or pumped up with adrenalin from the ‘bungee’.

Whatever the activity, all were particularly excited about the next round of events, which saw the squad travel back up to Hamilton, check into the hotel and watch the Super 14 fixture, the Chiefs hosting the Wellington Hurricanes in a packed and ‘Cow Bell’ ringing Waikato Stadium. An electric atmosphere and a superb evening as the Chiefs won the fixture to secure a semi final place in the Super 14 competition, and afterwards the party was hosted out by the Chiefs staff and players as we dined with the players and staff in the Hog Restaurant, and further carried on the socialising back in the CBD Bar, where we had had lunch the previous day.

Sunday commenced with a drive back up to Auckland where we stopped for lunch south of the city at the Mall, and everyone enjoyed the restaurants available and about 4 hours of retail therapy, before we made our way back to the base. In the evening the players met and were issued with the next few days itinery, which included a light session on Monday, an afternoon off for sight-seeing in Auckland and a full day’s training Tuesday before the second Test match on Wednesday.

The squad trained well on Tuesday in preparation for the second test, and after the afternoon session, former All Black legend Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford, gave the players a question and answer insight into test match rugby and preparation for important fixtures. For all, being in the same room as this man was awe inspiring, he held all of us in the audience in the palm of his massive hands and for nearly 2 hours chatting with the players on a multitude of rugby topics, especially what it’s like being an All Black rugby player, the trials and tribulations of being an All Black, and most importantly the expectations – an impressive insight into All Black Rugby, and thanks must go to ‘Buck’ for giving up his time to spend with us, and also Rich Horwood and Mike Cunningham for organising it. On Tuesday evening the whole party were treated to a very impressive pre match meal in the Sky Tower restaurant downtown Auckland and thanks must go again to Rich Horwood for organising the meal. The highlight of the meal was to see such a sea and surf lover, and all round water babe as Pilot Officer Dan Kennedy struggle to eat oysters was worth the entry fee alone. Everyone was fully fed and watered in the impressive restaurant overlooking the city, and afterwards the party returned to the base for an early night and a good rest before the game on Wednesday.

Sometimes in sport, the game, the event and the occasion often runs away with you. It may have been the presence of the National TV companies ’Grass Roots’ rugby cameras that fazed the players, or having been held in awe of Wayne Shelford the previous day, or at the pre match meeting, Coach Steve Worrall, emphasising what this squad of players could achieve over the next few hours. But for some of the players this was affecting their ability to think correctly under pressure as Sir Clive Woodward would say. Notwithstanding any of this, this is one of the main reason teams go on tours. Yes, it’s to enjoy each other’s company and make new friends, but also to be tested in a completely different environment, and in pressure situations.

That is why we all play, coach, administer sports teams, it’s the intensity, focus, desire, aspiration and competitiveness in us all, and this fixture was right up there with all those expectations. The atmosphere was electric, and the players were probably too focused. The game had to be simple, the weather dictated it. Play deep in the oppositions half, be aggressive in the contact area and stay there until we scored. A very basic game plan was issued. Unfortunately for the first 40mins the RAF team could not carry out the orders, and with the rain sheeting down it was a relieved pair of coaches that ushered the squad into the changing rooms at half time for a few words of direction and encouragement. No Alex Ferguson hair drying treatment was issued, a calm, calculated and focussed chat from the coaches ensured the team went out and played the correct game for the conditions. Having been 13-8 down at half time, both teams knew they had the opportunity to win the game. The conditions were awful, as rain pelted the players and spectators alike, and, as if all 30 players knew they were being filmed on national TV, went on to produce a terrific 40 mins of entertaining and no quarter given rugby. Unfortunately for the RAF team, the dream of a two test victory in New Zealand was just beyond them, and the game finished a very close 19-18 win for the home side. (Full match report can be found on http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafrugbyunion).

The players had given their all and were extremely disappointed with the final score. Having scored 3 tries to one and seven tries to one over the two games, the players can be justifiably proud of their achievements. They had travelled across the world to play rugby in one of the most fervent rugby environments and had just fallen short of a fantastic achievement.

Disappointment was etched across the muddied brows of the player’s; they had given everything to try and win the game but were unfortunately beaten in the end. I must add that credit has to go to the New Zealand Air Forces team, who were fighting an incredible rear guard action in the final 15mins, and it was a true reflection that their Man of the Match was Flanker Jason Price, who tackled, and fought in true Kiwi style to repel the boys in blue. A fantastic effort and a fantastic game, unfortunately we just couldn’t get those extra points to seal the victory we so desired.

The game finished, it was a quick change and a short walk to the Officers Mess for the after match reception and dinner. This formal affair was chaired by the Royal New Zealand Air Force CAF, with guest of honour Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford. An excellent evening was had by all, and the players from both teams enjoyed the excellent hospitality provided by the Officers Mess. This was the first time an all ranks event of this kind had been held in the Mess, and it was a superb evening, with pleasantries, thankyous and gifts exchanged after the meal. Both sets of players stayed and enjoyed the hospitality late in to the night, and it was a sight for sore eyes in the morning as the whole party assembled for the short ride to the Auckland Blues training facility at 0930 hrs!!!

At the training ground we were afforded the opportunity to watch the Blues train. Mindful of the injuries in his squad, Head Coach Pat Lam explained that he had to cancel the earlier session planned for Tuesday, as he had had a string of injuries to his squad. So we were all witness to a full 2 hour session that covered all areas of their game and it was a fantastic experience for the whole party to witness the session. Afterwards the Blues players and coaches were extremely open and approachable, and many an autograph and photo opportunity was had with the squad. After returning to the base for a late lunch, the final social event of the tour was looming. A boat trip around the harbour and a BBQ included. The dress for this event was casual, but with Hawaiian shirts, and as the party embarked on the boat, I don’t know what the Captain and his assistant thought as 26 very bright and eager servicemen arrived ready for an afternoon cruise. The event went superbly; fantastic hosts on the boat, excellent food and a fantastic sing song on the way back encapsulated the whole trip.

With the Auckland City lights shimmering in the background an official resigning of his role as former player, Captain and Coach was an emotional send off for Flt Lt Pete Taylor, and the players and staff wish him well in his retirement. Also retiring after this trip was the Tour Organiser Sqn Ldr Matt Cornish, another stalwart of RAF Rugby, and it is to him that I would like to say a very big thank you for his sterling work in organising this tour. A fantastic effort and well done Matt, have a happy retirement from the rigours of RAF Rugby.

Finally, on Friday it was time to depart for the UK. Both Chalks had their timings and all personnel safely returned to Blighty. It’s a very long return flight back; but during that trip all will remember for a long time the honour, friendships, camaraderie and enjoyment of playing, travelling, touring whilst representing RAF Rugby. It has been a great tour, and with it we have encapsulated what it is all about representing your Service at rugby. It goes without saying that I am looking forward to next season, and all that it brings.

Finally, there has to be thankyou’s, and first and foremost a very big thank you to Sqn Ldr Matt Cornish for organising, cajoling and getting the trip off the ground and to its conclusion. Also a big thanks must go to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, especially Sqn Ldr Mike Cunningham, Sgt Rick Wadmore and Mr Rich Horwood who all did a fantastic job of looking after us during our stay. Our thanks also go to our sponsors Technogym and AMSS and finally thank you to all members of the touring party who were fantastic ambassadors for the Royal Air Force, and made the trip such a success. Let us all relax this summer, watch the Lions win in South Africa, and look forward to next season.

WO Steve Worrall