Rugby Rob on Tour – Yate, Whitehall & Quins U14s

by Rugby Rob

I was very blessed to be invited on the Under 14s tour as part of the Whitehall Youth & Mini tour… and let me tell you, this was about so much more than rugby.

Tour isn’t just about turning up somewhere new and playing a couple of games. It’s about the team. It’s about the laughs, the bonding, the shared moments (and yes… the occasional joke at the coaches’ expense). Watching this group of lads over the weekend really hit home what rugby is all about.

There’s a lot said negatively about young people these days, but not with this group. These lads come from all over Bristol, different schools, different backgrounds—Brimsham, Yate Academy, Chipping Sodbury, Oasis, Hanham, Cabot… and yet when they pull on that shirt, they are one team. They play for each other. They look after each other. And on this tour, you could see friendships being built that will last far beyond school or rugby.

As Mat Iles said best, it was a “pleasure to have you all on tour—well behaved, had fun, and led by example.” And honestly, that sums it up perfectly.

And what makes it even better? This team keeps growing. Five new players joining recently, all welcomed straight in that tells you everything about the culture being built here.

Now… onto the rugby.

Two games, two wins:

• Launceston – 26-5

• Wadebridge – 26-0

But don’t let those scorelines fool you—these were proper contests.

What stood out? The way this team plays. Smart, direct, and always looking for space. The forwards were immense; Jacob carrying like a machine all weekend, Charlie relentless at the breakdown, and the pod work was just constant pressure. That platform allowed the backs to really shine.

Seb was pulling the strings, moving the ball wide, and when it did go wide wow. Jack O’s pace caused chaos, with “Jack Whitehall” (still not his real name…) equally sharp across the backfield. Xander was everywhere, chasing everything and grabbing two crucial tries.

In the middle, Reniko led exactly how you’d want a captain to—quiet, composed, but leading every charge, making tackles, breaking lines, and supporting everything. No surprise the opposition voted him Player of the Tournament.

Defensively, the work from Lyden and Lucas Iles kept things steady, while Tate in the centre was hitting anything that moved.

And then… one of the moments of the tour. Lucas C pulling on a Launceston shirt to help them out against Wadebridge. That right there that’s what grassroots rugby is about. Not the score. Not the badge. The game, the people, the experience. Proud moment for everyone watching.

Two brilliant games, but more importantly, an incredible tour.

What a team. What a group. What a season it’s been.

We’re nearly at the end now… let’s see how these lads finish it off. 💙💛

Awards of the Tour Matched

Forward of the Match: Jacob — outstanding carries, always looking for those extra metre.

Back of the Match: Xander— What a performance, played multiple positions but those 2 trys were from the training ground right to the pitch.

Team Player Award (Captain’s Vote – The “Hype Man”): Tate— Positive mind set today, led by example, tackled, tackled and tackled some more, and some great runs

Away team player of the match: Our Captain Reniko - for his outstanding plays line breaks and effort in defence