PHS RUGBY TOUR ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
DAILY DIARY ***GAME REPORTS from the BOYS NOW AVAILABLE .. see BELOW!
FRIDAY, 8th MAY - Raining, overcast and showery ... Off to Mount Fuji
It's just so hard to believe that this fabulous journey is coming to an end - and what a great journey it has been... with all the excitement of the Sanix Tournament, plus the couple of R&R days with visits to Fukuoka and Nagasaki, as well as Disneyland yesterday. Our new guide and interpreteur isn't prepared to say whether we'll get to see Mount Fuji due to the weather conditions, rain, mist and cloud cover but, at least, we'll be spending some time at the visitors' centre and watching a video - I think we may have to take a photo of the posters and photos displayed there... unless the weather clears.
We were really fortunate to have a few chances to take a brief look at the famous Mt Fuji along the way - through the bus windows as the cloud and mist cleared a little. What a pity we were on a freeway and the bus could not stop for photos! By the time we arrived at the foot of Mt Fuji and the information centre it was raining pretty heavily and ... where was Mount Fuji? Somewhere up there in the mist and clouds. We also got to take a ride on the Japanese version of our Katoomba Scenic Railway (the newere one that goes out across the vallet from the top of the cliffs) - and that was quite an experience.... with some breathtaking scenery. After buying our souvenirs we had a really great 'all you can eat' lunch ... and the boys really enjoyed it. Very nice food and plenty of it.
THURSDAY, 7th MAY - Overcast and showery ... Off to Disneyland
Well, this is the start of the two 'reward' days at the end of the Sanix Tournament and after a wake-up call at 5.30am and breakfast at 6.30, we needed to be packed up and on the bus by 8 o'clock. Janet is our guide and interpreteur for the day. Lots of excitement and great anticipation as we start to relax and look forward to seeing what Disneyland is really like. I think the photo story below tells it all ... one picture worth a thousand words! Enjoy our trip.
It was raining!
What an experience!
And it was off to McDonald's for supper after a very early start and late finish today!
WEDNESDAY, 6th MAY - Great weather... quite sunny and hot.
What a GREAT finish to the SANIX Tournament for our Australian Prairiewood team... a fabulous final game in which the boys played very well. We witnessed a reinvigorated team on the field today and it certainly was a team effort against the top-rated team in Japan! The enthusiasm and energy was certainly there today - and they did Australia proud ... finishing in eighth place in this world international tournament involving twenty teams. At this top level in an international tournament such as this the final games are never going to be easy. Our Prairiewood/Australian team worked hard to secure their 26 points in the final match - but the Kosho Japanese team acieved greater success and worked hard to earn their 43 points to defeat us.
What an exciting week or so it has been ... I am so pleased that I could be a part of it and am so proud of our team.
It's on a tour such as this you really get to see what our team is all about - and there's no doubt in my mind that I have been most impressed by the sense of comradery, care and support shared between all twenty-six members of our touring party. We were delighted to have Tony's family here watching the game again today - as well as Wendy Holdesnon, the Australian Consul-General based in Fukuoka. She enjoyed the match and congratulated our team on their great effort.
Principal's Man of the Match Award: John Tanuvasa
Special 'First Try Scorer' Award: Michael Luong
TUESDAY, 5th MAY – A bright, sunny day ... but not our best game!
Playing another of the top four teams ahead of us in points in the Pool Competition, it was certainly not our best day, with the English team just playing better football and being a much stronger team. I guess we just have to accept that at this level in an International Competition, it's not going to be easy (or in any way even moderately easy) to secure a win.
The mtaches between the top eight teams are certainly heavy going but let's not lose sight of the fact that our Australian boys have made us very proud in the overall competition - and there is still a final chance to get one more win ... tomorrow when we play the Japanese team that was defeated in a one-sided, high scoring game this afternoon.
C'mon Prairiewood/Australia, just one more win would make us all feel even better! Mr Hodges, our coach, says that Prairiewood still hasn't played its best game yet - based on their previous performances and training - so let's hope we see that game tomorrow and finsih with a real BLAST!
I think the Fairfield Champion is publishing an article about our team and their big win in the 'Pools' part of the tournament - as well as finishing in the top eight places out of twenty teams overall.
It was great to have some Aussie supporters in the crowd again today - expat, Tony, his wife and two lovely daughters. Not only did they watch and barrack for our team on Sunday and again today, they provided us with some very useful tips for our visit to Disneyland on Thursday - thank you girls!
Principal's Man of the Match Award: Ayden
MONDAY, 4th MAY – Wet, very wet with heavy rain and a LONG trip!
Although a very long day, many of the boys took the chance to have a nap or a fully fledged sleep on the bus trip down to Nagasaki where we visited Peace Park and gardens, as well as the Atomic Bomb Museum.
A somewhat mind-blowing experience for us all... what devastation, what frank and heart-wrenching stories, photographs, videos and displays - and wuite confronting. It was great to see the boys reacting and discussing the many interesting exhibits.
agreed it was well worth the visit and helped to give us all some insight into the suffering and intense devastation that was part of this event. It really makes you stop and realise how truly blessed we are - living in Australia as we do in the now, rather than in Japan seventy years ago.
On a slightly different note, the boys discovered a little later that they do have McDonald's in Japan! It was cold and VERY wet as we walked along the streets of Nagasaki City - and needed a chance to dry off and have something to eat.
Today being part of a week of holidays for the Japanese - Golden Week - both the city streets and the highway/tollway/road leading home were also very busy and clogged with SLOW traffic.
Unfortunately, the visit to the hot springs on the way home didn't eventuate - with the early morning (breakfast at 6.30 and on the coach by 7.15am) 2 hours 20 minutes trip to Nagasaki turned into a very long four and a half hour long trip back to Global Arena ("home")!
If it wasn't for Nela as the 'in house/bus' DJ, full of wit and humour with lashings of 'special request' songs from one of the staff or studnet ipods we had with us on the bus, it would have been very boring and dull trip home.
Thank you Nela for keeping us entertained and awake. By the way, a training session in the gymnasium at 8.15pm boys!
SUNDAY, 3rd MAY – A little overcast … in more ways than one!
What happened? Our run of winning matches has finally encountered a ‘detour’ … in our match against New Zealand’s De La Salle College.
Not such a happy day for many of our team members, but better a loss today rather than yesterday – we are still placed in the top eight and now have the opportunity to finish in 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th place in the overall tournament.
The first half of this match was certainly one-sided … New Zealand’s way, with the De La Salle team successfully crossing the Prairiewood line five times during the first 20-25 minutes.
Our boys were certainly rattled and couldn’t believe what was happening – but they dug down deep and re-grouped leading into half time.
The second half was quite a different matter, with the Australian/Prairiewood team gathering all their strength and charging forward with a very positive team spirit… matching the opposition try for try, with each team scoring two tries and a conversion.
What an amazing comeback – but a little too late to win this match. Perhaps, after our three game winning streak (and winning our pool in the competition) we needed this defeat to help us refocus and bring us ‘back down to earth’.
Principal's Man of the Match Award: Kane
Now we need to concentrate our efforts on securing at leats one or more wins in the final two matches of this tournament? It was a bit of a long day, with lots of tired and worn out players – some with minor injuries and ‘licking their wounds’.
After a good lunch and a relaxing and sleepy afternoon nap, spirits seem to pick up and our boys were later to be found outside tossing around a football or two with … the New Zealand team that had won our match!
Our day finished off with an hour and a half of tennis after dinner – lots of boys relaxing and having lots of fun! I think we have reached the first phase of recovery and will be ready to put in every effort to win our next match on Tuesday – against the Ivybridge team from England.
SATURDAY, 2nd MAY ... still sunny and a brisk morning
Everyone seems to be quietly excited but also nervous when we got out of bed at 6.00am ready for a 7am breakfast - and a BIG match at 11.00am... as this was probably the most important day since we arrived for the tournament... and we all knew a win today would put us into the top 8 places out of the twenty teams.
Well, that's EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED! We WON TODAY! Hard to believe... but now Prairiewood (aka AUSTRALIA) has convincingly won its pool with a total of 14 points. In fact, on a competition points basis over the first three days of the tournament Australia (aka Prairiewood HS) has finished in FIFTH place on points. Isn't that just so exciting! WE certainly hope all of our parents, friends, staff and generous supporters back home in Australia are also very excited ... and very PROUD of our boys. It really is a dream come true - all that training, hard work and effort has paid off in a BIG way.
Let's not forget though, that if it wasn't for the generous backing of all of our supporters - both large and small - we could not have even made the trip. Thank you again to AMD, Australian Rugby Union, NSW Rugby, Coca-Cola Foundation, James and Phillip Street, the Macquarie Bank, Cabravale Diggers, Stockland Centre, Bing Lee at Penrith, Kooga... as well as the many, many smaller companies and mums and dads and friends who provided the ongoing encouragement and support since the announcement was made about Prairiewood representing Australia in the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament in Japan. We really have appreciated your good wishes and financial support.
The game, from my point of view was simply thrilling, anxious, exciting and heart-stopping - all at the same time. The Japanese team scored first and at half time the score stood at 14-10. What a herculean effort the boys put in throughout the second half... when most of the game was held within 30 metres of the goal posts at our end of the field. Each time we felt we were in trouble, the Prairiewood boys seemed to get another great burst of energy, and good play, and drove the opposition back... only to start all over again! This 'pendulum like' motion kept up for every one of the final twenty-five minutes... with neither team scoring another point. How's that for a tight game and nail-biting finish in the pool final match! Congratulations to our boys for a tremendous show of courage, persistence and determination of the first order.
David was awarded the 'man-of-the-match' award by Bernie Carberry after today's match. Bernie has been a tremendous support for Mr Hodges and the team for many months now and has watched our games over the past four days.
We are grateful for Bernie sharing his knowledge and skills with our coaches and players - as well as his detailed knowledge of the tournament and how its works. Our team captain, John Tanuvasa, on behalf of all of the boys and staff in our 'touring party', offered some words of heartfelt thanks to Bernie at the end of today's match.
What more can I say? What more is to be said? Read David's report at the foot of this web page for a more detailed 'technical Rugby' point of view ... from someone who lived throught it today!
TRIES: John Tanuvasa (x2), Saia Tanginoa, Mikey Avery, Deniel Vusoniceva, Michael Luong
GOALS: Saia Tanginoa 1 and Kane Clark 1.
Now, for the quarter finals tomorrow. We play De La Salle College - New Zealand's ranked No.1 team - at 1.20pm Sydney time*** If we win this match, we will be placed in the Top 4 - if not, then we play of for 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th place overall.
FRIDAY, 1st MAY ... yet another very sunny day ahead
Well, took some LOUD and CONTINUOUS knocking on the doors at 5.30am to try and wake them up and get our boys out of bed! Feeling a little weary after the two days of intense training and two big international games, eh!
On the buses and off to Fukuoka and surrounds... with a stopover and visit to the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and gardens (and shops) at this 'City of Ancient Culture'. Lots of exercise and walking from the bus parking area to the shrine. Boys had a great time and seemed interested at the many new experiences in and around this site - including lots of little school kids (maybe 5 year olds?) in their hats and school uniforms on a school excursion.
Our boys waved and they waved back - and then the New Zealand team put on an impromptu perfromance of a HAKA for them - should have seen the looks of surprise ('horror') on the kids faces!
It was easy to fill in an hour or two here... and walking back, looking at the shops, buying gifts for our mums and wives... and sampling some of the local cakes, ice creams, cakes and more cakes. Then, back onto the bus for our trip to lunch.
Upon arriving at the Grand Hyatt hotel we were greeted by the very friendly and uniformed 'concierge' and directed into the 'world class' buffet lunch - just something light (sample below!).
Then, after lunch the boys had a few hours to kill - let loose on the shops of Fukuoka.
School? Well, of course the boys go to school here ... Hodges' Coaching School - for a full review after every game... watching the video highlights (good and not so good) that their coach has prepared after analysing all the footage from the video recording of the game! It's important... it's tough... and it has to be at this world class level - if we want to have a chance at finishing in the top 8 or 10 teams. It's in these very frank and 'in-your-face' sessions that the boys have a chance to learn from their mistakes - as well as being praised for the odd great tackle, or lineout, or try!
TRIES: John Tanuvasa and Ray Schuster.
GOALS: KAne Clark (x2)
TRIES: Jessey Rybicki, John Tanuvasa, Saia Tanginoa and Daniel Vusoniceva.
GOALS: Saia Tanginoa.
TOMORROW (Saturday) is the most important match so far in this competition. Having already won the first two matches, if we win on Saturday, that will automatically place our team in the top 8 teams of the competition - finishing the whole competition, at worst, in 8th place. Kick-off is at 12 noon Wetherill Park/Sydney time! ... can we win three in a row? Watch this space ... and you'll find out tonight.
THURSDAY, 30th - more sunny weather and another GREAT win!
Australia/Prairiewood defeats Canada 39 points to 8 ... just so exciting. Can you believe it? Wow!!!
What if we also win the match on Saturday ... just imagine. Anyway, let's just take a day at a time and do our best.
There was MUCH celebration and everyone was on a 'high' for the rest of today... some quite sore and a bit bruised... others chaming at the bit - can't wait for the next game - and, every member of our 26 player squad has now played in the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament
in Japan... isn't that something to brag about!
Bernie Carberry's special award was won today by Saia Tanginoa and John Tanavasa was picked as best player for the game - being presented with a special 'T-shirt" award from the Canadian team.
Congratulations boys! Mr Hodges rated today's game as 'better' than yesterday ... sitting at about a 7 out of 10 - but he couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the day either... he was just so proud of his boys!
They then enjoyed a great couple of hours on the 'village green' where Mr Hodges organised a game of cricket ... and, wow, what a game it was - a game for all nations! That's right the numbers involved just kept growing and growing as other boys from around the world were keen to join in ... and learn how to bat or bowl! I was so impressed with the generous and encouraging comments and support our boys gave - readily accepting everyone who wanted to participate... skills or no skills!
To me, that's been a 'measure of the team' that I have witnessed first hand in Japan at this tournament... the genuine care and support (and sharing nature) they have towards each other. I have been proud to be a part of their 'entourage'.
Dinner was a bit of a rush to make it to an evening 'performance concert' ... with each team presenting/leading an item. When we arrived at the HUGE gymnasium, thought someone had left on the electronic timer from a basketball game ... but, no, bet you can't guess - that was to time each of the items because there was a 3 minute limit! (Just so organised and time conscious these Japanese people - we could all probably learn a thing or two from them back home in Australia - but no need to go overboard. A mixed bag of entertainment items, 'have a go at sumo wrestling' and a range of other assorted traditional dances, games and other experiences from the different countries represented here. A good night overall - found the secret to keeping our hall/gymnasium floor nice and clean and new looking ... make everyone take off their shoes and put on their slippers every time they walk inside! (Better let Paul know.)
John and Mr Guthrie assisted the boys in organising a 'mini-AFL' skills competition which was pretty popular (with genuine Australian boomerangs as prizes) and this was followed by all of our boys singing Advance Australia Fair.
Early to bed (10.45pm) - but only after the boys cleaned and tidied their rooms ready for the big inspection tomorrow whilst we are out and about. Up at 5.30am ready for a 6.30am breakfast ready for an early start tomorrow. Good night!
WEDNESDAY, 29th - weather fine and just a beautiful very sunny Spring day
What an AMAZING day it has been! Quite unbelievable really - we were just gobsmacked!
Wondered what all the areas being marked out with white rope on Tuesday afternoon? For all the market stalls and food stalls for today, of course! Reminded us of a Saturday Market and Boot Sale at the Fairfield Showground - the main differenec being all the dignitaries - who arrived in their fleet of chauffeur-driven limousines. Had to be several thousand people, mums, dads and families picknicking on their rugs under trees around the grounds, visiting market stalls - all with a huge range of Asian cuisine.. freshly cooked on the spot. You could buy anything from baby clothes, handbags, toys, watches and perfumes to barbecued chicken dishes, hamburgers and pizzas.
But then there was the Opening Ceremony...with a Scottish Pipe Band leading up to the actual start of the official proceedings - apparently this is a long-standing tradition - in fact, Sanix has their own official registered TARTAN - how's that for enterprising? Then, what followed was like the opening of the Olympic Games... with all of the Tournament Teams marching forward to be presented to the official party at the front of the arena.It was just a fantastic and very memorable moment!
When this was finished, the teams were invited to go around the different stands in the arena and hand out gifts and shake hands - it was a great experience for our kids - everyone wanting to shake hands with them... even asking them for autographs! After all, I guess they are the Australian Team competing in a World Class Tournament when you think about it. Lunch was plentiful and delicious and Bernie Carberry, from Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union joined us for lunch in the grandstand. A little later, we had a special presentation ceremony where all of the boys were officially presented with their playing jerseys - in preparation for their very first game of the tournament. Lots of butterflies and excitement from everyone, a brief warm-up training session prior to the match, followed by official check-in with the referee and then - into the mtach at 3.15pm.
We had no sooner started when my mobile phone rang - it was Mrs Smith from school - and in no time flat, John Tanuvasa (our team captain) had scored!!! What a thrilling moment for us all - and what a great start to our first match. By half time, the other team had scored points for two goals and Prairiewood's score had crept up to 12-11 ... with a one point lead. Second half was equally exciting, Prairiewood scoring two more tries and keeping the other team at bay with a final score at 22 to 14 in favour of Prairiewood!!!
Sensational - winning against the FOURTH top team in all of Japan! The scene is now set... the boys are in high spirits and have had their first taste of playing in such a World Class event ... even if some are finding the breathing a little difficult here in Fukuoka. MAN of the MATCH AWARD went to Peter Bui - well done Peter!
But, let's not get carried away - there are still lots of games to be played... in the "analysis meeting held on Wednesday evening, Mr Hodges and the boys rated our team's effort at about SIX and a HALF... so we are aiming to better that effort by a half a point or so each day.
Special note to all the mums/dads back in OZ... your boys are ALL fine, having a great time, behaving themselves, eating well and training well - really focused! (even if they haven't got around to ringing home yet). There is a problem with 600+ people trying to get access to the one phonecard machine and two telephones - in their 'spare' time. So... don't worry - be happy!
More news tomorrow - we play Canada at 1.30pm (2.30pm Sydney time).
GAME REPORTS from our TEAM PLAYERS
GAME 1 - WEDNESDAY - Final Score: Australia 22, Kyoto 14
It was 6.30am, Wednesday, 29th April, 2009. This was going to be the biggest thing that was going to happen in our lives ... we were going to play our first international Rugby game, representing Australia (but also Prairiewood High School). We began our day having breakfast with the other teams (countries) and then went back to our rooms to relax, get a bit of sleep and stretch. At 3.00pm (getting ready), we all got ready and packed our bags ready to go into battle with the Japanese. Kick-off was at 3.30pm and the feeling I was getting was very nervous and started to get butterflies in my stomach. I was so nervous I just couldn't fire up the boys. We ran out onto the field giving our banners to the members of the other team, then getting in tight together for our team to pray.
We scored our first try in the first few minutes of the game from John T (our captain). We thought this was going to be an easy runaway game but with Kyoto, they had an unbelievable defensive line. They rushed up on our faces and we panicked a bit. We were slwowly slipping into their game play which made us slip away from our own game plan. At half time, Mr Hodges told us that this was going to be a last minute effort - and he was right... we were inside their 22 metres and Kane ran to the line through the defence, then cut out two players. We had a 2 on 1 and we scored in the last 2 minutes of the game.
Bernie Carberry was the man who was involved in selecting our team to represent Australia and he had a man of the match award which he presented to me ... Peter Bui halfback No.9, Man of the Match.
GAME 2 - THURSDAY - Final score: Australia 39, Canada 8
Hello Australia! It's Saia Tanginoa from Japan. Well, it's Thursday, 29th April and we are 'two games from two' so far. The game today was great - the boys turned up to play and as for the result, we eliminated the Canadians 39-8! The battle was always going to be hard with the Canadians not giving up (after their loss yesterday) and scoring in the last minute - putting their score up to 8 points. As for Prairiewood, we didn't perform to our best, which is scary, but did enough to run away with the 5 competition points and a win. We had some great individual performances from the starting 15 and the interchange - those players being... John Tanuvasa, Saia Tanginoa, Jonathan Masiasomua, Kane Clark, Mikey Avery and Raymond Schuster. Anyway, we have a well-earned break tomorrow - they will be taking us out for the day shopping, and other exciting stuff.
GAME 3 - SATURDAY - Final score: Australia 14, Oita Maizuru 10
It's Saturday, 2nd May and it's 8.30pm and I'm just here to write about Rugby game that we played at 11.30am today. At 10am it all began here - it was our last pool game and it was now or never. All the boys were pumped up to play and our warm-up was good - and so was our other preparation.
The feeling I had today before kick-off was 'pressure'... I believed that the boys and I had to play the best game ever. Shortly after kick-off the boys let in a try - due to no talk or listening... the try by Oita Maizuru was not converted, making the scoreline 5 - 0. Ten minutes after that try Prairiewood hit back with John Tanuvasa running 80 metres to score a try under the posts. This was then converted by Kane Clark. Not long after that, Oita hit back with a try down the sideline, making the scoreline 10-7. After kick-off, the forward pack stepped up their game, dominating every single ruck before half time.
While dominating the ruck, we forced a mistake by the Oita team which then saw Ramsin capitalise on this mistake and he picked up the ball, stepping aside a few players and set up our team for a try which was scored Raymond Schuster. This try was then converted to end the first half of the game.
During the second half, we were held to play defensive strategies and we had lots of trouble just getting the ball, because the other team 'held on tight'. We were then penalised for poor discipline and this led to one team member being sent off.
The boys then started to pick up their game and defended our line of play, with neither team scoring in the second half. The one thing that kept us in the game was our team communication, something the boys had been working on since Day 1. It was very tough second half and many of the boys were fatigued. What pushed us through was the Southern Cross on our Jersey and a strong will to win and make the quarter finals. Bernie Carberry then announced the man of the match as No 8 - David Sisifa. Tries were scored by John Tanuvasa and Raymond Schuster, with Kane Clark kicking 2 from 2. This now means that we have achieved our first goal which was to come first in our pool. Next we want to try to finish our best in the final eight. (David Sisifa)
Japan 2009 ... our Journey
TOUR UPDATE
Well, it's hard to believe we have finally arrived in Japan for the Tournament! A long, but enjoyable flight to Singapore - with the boys all having a great time on the plane... watching movies, playing video games, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, etc... and eating lots of ice creams! The flight attendants took an immediate liking to our boys (why wouldn't they?) and gave them extra ice creams and drinks.. let them take photos and take a look at the "suites" area of our A380 - what a HUGE plane!
At Singapore Airport, everyone had some time to recover, use the free internet, go window shopping and buy food, etc. It's amazing the new lease of life (almost) everyone gets at 2 o'clock in the morning whilst waiting for the next flight - some great pics of those who needed to relax and unwind. At about 3am we set off again, headed for Fukuoka, but things were different now ... all we ALL wanted to do was SLEEP during this flight - until they woke us up for breakfast at about 6.30am. Lots of food on both flights - and all GOOD! Peter, what do you mean 'someone has stolen all your luggage? Where did you leave it - and your passport, too? ... Peter, is this your luggage trolley over here?" Phew!!!
We were greeted at Fukuoka Airport by the tournament organiser and met our official team interpreter, Papa who hails from Senegal! He is currently studying for his PhD in Agriculture at one of the FIFTEEN universities in Fukuoka... just does this sort of thing for some pocket money!
By 10.30am we had arrived at the Global Arena Sporting Complex - an idyllic "English Countryside" styled site with very comfotable accommodation and lots of good (mainly Japanes style) food... with LOTS and LOTS of rice - so the boys are all eating well. This is such an amazing venue - even has its own local store, patisserie and coffee shop, gymnasiums, lots of playing fields (including one whole footy field with synthetic grass!), restaurants on the grounds... all with friendly and helpful staff and all of the outside areas adorned with a range of flowers, roses, tulips, azaleas, etc... But, what are we here for? Football, of course... and what must happen? Training - with the boys ionvolved in their first training session by 11.30am - what a schedule... but they couldn't wait - and just loved it. Again at 3.00pm, they joined Mr Hodges and Mr Guthrie for a second long and more serious training session.
Staff were treated to a special "Welcome Party" with all the official Tournament Special Guests - including the past Prime Minister of Japan and Head of Sanix Corporation... just so much food - lots and lots of sushi "laced" with a little wasabi to add extra flavour! Then, more and more food - hot food dishes representative of all of the countries with teams in the tournament... and what did they have as the Australian food - that's right, you guessed it ... cocktail frankfurts of course! Then there was a special announcement for the "official carving of the fish" ... a 240kg little fish (valued at $24,000!)... and it was superbly tasty and tender (more fish), as well as octopus salads, and Japanese desserts.
After eating, it was time for team staff to make official presentations as part of a gift exchange ceremony involving the head of Sanix, chief of Japan Rugby and Schools Rugby... Prairiewood's gifts to EACH official included a genuine "made in Western Australia" boomerang, a special alabaster trophy with our school logo and tournament info - and a Prairiewood High School tie, of course
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Team Captain, John, is setting the right example - going out of his way to pick up some key phrases in Japanese... he and some of the other boys are really getting into the swing of things now - and enjoying every minute of the experience. Thanks to all of our many supporters back in Australia!
Staff, students and parents at Prairiewood High School are all VERY excited that our school's Rugby team has been selected to represent Australia in the prestigious SANIX WORLD RUGBY YOUTH INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT 2009 to be held in Japan at the end of April. CONGRATULATIONS to all 30 students in the squad!
courtesy of Kidica
Thanks to the many individuals and companies/organisations who have already offered financial support - it is GREATLY appreciated.ÊÊThe response has been quite overwhelming for us. Japan here we come!
"Being aware of what's in front of you and to each side of you is one of the most important skills in playing Rugby" ... great words of wisdom from top Rugby coach, Robbie Deans, who joined our team players at their training session at school yesterday (14/4/09). What a great opportunity it was to refine our skills and collect a few important tips from Robbie Deans - in a solid two-hour training session, as part of the preparation for playing in Japan at the end of April. What a really fabulous (and still continuing) journey it has been for the Prairiewood team, with lots of opportunities to develop their playing skills over the past five or six months leading up to the SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament. Win or lose - it will certainly be a memorable and life-changing experience!
During a formal assembly held at the school last week, 23rd March, James and Phillip Street presented the team with a checque totalling almost $23,000, representing the funds raised at the special luncheon organised by these two generous people. We are now OVER THE LINE! Our sincere thanks to all those people who have supported the team throughout the first 'fundraising' part of this journey - from the bottom of our hearts. What an amazing experience to see how the wider community has responded in support of our students in the Rugby team for this tournament in Japan in only four weeks time!
Last week, the draw took place for our guessing competition in the library at the school - with students, staff and parents present. Thanks to Bing Lee and Samsung for doanting the three main prizes. Thanks also to Stockland Wetherill Park for donating three gift prizes for this competition and to Mrs R. Richards who donated an additional prize of a patchwork quilt. Results and acknowledgments were printed in the SMH on Saturday, 28th March - as advertised. Students, staff and friends of the school put in a tremendous effort in selling tickets over the past four months - thank you to all our supporters who contributed in this way.
I think the term is "over the line" and certainly I believe that's our financial position following a tremendous fundraising luncheon organised by Phillip and Jamie Street and family, assisted by "Master of Ceremonies - Sally Loane" at the Tattersals Club in Sydney today (Thursday, 19th February, 2009). The enthuiasm and genuine excitement about supporting our school's Rugby team for this tournament in Japan was quite overwhelming. I really enjoyed the luncheon and it was great to see so many of the "who's who" of Rugby Union and other business supporters having a great time and helping to raise money for our boys. For that we say a very big "thank you". Japan HERE WE COME is now a reality and we look forward to continuing this fantastic journey and experience over the next 66 days until we fly out of Sydney. Regardless of the outcome - win or lose - it really is all about the journey itself, with the discipline and training, the preparation and teamwork, as well as the commitment that is most important for team members. I know the team will continue to work and train hard, always seeking to play well and striving to achieve their very best. ~ J. Pickering (Principal)
A very HOT but SUCCESSFUL Golf Day was held at the Cabramatta Golf Club on 23rd January, 2009. Our special thanks to the two hundred people who braved the extreme temperatures to play 18 holes of golf and/or attend the dinner and auction which followed. Our rugby Team players, and some other students, also participated as caddies on the day, attracting lots of very positive comments from participants. This special event raised $15,000 for the trip to Japan. Thanks to all who contributed. We were also grateful to Golf Pro, Matt Dowd, for his organisation of the game and to Frank for the great food.
What a great night! Our coach, Mr Hodges and the Rugby Team players, assisted by the parent fundraising group, raised almost $5,000 in a very successful disco dance night at the school on 26th November. It was tremendous to see the large number of students who supported the team by attending this function. The next school fundraiser involves a target of selling 10,000 guessing competition tickets ...with some excellent prizes - thank you to Bing Lee at Penrith and Samsung. ÊCan they do it? YES!!!
TWO BIG FUNDRAISING EVENTS...
The first is a giant GUESSING COMPETITION - aimed at raising $10,000 - with each team member having a target of selling 300 tickets. Are these boys up to the challenge??? Sure they are... just watch them go!!! Prizes for the raffle have been donated by Samsung Australia. Draw to take place on 25th March, 2009 with results published in the Sydney Morning Herald Public Notices on 28th March, 2009.
The second event is a GOLF DAY and AUCTION to be held on Friday, 23rd January, 2009 - with lots of different packages available for sponsors and players - even a package for the non-golfer! Be sure to mark this date in your diary now... and watch this space for more details next week. Thank you to the ARU, NSW Rugby, AMD, Panasonic Australia and Absolute Hi-Fi at Liverpool for donating some fabulous items for the auction.
More News at... www.rugby.com.au
History of our Team.
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Training Reports from our players.
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If you are interested in supporting our team in this exciting adventure, please send an email and information re bank deposit details, etc. will be sent to you. Our email address is: rugbytour@prairiewoodhigh.com.au