Grasshoppers' Australia and Hong Kong tour was a real rugby treat

The boys had a very successful fundraising campaign that saw lots of donors and sponsors coming on board to ensure they were well-equipped.

Chichester-based stockbrokers and investment advisers Rowan Dartington provided tour bags, meaning they looked very professional wherever they went.

Away from the rugby fixtures the boys enjoyed a number of experiences including visits to Manly Beach, the Sydney Olympic Park, Hong Kong, a wet and wild park, Kuranda rain forest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Tour manager and CHSB teacher Martyn Tilling said: “The boys have put everything into this tour. They and I want to thank everyone who has helped us to achieve this successful trip.

“It is thanks to support from local companies such as Rowan Dartington, who provided the boys and staff with kit bags and rucksacks, that has made the experience even better.

“Our thanks go to the other companies who made donations of prizes and money – without them the tour would not have been as successful.

“The boys have memories that they will take with them for the rest of their lives and I’m sure when I’m a lot older they will be still in contact about this wonderful experience.

“All the experiences the boys have had and lessons learned will be used by them in the future to help shape the communities that they will serve in.”

The kicked off their programme of matches with a 35-0 loss to the Hong Kong under-20 team. After that it was a spot of beach rugby - after rain had left local pitches unplayable – and that brought two 20-0 wins for the Grasshoppers over Merewether Colts.

In Brisbane, the Chichester boys beat St Joeys – who have produced six Aussie internationals in the past five years – 17-0. St Augustines College beat Grasshoppers 19-5 but the defeat did little to take away the the magic of the tour.

Grasshoppers: M Dudley, R Bulpett, A Smith, R Guest, D A Brown, J McManus, J Wilcock, D Butlin, B Dobbs, D Marshall, H Russell, H Forrest, C Grantham, S Thompson, F Ransom, R Brereton, E Warnett, T Stride, O Garner, N Tucker, E Player, CA Brown, K Aarabi, A Hooton, T Curbison. Staff: M Tilling, A Tart, S Woodard, M Tart, E Tilling.