Cardiff and Vale College Rugby Academy gets down to some Easter egg chasing with Conestoga High School’s rugby team

Cardiff and Vale College’s Rugby has played host to a prestigious rugby team from America.

The Conestoga High School Rugby Club is the oldest high school affiliated rugby programme in the USA, having been committed to introducing and developing the sport in the Trdyffrin/Easttown Schoold District in Pennsylvania since 1971. The current team’s visit to CAVC’s Rugby Academy formed part of a short pre-Easter Welsh tour.

While visiting Cardiff and Vale College’s Rugby Academy, Director of Rugby Martyn Fowler treated the team to a surprise tour of the Principality Stadium. They then visited the Welsh National Sports Centre for a training session.

The following day the Conestoga team had a special stretching session in the College’s specialist gym at its City Centre Campus with Strength and Conditioning Coach Rich Walters. Later that day, just before Good Friday, the Conestoga and Rugby Academy teams clashed on the hallowed ground of Cardiff Arms Park.

After a gruelling match, the CAVC Rugby Academy – which recently came fourth out of 750 teams in the world’s biggest schools tournament, the Rosslyn Park Sevens – won 107-7.

CAVC Director of Rugby Martyn Fowler said: “Despite the score a resolute Conestoga refused to give in, or indeed have the time reduced. The displayed huge character despite the scoreboard.

“It was a great opportunity to offer our learners broader playing experience outside of the Welsh Colleges League programme. The day went well culminating in a gift giving and dinner in our very own The Classroom restaurant.

“As a result of networking we have shared a few ideas and are looking forward to planning a two-stay tour to New York and Washington in a year’s time where we will meet up and possibly play again.”

Conestoga High School’s Head Coach Keith Mclean said: “It was an absolute honour and a privilege to get to play on the Cardiff Arms Park. It is something our boys will remember forever.

“Sometimes you have to go through days like this against a high level of competition in order to know where you and to improve. We start our season the week we go back and this will stand us in good stead.”