TOUR DETAILS Details as follows: Inbound - Wednesday 9th April 1. Itinerary & fixtures. David Griffiths explained that we will arrive late on Saturday (after coach transfer from Forli airport) and would go straight to bed. The room allocations will be agreed prior to departure so that everyone can check in and get to bed pronto. At the moment we will have 2 games on the Sunday versus Saltash, who are touring from Devon, and Rimini Rugby. These games would probably be reduced to 25 or 30 minutes per half. Burleigh Travel are trying to arrange another fixture for the Tuesday against Bologna and are confident of securing this fixture.
2. Coach to and from Stansted. The coach (57 seater) has been booked with Knights Travel who are based in Broadbridge Heath. The cost is £760 and after BT gave us a subsidy of £500, the £260 shortfall is being recovered by each tourist paying an extra £5. Six families (Daly, Egerton, Green, Gupwell, Scott and Wilkinson) still need to get their money to Carole or myself (£55 in total) - so please bring it to training on Sunday. Logistically the coach will be at Horsham RFC on Saturday 5 April and everyone should meet there at 13.30. Knights have suggested that they would drop off on Thursday morning (circa 02.30) at Horsham Rail station and they could alert the taxi firm that this drop off would take place to ensure taxis would be available to take people home. A question was asked about the possibility of multiple pick ups on the Saturday and multiple drop offs on the Thursday.
3. Insurance issues. David Griffiths explained that all players must have travel insurance that includes rugby related medical cover. Burleigh Travel offer such a policy at a cost of £9 for 17 year olds and just over £13 (I cannot remember the number) for 18 year olds. If players do not take this insurance option then David will need to have proof (copy of insurance certificate) to be able to show Horsham RFC and/or the RFU that ALL players have suitable cover. All players opted to take the Burleigh insurance cover except for Wills Morton and David Luckin, who are injured and will not be playing on tour, and James Forbes-King who believes his ski travel insurance also covers rugby. All parents are responsible for arranging their own travel insurance if they do not currently hold valid insurance.
4. Passports. A list was made of all players Passport numbers and expiry dates. Mike Wilkinson has applied for a passport and will email the details to KW when it arrives. KW suggested that it advisable to take a colour photocopy of the relevant page with the photo and personal details to keep in a separate place just in case the passport is lost whle abroad. Also could all players please ensure the inside back page of their passport is completed with the relevant emergency contact details.
5. E111 cards. These were handed in to KW so that they can all be kept in one place. Joe Green has retained his because he will be visiting Germany on an college exchange prior to the tour. Sammy Davies has one and will bring it on Sunday to training. Laurence Bates has applied for one. Josh Brock, Toby Golds, James Egerton and Mike Wilkinson need to apply for one asap. .
6. Luggage allowances. Billy Morton explained that Ryanair allow one hold bag only - maximum weight 15kg. Each player will need to pack tour kit in their hold bag - so account must be taken of this in the final weight of the bag. Ryanair are very strict and will charge punitively for excess weight! Also everyone should be aware that liquids (more than 100ml) cannot be taken through security or they will be confiscated. Small bottles in cabin bags must be placed in a transparent sealable bag and be taken out prior to passing through X-ray.
7. Leisure trip for players. The plan is for the players to be taken to the local water park - remember to pack swimming trunks! DG, BM and two other parent volunteers would accompany them. The total cost of this trip and any discount available will be indentified and would be covered by the Tour Fund. .
8. Possible trips to Venice & San Marino. Burleigh Travel can arrange a coach for a trip to either Venice or San Marino on the Monday. The journey to Venice would be 3 hours each way and would cost about £800 but may be slightly less for a smaller coach depending on how many people wished to go. The journey to San Marino would be about 2 hours each way and cost about £450. A show of hands was requested and a few people showed interest in each trip. David Griffiths agreed to obtain a quotation from BT for each option and discuss directly with those that were interested.
9. Tour Kit. Aelred Wilkinson explained that the kit had been ordered and would comprise a white shirt with green flashing (the colour reverse of the new shirts that had recently been acquired by the team) with green shorts and green & white hooped socks. All players were asked to double check the sizes they had ordered. The kit has been sponsored by Richard Gold's company (LITHO DIRECT) and the shirts would have the logo on the front. The shirts should be worn for all games. Anyone requiring printing in the future should contact Richard's company and should also tell their friends.
10. Funding situation. KW reported that Burleigh Travel had been paid all of the monies for the Tour. A security deposit of £530 was outstanding and Burleigh had chased KW for this. A parent has agreed to provide the funds for this and we thank him/her and we will ensure that BT repay the money following our return. The current funding situation is:
Hotel website: www.hoteljolie.it/index_en.htm Here's a quote from one website: 'This small sparkling jewel on the Adriatic Coast, Riccione, is justly known as The Green Pearl of the Adriatico. Besides its beautiful beach, this resort boasts an elegant shopping centre with prestigious window displays and refined coffee shops.
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OUR TARGET
The target is £8,750 to be raised by the end of March 2008.
LATEST PHOTOS ON SITE
Team photos - click here to view
A high quality, framed version of the squad photo (like the one above - but better!), is available for purchase at £10 each - email Chris Hoskins c161hotshot@yahoo.co.uk
