Corinthians RFC Tour 2008

The next Corinthians RFC tour is now being planned for July / August 2008. More details to follow soon!

Tour to Holland 2006

In July 2006, under the name of Christians in Sport RFC, a group of 24 guys left six different UK airports for a week’s rugby tour to Holland (and a short stop in Belgium, to buy chocolates!).

After long journeys and delays, we headed almost straight to our first match v RC Etten-Leur. Despite hardly knowing each other’s names, let alone lineout calls and backs moves, we quickly pulled together as a team for a magnificent first win only hours after landing in Holland. That night also saw the first of several court sessions in front of the Tour Judge post match, laying down a marker for the rest of the tour.

The tour provided a great time for a group of guys, most who had previously not met, to grow together as a squad on and off the rugby field. We played and won two further matches, v RC The Dukes (who boasted three Dutch and one Romanian International in their side) and v Zuid Holland. Off the field, as well as training sessions and lots of volleyball, there were daily team meetings, allowing us to open, read and discuss the Bible together. We also had opportunities to travel around and see Holland, most notably an amazing experience of visiting the Hiding Place in Corrie ten Boom’s house in Haarlem, and the Sunday morning service at Evangelische Gemeenschap Roosendaal (Evangelical Fellowship Roosendaal) which included some lineout practice during the service! We also enjoyed sampling some of the local cuisine, including a meal in Bergen op Zoom followed by a great sing off, the ‘all you can eat’ Wok of Fame, and our last meal out together at a Dutch Greek restaurant!

Some of the players’ highlights include;

”Mini Tank’s petrol station services"
”The shpeedo's!”
“Singing Amazing Grace together on the pitch after the match”
The trips out, which always passed the airport at least 5 times! (Comment from Tour Navigator – “Even Tom Tom gets it wrong sometimes”)
“Singing songs to pretty Holland girls after demolishing their boyfriends’ rugby team!”
“Visiting the Hiding Place, where Corrie ten Boom hid Jews in the war”
“Frank the Tank v Harris in the kid’s ball pool – brains v brawn!”
“Sharing a bathroom with the Tour Defence” (sent in by a Mr van Sandwich!)
”The experience of playing with a squad of Christians.... Priceless!”

Here’s what some of the guys said about the tour;

“The tour was the first time I met Christian rugby players, so it was the first time I was able to have conversations with people who really understood the challenges / rewards of being a Christian and a rugby player.” Chris

“Fortunately the memories of the tour will be with me long after the athletes foot.
It was a great experience so thank you all for the opportunity to run out with the lads and for the Christian fellowship which is so valuable.” Neil

“I had a fantastic time and really enjoyed both the rugby and all the banter, as well as the chance to watch and learn from the other guys on tour, both in a rugby sense and in a way of living as a Christian man.” Tom

“These people have had a good Christian experience.  Who are these people I speak of?  Our opposition.  I believe they had a good Christian experience by playing, meeting, hearing and watching Christians play rugby.” Bob

"It was great to be on tour with some real rugby players who had real faith in Christ. The difference this made from any other tour was that I came back feeling fully encouraged in my walk with God. Sometimes it can be hard to find Christians who you'd want to be mates with - it wasn't hard on this tour!" Tim

Click on the below links to read the tour match reports sent home from Holland

First Match Report

Second Match Report

Third Match Report