U12 Tour to London Irish

for the
27th International Mini Festival
Sunday, 27th April 2008

The Squad pictured just after their last training session and wearing their new tour jackets, just part of their new wardrobe for the tour supplied by Zoti.
Back Row, left to right:
Coaches Alfie Kellock & Dave Carson, Jack Sutherland, Tom Brogan, Callum Carson, Angus MacKenzie, Bruce Flockhart, Lyall Archer, Coach Sean Kelly, Patrick Kelly, Coach Chris Brogan, Fearghus Murray.
Front Row, left to right:
Neil Cameron, Sean Blair, Ryan Gallcher, Andrew Kellock, Jack Lingard, Jamie Gillan, Hamish Hepburn, Alexander McClymont, Hamish Grey.

The big end of season Junior news is that of a Highland U12 Squad’s trip to London Irish for their 27th International Mini Festival. With teams from twenty UK and European clubs competing in the six age groups from U7 to U12 it means nearly 4000 players taking part in the all day Sunday event. Highland are competing in the U12 competition and the squad of sixteen has been selected after a tough evaluation process throughout the mini season. The squad, coaches and not a few proud parents leave on Friday morning. After talking in some sights they travel to Twickenham for Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final, London Irish v Toulouse and then onto London Irish for an evening barbeque. Sunday is the big day and the club is very proud of their U12’s representing Highland in this prestigious event. The tour ends on Monday with the trip home. Throughout the tour the squad will be resplendent in their tour kit supplied by Zoti of Hong Kong.

This trip has taken some organising and a huge fund-raising effort has been performed by the section to cover kit, transport and accommodation. As well as their own contributions seventeen sponsors have given their support including the Common Good Fund and the likes of Scottish Hydro Electric, BT and BM Trucks.

U12 Squad:

1 Lyall Archer
2 Ryan Gallacher
3 Sean Blair
4 Angus MacKenzie
5 Bruce Flockhart
6 Hamish Grey
7 Alexander McClymont
8 Callum Carson
9 Tom Carson
10 Jamie Gillan
11 Andrew Kellock
12 Patrick Kelly
13 Jack Sutherland
14 Jack Lingard
15 Hamish Hepburn
16 Neil Cameron

Coaches: 17 Alfie Kellock, 18 Sean Kelly, 19 Chris Brogan, 20 Dave Carson. A mention has to be made of the two standby players Fearghus Murray and Iain Crush.

Everyone involved has put in so much work for this trip so let’s hope they have a good time.

Full List of Sponsors

Inverness Common Good Fund
M.S.I.S.
Inverness Tyre Service
Global Highland Recruitment
BT
Scottish Hydro Electric
Tile Express
FR MacDonald & Sons
B M Trucks
National Windscreens
Donald MacLean Building & Joinery Contractor
Insitu Homesearch
Donald Johnstone - Building Contractor
D S Prompt - Heating and Plumbing
K J Calder - Plastering & Tiling
Forbes J Mackay - Joinery Contractor
South Bay Civils, Newcastle

The tour exploits will be posted here as they come via our on the spot intrepid reporter Chris Brogan, courtesy of his new gadget from BT.

You can get more of a flavour of London Irish by looking at these links:

http://www.london-irish.com/

http://www.london-irish-amateur.co.uk/

http://www.londonirish.org/