THE Primary 7 Piranhas from Peebles embarked on their end of season tour last weekend to Naarden in the Netherlands.

Fifteen boys (with three coaches and three dads) left the Gytes at lunchtime on Thursday, for a weekend’s international, cultural experience with new Dutch friends - and play in their last competitive matches for the Piranhas before heading to High School in August.

The journey by car to Newcastle, Metro to the port, and ferry to Amsterdam took until Friday morning, when the tour party was met by the host club 't Gooi RC. The day in Amsterdam took in a coach trip, guided canal tour, “frites” for lunch (Dutch style – with mayonnaise), a walk round the Amsterdam city centre and a visit to the Dutch East India Company Museum.

With some last minute, city-centre rugby practice while waiting for the coach (the boys carried a ball with them – and used it - throughout the day), the tourists departed Amsterdam for the fortress town of Naarden where they were warmly welcomed by players and parents of the host club. After a meal and a presentation to 't Gooi RC of a framed Piranha shirt, the boys departed with their host families, with whom they stayed during the visit.

Saturday saw the start of the rugby in the Leo van Herwijnen Tournament at Rugby Club Eemland in Amersfoort. Dutch age grade law variations are different to those in Scotland, as are the age bands. Despite some focused training in the lead up to the tour, the first game saw the boys having to acclimatise to the new laws and teams containing some bigger, older boys. A loss to RC The Bulldogs followed, with the Piranhas getting on the scoresheet in their first European game. The boys’ spirits were lifted in their next two games as they became accustomed to the new laws, which include mauling, hand-offs, pushing in the scrum, and competing in the lineouts. Similar variations are played in S1 rugby, so the boys used the tour to gain some valuable experience.

Narrow losses followed to Haagsche RC and Cluster Nieuwegein RC, each by two tries to one. The team’s improved performance saw them entered into the Shield, which was contested with RC Gouda. Needing to win by two clear tries, focus, aggression at the breakdown, strong support play and good distribution saw Peebles Piranhas end the game with their first international win and a Shield to take home. Saturday night took in a 'court session’ (boys only – no parents allowed), with singing, silly hats, and post-match rugby games.

On Sunday morning, the Piranhas were taken to Amsterdamse Atletiek Club Rugby, where they played in their first 15-a-side matches, first against t’Gooi and then Amsterdam. The boys coped well with a much bigger pitch, and the coaches’ subsequent video analysis showed stronger performances, from each player, in comparison to Saturday’s games. The age banding, larger pitch, and new laws, unfortunately proved too much for the Piranhas, who despite the challenge, remained positive and committed throughout. A presentation from Amsterdamse RC and 't Gooi RC (involving herring and Dutch gin!) took place after the games, and Piranhas presented gifts to the ’t Gooi organisers to thank them for a fabulous weekend in the Netherlands.

Tony Leighton, Angus Bell, and Ali Brown, coaches from the P7 team, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the boys, not only to develop their rugby skills but also to experience a new culture in the extended rugby family.

“Our friends in Holland, 't Gooi RC, were very welcoming and generous in their hospitality, and we can’t thank them enough. The boys were a credit to themselves, the club, their families and Peebles, and feedback from host families was nothing but complimentary. Congratulations to each and every one of them.

“The Piranhas would like to extend a big thank to those who supported the tour, including the Peebles Abbeyfield Charitable Trust, Tweed Art, and all those who donated at the Race Night.”