Rugby Team Gears Up with Action-Packed Pre-Season Basque Country Tour

A group of 32 senior rugby players from the School’s 1st XV and 2nd XV, along with four staff members, embarked on an intense and rewarding pre-season tour in the Basque Country in late August.

Led by Rhys Crane, Director of Rugby and Sam Farmer, 1st XV Coach and Deputy Head of English as rugby coaches alongside Matt Cowley, Head of Athletic Development and George Demitriou, Physio, the team spent six days immersed in rugby and team-building activities.

The tour kicked off with a day of pre-season training at School, where the players stayed overnight in Ferox Hall before flying from Gatwick to Bilbao. The Squad then settled into a hotel in Anglet and trained each morning at the Stade Christian Belascain in Bayonne, a renowned rugby heartland. Afternoons were spent exploring local Basque towns including Bayonne, Biarritz, Anglet and the stunning coastal city of San Sebastian.

A highlight of the trip was a pre-season fixture against Saint Jean De Luz on Friday evening. The Tonbridge team faced a physical and determined local opposition but emerged victorious in their first competitive match of the season. After the game, the team enjoyed the warm hospitality of their hosts.

Saturday offered a change of pace with a surf lesson in Anglet, followed by an exciting local rugby derby between Biarritz and Bayonne, where former England international Manu Tuilagi made his debut for Bayonne.

The tour provided a perfect blend of training, team bonding and cultural immersion, setting the stage for a promising rugby season ahead.