page revision date : 10th October 2008
Ysgol Dyffryn Taf fly the Welsh rugby flag with distinction
Dyffryn Taf School recently embarked on a very successful Rugby Tour to South Africa where both the senior squad and the Under-15 squad provided the core of players. The senior team had topped the Welsh TSB Midweek League for the last two years and in a way this was fitting reward for all their mighty efforts.
The Tour started in Capetown where they visited the iconic Table Mountain, travelled to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope and made a pilgrimage to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for his fight against the apartheid regime. On the Rugby field, they played Tygerburg High School, rated in the top ten of the province’s schools. Unfortunately, both games were losses as the senior XV went down 10 – 8 in a tightly fought contest and the juniors lost 17 – 5 to a Tygerburg team that showed great flair and speed behind the scrum.
Township tussles – and a special welcome
Dyffryn Taf also played two games against the Township teams at Langa and travelling to the ground highlighted the continued divide in South Africa of the opulently rich and the extent of the poverty that defies description. Despite this, the party were overcome by the warmth and generosity of the Township welcome. On the field the matches were keenly contested with both Dyffryn Taf teams winning and achieving their first successes on South African soil.
From Cape Town, they flew to the Pacific Coast town of Durban and travelled north to Hluhluwe, which was to be their base for a Safari and an opportunity to see the diversity of African wildlife in its natural habitat whilst learn of the conservation programmes to preserve these magnificent animals. They also visited an authentic Zulu village to learn of their culture and lifestyles.
Superb performance
On returning to Durban, the focus was on the hardest game of the Tour against Durban High School, an institution that regularly provides players for the Super Fourteen Durban Sharks and the National Team. In keenly contested matches, the seniors played significantly above themselves to win 27–25 but unfortunately, despite a sterling effort amongst the pack, the Under 15’s lost 10–27 to two very late tries.
The team then had a period of relaxation before their final game as they journeyed to the Drakensburg Mountain, an area noted for the Anglo-Zulu wars of the 1870’s. They also visited the Drakensburg Choir School to listen to their magnificent musical talents.
Winning finale
Refreshed, they travelled on to Sandton near Johannesburg, their final destination. There they played Carltonville High School in a Gold Mining town near Soweto. Despite it being a Saturday morning, the school was out in force to support their teams and the stands were full and the touchline crammed with supporters. As a prelude, national anthems were sung to musical accompaniment, nothing short of international standards. For many of the seniors, this was to be their last match representing the School, and coupled with the atmosphere it ‘stoked’ the boys to play the best rugby on tour. Both teams won their respective matches, the seniors by 19–12 and juniors 14–10, before the Tour concluded with tickets to see South Africa play Argentina at the famed Ellis Park (now the Coca Cola Stadium).
Great learning experience
The success on the field was attributed to the skills and commitment of the players and their coaches, with such a record of wins against quality opposition meaning a lot to all concerned on returning to Wales – but all would agree that they had learnt much about themselves – how they had developed and matured, how they can become better global citizens through their understanding of other peoples and their cultures, and the opportunities their parents, local companies, local rugby clubs and the School had given them, and providing memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
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