BUCCS U-14s PLAY IN MAJOR EUROPEAN TOURNAMENT – Buccaneers R.F.C

BUCCS U-14s PLAY IN EUROPEAN TOURNAMENT

BUCCANEERS U-14s squad participated in the Portugal Rugby Youth Festival, which bills itself as “the greatest European rugby tournament for youth teams”. It surely was a wonderful experience for the young Pirates who were playing in the U-15 competition over two days in glorious but not too hot sunshine.

The venue is located at the University Stadium complex in Lisbon where teams from all over Europe and beyond competed on 8 artificial grass pitches. Some 120 clubs/schools participated with about 3,000 players attending at U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19 age groups. The standard of play overall was excellent and fixtures (some 300 matches) took place like clockwork over the two days in a very well organised event with lots of free activities for the players between games.

Although conceding age and size to most of their opponents, the Buccs lads gave a very good account of themselves against more experienced teams from Portugal, Spain and UK, finishing on a high note with a 33-5 victory. Try scorers were Darragh Campbell, William Redmond, Ronan Bourke and Denis Igoe while Eoghan Silke had a high return from conversions.

Every player got game time which is a credit to the coaching crew of Rory Walsh, Ben Walsh, John Gaynor and David Watkinson. Special mention must go to manager Sara Gibson Gaynor who was chief organiser before and during the tour and also who kept a regular census that none of the 28 players went missing or stepped out of line!

The team was based in Estoril, across the road from the famous casino and only a five minutes stroll from the beach where the lads got to let off some steam. The beautiful resort town Cascais was just five miles further along the coast.

The players appreciated getting this super opportunity and were thankful too for the number of family members who travelled to support them. It seems everyone enjoyed the trip and there is talk already of returning in two years’ time and giving the event a good rattle. All in all, the players and coaches/manager did Buccaneers RFC proud.

BUCCANEERS SQUAD:- Joe Walsh, Campbell Watkinson, Max Walsh, Noah Gill, Charlie Donohue, Eoghan Silke, Darragh Campbell, Cillian Coughlan, Cooper So, Jack Gaynor, Sam Gunning, Jayden Quinn, Kenzie Molloy, Ronan Bourke, Michael Union, Ronan Duggan, Adam Chatterton, Denis Igoe, Oisin Kilcommons, William Redmond, Oisin Touhey, Eoin Claffey, Conor Rowan, Sean Maguire, Ryan Gill, Robbie Norton, Senan Keena and James Perkin.