When I was sitting where these boys are now, packing a bag and heading off to South Africa with Inst, I had no idea just how much that tour would shape me. I still have the bag tags, labelled water bottle and tour jersey. More than twenty years later, our 2002 tour to South Africa remains one of my favourite rugby memories – not because we won every game (far from it!), but because of what the experience gave us on and off the pitch.

On paper, our record wasn’t exactly headline-grabbing: one win and five losses. We played some outstanding schools – Durban High School, Kearsney College, and Paul Roos (2nd XV admittedly!) among them – and we learned very quickly how South African schools rugby is characterised as physical, relentless and proud. One memory that stands out for me was Kearsney College butchering Ireland’s Call for the tournament showcase and replacing the four proud provinces with ‘four proud colleges’ (their performances on the pitch were much more impressive). Every match was a test, and at times a very uncomfortable one. But that’s exactly the experience that stood to me.

South Africa is the place to test yourself as a rugby player. That summer fast-forwarded my development in a way nothing else could have. Playing against boys who lived and breathed rugby, in schools where the game is woven into daily life, forced me to raise my standards. The lessons from that tour stayed with me and set me up for the crucial years that followed, eventually leading into a 12-year professional career and the privilege of playing for Ireland. I can trace a straight line back to that tour when I think about where my rugby journey really accelerated.

Of course, tours aren’t just about rugby – and some of the best memories come away from the pitch. We were fortunate enough to experience safari, whale watching, and a visit to Cape Point, moments that stay with you long after the bruises fade. We stayed in Durban High School’s boarding department, despite a strong belief among the players that there had definitely been budget for a hotel… a belief that was only strengthened when Mr Graham appeared with a new car around the same time. Coincidence? We were never entirely convinced.

What makes tours like this so special is that they give everyone something different. For the players, it’s growth, resilience, friendships and unforgettable memories. For the coaches, it’s the reward of seeing young men stretched, challenged and bonded by shared experience. And for the parents – yes, the rugby is important, but so too are the incredible experiences, the shared stories, and don’t forget, this is wine country!

That’s why I’m so excited to see this tour happening now. Kieran Campbell and the coaching team are doing outstanding work, bringing Coleraine Grammar School rugby back to where it should be, aligning a clear vision with the values and standards I experienced during my own time at the school. This tour is a huge step along that development curve. It will challenge players, strengthen relationships across the squad, coaching staff and parents, and further cement Coleraine’s place within the wider rugby community.

South Africa has a way of leaving its mark on you. I revisited the country with the Ireland team in 2016 and we managed to beat the Springboks for the first time on SA soil. Granted this was an unforgettable experience in itself but I can’t help thinking it was so much more special considering this journey started 14 years earlier with my mates in school.

Years later, you may not remember every scoreline, but you will remember the people, the places, the lessons and the laughter. I hope this tour gives the current group the same gift it gave us in 2002 – memories for life, and experiences that shape who you become both on and off the field.

Andrew Trimble

Coleraine Grammar School will always hold special memories for me as my connection to the school runs deeper than rugby alone. My grandfather was Headmaster of CAI for many years and my earliest memories of the sport are of watching the boarders playing rugby on the pitches in front of the Headmaster’s House. Kicking a ball around those pitches, I first fell in love with a game that has shaped so much of my life.

Those connections remain strong through one of my former teammates, Kieran Campbell, and through Richard Beggs when he played at no 10 for CAI against Ballymena Academy! Thankfully, we always beat CAI…..

School rugby is about far more than results. School sport develops character, responsibility and resilience, while creating friendships that often last a lifetime and an incredible opportunity to tour South Africa with your mates is an experience you will remember forever. While I never went on an overseas school tour, since then I have been fortunate to tour South Africa many times with many different teams and I can say without hesitation that it is the best place in the world to go on tour.

South Africa offers a unique opportunity to experience rugby in a country where the sport is deeply rooted in culture, history and identity. Cape Town, in particular, holds special memories for me from training and playing in iconic venues in the shadow of Table Mountain, competing against strong opposition in difficult matches as well as the many opportunities away from the rugby field. Visiting and coaching rugby in a township in Cape Town was a powerful reminder of the challenges that are still faced by many communities in South Africa.

For all the players and staff heading off on this Coleraine Grammar School tour, the matches played will be important, but the friendships formed and experiences shared will matter even more. Years from now, long after the scores are forgotten, it will be the stories, laughter and shared challenges that are remembered most clearly.

I hope you all will return with memories that endure and lessons that extend far beyond the rugby field, a true reflection of In Scientia Opportunitas.

David Humphreys

(Ulster and Ireland)

(Performance Director of the Irish Rugby Football Union)