The weather was a washout but the rugby certainly wasn’t when Coleg Gwent Crosskeys Campus rugby squad took part in a pre-season tournament at Truro College recently.
The squad, who were the only Welsh representatives in the tournament, won three of their five games, beating London Wasps Academy, Hartpury College (Gloucester Academy) and Bishop Wandsworth Grammar School, Salisbury.
Despite being washed out of their campsite during heavy rain, the students gave excellent performances on the pitch, and narrowly missed out on a semi-final place due to points difference.
Crosskeys Campus Sports Lecturer Steven Llewellyn said: “Many thanks to Truro College, who kindly put us up in one of their buildings after the team got washed out of the campsite on day two.
“The tournament provided a fantastic team building opportunity for the new and existing Crosskeys Campus students before they start a demanding season competing in the new WRU Colleges League, which is aimed at colleges with links to professional rugby regional teams in their area.”
It’s a busy time for the squad who are currently fundraising for a tour of New Zealand and Hong Kong planned for July 2011, Steven said: “It’s been the tradition at Crosskeys Campus for the rugby squad to go on a major tour every three or four years. In the past we’ve taken students to Fiji, South Africa and France. It will be a challenging rugby tour with five matches plus training days, but it offers a fantastic opportunity for students to experience and meet other cultures through sport.”