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Tours 3

1993 - Prague Our first trip to the Eastern Bloc where bottles of Budweiser are 7p. Its cold and we stay what is essentially a block of flats, but we somehow aquire a physio (see picture).

1994 - Leiden Amsterdam but different. Leiden is a University town where they hold a WOMENS tournament. Yes 900 females and four mens teams and none of us got a shag. Closest was Duff when the Old Abbotstonians front row took a fancy to him. Very frightening. We took a trip to Amsterdam one evening by coach just to remind ourselves of the culture in that fair city, and Pete Robinson didn't travel too well on the bus, and so when we came upon a suitable bridge he spewed his guts up over the side into what he thought was an empty canal. But no, there was a glass topped sightseeing barge sailing by !!! We were nearly all sick with laughter.

1995 - Cork A trip , sponsored by O'Riordens, to the Blackpool of Ireland. Where they had bouncers on the doors of chip shops. The drink of the moment is Woodys, and Graham Shelley announces that it's only fizzy stuff and does you no harm "cos my son drinks it and he never gets drunk on the stuff." After a walk up and down Cork high street downing a Woodys in every pub, Graham promptly falls out through the door of said chip shop and takes the skin off his nose. The bouncers were nearly sick with laughter.

1997 - Paris A vets only tour to see Wales play France, only France were in Cardiff at the time. Never mind we all get plastered doing things that only old men can do. After much misbehaving at Paris Gard du Nord station, the cops intervene and Martin Keith announce to the French nation that he'd "rather be a nigger than a Frenchman" Well that seemed to calm things down a bit.

1997 - Vendome Do we ever learn? No, and so we return to France the same year, on the same train to the same station only this time its an open tour with youngsters in tow. Father Christmas gets stolen from the rooftops (twice), and Barry Foster goes duck hunting with a billiard ball at 2 a.m. We sleep 12 to a room with two Olympic snoring champions Pete Robinson and Ian McLaughlin, but at least it keeps Keith Ewart awake long enough to get fresh croissants in the morning.

1998 - Luscerne Sean Stern's first trip away for the club and he's shit scared of flying. Still, Vallium and booze do the trick and he spends the weekend in a zombied trance. Rod Roy does the descent thing and gets everyone into the BA Club Class lounge at Heathrow with free drinks for all. Very messy.

1998 - Italy Beach Rugby tournament..... yes , you read right a beach rugby tournament. Steve Rush has put together some pages on this which will be displayed in due course and will explain everything. Meanwhile..........

1999 - Barcelona 13 years later we return as a Vets team. Largely organised by August Garcia ( a coach for the mini rugby team ) we stay in just about the swankiest hotel in town. Simon "Doc" Payne commandeers the piano bar and plays meaningless tunes until 5 am. by which time he has blisters on his fingers. By way of a chat up line Ian Preece (very white), tells some young ladies that Pablo Colon (very black), is his long lost son, and first time tourist Steve Pickard gets very drunk and goes missing for two days but declares its the best tour he's been on. How does he know??!!!

2001 - Venice. No wonder the place is sinking, it rained all weekend. we stayed down the road (canal?) in the seaside town of la choggia. Darcy starts off diplomatic, turns all Spartan and ends up Ali G. Sean Stern is slicing the heads off all barbarians and Martin Keith buys everyone in the bar a drink and the bill is over £700.