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Sorry the more recent days are in plain text - I am trying to catch up quickly!

For earlier diaries use the links at the bottom of the page.

Day 16: Friday 13th August

Iguazu - Henry Langdon

On its way...

Day 15: Thursday 12th August

Cordoba - Iguazu - Jack Campbell

Today was a day for rest, relaxation and travel. The hectic schedule and previous day's match and late night had continued to give Beaks and Boys a need for a rest. We were due to meet at 8 o'clock in the morning but the coach driver decided to keep us waiting for over an hour for the second successive trip. So with people in various states of ill-feeling and tiredness after the previous night's activities we set off. The idea was to waste a few hours by shopping in the shopping centre (also wating a few Pesos as well). Some opted for sleep in the coach, some wondered the shopping centre while a large group went to Crespos (a Gaucho shop) where they stocked up on leather goods and cowboy kit. This was a final opportunity to charm the local chicas and say goodbye to our great friends Wellington which for most of us was a highlight after they had been polluting the Cordoban air.

The flight to Iguazu passed without incident (or death) with reading or sleeping being the main options. We arrived mid-afternoon in the humid Iguazuan air where sub-tropical rain forest filled the horizon and we were greeted by our friendly - and hairy - Brazilian guide, Ary. (Know what I mean? - Ed.) We hopped on the coach which ferried us to ouyr place of rest - the Hotel Cataratas: a plush five star hotel. Before walking through the door, one of the bell-boys who was moving our luggage on a trolley crashed the trolley into a large glass panel separating the two doors. A few moments later the door crashed to the ground startling all around - the red-faced porter was not a happy chappy...

After having been paired off, we headed to our rooms to put on our trunks and run to the pool. This was a slight let down as it was cold but the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi were quickly filled. The sun was out and I couldn't help thinking what England would be like winters - or even summers - like the South American winters which we are experiencing. The rest of the day was left for sitting by the pool and lying in our rooms. Supper was another "all you can eat" affair which was very good with a massive choice. Most headed off for an early bed time but some stayed in the games room.

A great night's sleep followed.

Day 14: Wednesday 11th August

Cordoba - Mark Spolton-Dean

With another early start we met at the Old Rugby Club in Cordoba at 8.00am. The bus did not arrive until 8.30am. This being a lovely double-decker bus meant that the seats were really comfy and so most people slept through the scenic drive we had that took us to the city centre and the Beak's five star hotel (I don't remember that - Ed.). Here we found Will Taylor and Jack Campbell who had been "ill" - and therefore had had to stay in the hotel overnight - eating a Macdonalds for lunch.

Here there was a massive food hall and the many people who ordered pizza clearly underestimated the size of them so a fine was imposed if you didn't finish half of your pizza. Paddy Robinson was fined. After this we were led on a tour around the area visiting several school. However, here Al Monty and Henry Langdon did not seem to be taking pictures so much of the sights but rather of the students. We were then given shopping time. At this point everyone rushed off. There were many stalls selling allsorts and lots was bought.

At 5.30pm we were meant to meet the bus but it wasn't there. It was an hour late. From the centre we went straight to the rugby club while watching the video of ourselves playing Tucuman. Here Wellington were already playing. Wellington won against the La Tablada Under 17s and then we were to play their Under 18s. After a tough match (report here) we lost. After the match and some very long speeches we all went back to our hosts.

Then some went out in the evening.

Rather a quiet night.

Day 13: Tuesday 10th August

Tucuman - Cordoba - Will Lough

Once again it was an early rise for us all in order to travel and it was twenty seven boys resembling zombies rather than "finely tuned athletes" who arrived at the Plaza del Independencia. It was also evident from their late arrival that the Beaks had given Tucuman a big send off the night before (It ought to be noted that Marvin and Ellis were actually early for the coach - Ed.). After lots of tearful goodbyes to our hosts we did what rugby players do best - indulged in a spot of retail therapy. The Marlborough players hit the most fashionable shops in Tucuman city centre and returned with gifts galore only to be met by the disturbing sight of a group of players (who will - this time - remain unnamed) browsing the stalls selling Boca Juniors Y-fronts. And, after a moment of madness, Ed Colclough (the fines master) and Ed Warlow-Harry turned up late to our meeting point to be met with record fines.

On the trip to the sirport Jack Campbell seemed to become iller and when Will taylor joined him in the "out for the count" some suspicions were aroused that they had been out on an all night bender while the rest of us were tucked up in bed. While those two took some time out the rest of us went into airport routine and well worn packs of Top Trumps came out again.

On arrival at La Tablada Rugby Club in Cordoba we were met by the odd sight of having another English school - Wellington College - in exactly the same place as us. There was much mirth later on when it was discovered that Wellington wanted to play La Tablada Under 17s because they are apparently a better side but it was fairly obvious that they wanted to have an easier game.

The facilites of this club were definitely the best we had experienced on the tour and, after a spot of training, we had a bit of time to appreciate the splendid new club house while meeting our hosts. Any hopes they might have harboured about getting us drunk the night before the game were eradicated by our extreme tiredness and Chris Lyall was the only hardy soul to go out in search of chicas.

It had been a long day and I'm sure everyone was relieved to finally climb into bed.

Day 12: Monday 9th August

Tucuman - Henry Simmonds

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Day 11: Sunday 8th August

Tucuman - Ed Kilbee

We had a morning lie in and time to get know our hosts. Our first appointment was light training in preparation for what was to be a tough game (for match report click here).

Lunch was spent with our billets, relaxing before returning to the club for the 4.30pm kick-off.
Following the match a well-earned barbeque and a few bears (I think he means beers – Ed.) were consumed in good humour with the opposition. This was just the start of the best evening of the tour so far. The whole team, with their hosts, met at a secluded bar and it was evident that we were going to make the most of the cheap bear (and again – Ed.) which cost just under 90p per litre. With our bodies fueling and the music starting the night began.

Charlie Mercer was presented with a bottle of wine for his exceptional try – surely a strong contender for try of the season already. Will Lough’s claim that he “paced himself better these days” was dispatched in emphatic style together with the contents of Charlie’s bottle.

Tom Durrant-Pritchard, who’d made a similarly crass comment, was seen to be sampling the local delicacy – Fernet Branca – a 45% alcohol drink resembling petrol… …this, however, did not agree with his system.

As Queen blared out of the speakers, the likes of Mercer, Alex Lawry-White and John Hawkins played air guitar with charisma. This was preceded, once again, with a chanting clash between the English hooligans and the shell-shocked Argies who were caught with their pants down (sound familiar?) by wave upon wave of British attacks like Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.

After a while, when a few members of the party started to appear rather tired, it was clearly time to move on. The last stop was the locals' regular, a seedy club in the Soho of Tucuman.

It was at this point that we started to understand the rule of "What goes on tour, stays on tour"...

Day 10: Saturday 7th August

Salta - Tucuman - James Tate

This report is floating somewhere in the ether at the moment - I'm trying to track it down.

Day 9: Friday 6th August

"Train to the Clouds" - Ed Warlow-Harry

This report is floating somewhere in the ether at the moment - I'm trying to track it down.

Day 8: Thursday 5th August

Salta - Ed Atkin

Today was a day of relaxation as everyone knew we had a tough physical match in the evening. It included sightseeing, horse riding (again!) and the mandatory big lunch. We had an early start as our billets had to be at school by 8am. We headed off to see some of the sights of Salta which included a tour of the city. We visited the Cathedral, a San Franciscan church, a cable car giving us an overall view of Salta from 250 metres above it. As I hadn´t been to much of the city I was shocked to see how big it actually was. Lunch consisted of more meat - at this rate I have decided that by the time I arrive in England I will be a vegetarian! We were also filmed during the day by a local camera crew who also filmed our match and interviewd the likes of Harry Vickers for the local rugby show on Saturday. We also managed to go to the local market where most people bought presents for their families such as the local local ponchos and mates (the "e" in that word should have an accent but I can´t find one - sorry).

Day 7: Wednesday 4th August

Salta - Teddy Daniell

The day never really began. The coach journey took us overnight to Buenos Aires where we jumped on a plane to Salta not having had much time to wake up or sleep but we are becoming pretty good at sleeping anywhere now so that missed sleep would soon be caught up. The day was very much a changeover day, on which came as a bit of a reality shock to most of us, having been thrown into the deep end with hosts very few of whom speak any English and most of whom live in houses where only the bare essentials are presnt. This under-developed city was very much an eye-opener for many of us but nonethe less everyone was VERY welcoming, kinf and willing to go out of their way for us and it was a great privelege staying with them. Training this evening was organisation based on a very hard dusty floodlit pitch in preparation for tomorrow´s game. An early night for all did no-one any harm!

Days 1 - 3 | Days 4 - 6