RM Tour of Cape Town, South Africa
A squad of 25 players and 5 TSG departed for Cape Town on Weds 10 June 09 for a 2 week tour. The tour includes 3 games against SK Warmers (13/06/09), False Bay (15/06/09) and Hamilton’s (22/06/09). The squad will also get to see the Lions play their games in Cape Town against Western Province and The Emerging Springboks. The squad will conduct a coaching day at a local Township where they will also distribute some t-shirts and pens/pencils etc for the school. Of the 25 players, 9 are capped at Senior Navy XV and4 players capped at U23 level with both the Navy and CS. Glover and Mills make a welcome return after returning from OP Herrick. Young hopeful hooker Kai Downey-Stevenson will be trying to show what he can do. The squad has both experience and youth and will most certainly be a great learning curve and experience on the playing front. To all the players Tom O’Keeffe after flying direct from Twickenham back to the jungles of Brunei will also be joining the squad 2 days later direct from Brunei. He will also be the Capt of the squad. The tour has been helped financially by the RN/RM Sports Lottery, Corps Trustees, a personal contribution of £500/player and some sponsorship in particular Ultra Electronics and the Artillery Arms situated outside Stonehouse Bks in Plymouth.