Illinois Tornados 2016

SOUTH July 16 - July 28

FAQs

The Itinerary

July 14 Meet at O’Hare International Airport Flight # EK 0236 – Emirates Airlines Thursday ORD to DXB. First leg of the flight departs at 20:30 - 19:10 +1

July 15 Depart from Dubai International Airport Flight # EK 0772 – Emirates Airlines Friday DXB to CPT. Second leg of the flight departs at 3:50AM Arrive International Airport, SA – Flight # EK 0772 at 11:30AM Meet Gary Savage, our travel guide. We will transfer in a private coach to July 16 Wellington to check into the Montevideo Guest House where we will be staying for Saturday the next Twelve (12) nights. Website: http://www.montevideo.co.za/ Day 1 Light lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to Newlands Rugby Stadium for the Super Rugby clash between the Stormers and the Kings. http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/fixtures/2016-super-rugby/ Dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the Guest House. Breakfast at the Guest House. Morning excursion to on the famous Cable Cart, if the weather is July 17 nice we can hike up. Website: http://tablemountain.net/ Sunday Packed Lunch for the Table Mountain excursion. Day 2 A stop at the Rugby Store to stock up on tape and other rugby goodies. Return to Wellington for a late afternoon practice session at a local school. We’ll enjoy a Traditional South African Braai ´BBQ´ at the Guest House. Breakfast at the Guest House. July 18 We will enjoy a full day tour which will include a Visit to , the tip of Africa. It includes the entrance fee to the Reserve but does not include the Cable Cart which is Monday optional. Website: www.capepoint.co.za Day 3 For lunch we’ll have traditional Fish & Chips on the beach in . Dinner at the Local Spur restaurant before returning to the Guest House. Breakfast at the Guest House – MATCH DAY Transfer to Stellenbosch Rugby Academy to receive coaching from the local July 19 professionals. Website: http://stellenboschrugbyacademy.co.za/ Tuesday Lunch at the Dros Restaurant in Stellenbosch. Day 4 The team will be transferred to Suidwal Rd, Stellenbosch, 7600 TOUR MATCH #1: TORNADOS VS. PAUL ROOS GYMNASIUM @ 3PM The teams will enjoy food and drinks together before returning to the Guest House. Breakfast at the Guest House Tour of the Newlands Rugby grounds, the Rugby Museum and the Sports Science July 20 Institute. Website: www.newlandstours.co.za Wednesday Lunch at the local Spur Restaurant. Day 5 Transfer to the V&A Waterfront for a walkabout. website: http://www.waterfront.co.za/ Dinner at a restaurant in Wellington. Early transfer to the Aquila Game Reserve. MATCH DAY Website: http://www.aquilasafari.com/ Breakfast at the Safari Lodge before setting out on a 3-hour safari drive exploring July 21 the Big Five (Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, Elephant and Leopard) Thursday Lunch before returning to the Guest House. Day 6 Transfer to 276 Main St, Paarl, 7646 TOUR MATCH #2: TORNADOS VS. PAARL GYMNASIUM @ 6PM The teams will enjoy food and drinks together before returning to the Guest House.

Breakfast at the Guest House. The group will attend classes at Paarl Boys High School where they will get a chance to experience a typical school day. The team will also get a chance to do a July 22 small presentation about their country. Day 7 Lunch at a local restaurant in Paarl. Friday The boys will attend the Paarl Boys First team training session. Website: http://www.paarlboyshigh.org.za/ Dinner at the Guest House - Traditional Braai ´BBQ´ Breakfast at the Guest House – MATCH DAY Transfer to 49 Voortrekker Rd, Ceres, 6835 TOUR MATCH #3: TORNADOS VS. CHARLIE HOFFMEYR @ 10AM July 23 The teams will enjoy lunch and festivities together. Day 8 Optional visit to the Ceres Zipline Adventure Park (own account) Saturday Website: http://ceresadventures.co.za/ There will be a possible Quarter Final match at . We will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant to watch the match on television.

Breakfast at the Guest House. Optional Shark Cage Dive in Gansbaai (own expense) July 24 For those that do not choose to shark dive, we will tour the town. Day 9 Lunch at a local restaurant. Sunday Light team practice session at a school in Wellington. Dinner at a restaurant in Wellington. Breakfast at the Guest House. Full day excursion to visit where Nelson Mandala went to prison. July 25 Website: http://www.robben-island.org.za/ Day 10 Lunch at the V&A Waterfront. Monday Website: http://www.waterfront.co.za/ We will enjoy a coaching session with local rugby professionals in Paarl. Dinner at a Paarl restaurant before returning to the Guest House. Breakfast at the Guest House – MATCH DAY July 26 Transfer to Paarl for a light coaching session with local professionals. Day 11 Lunch at a restaurant in Paarl. Tuesday Transfer to Auret St, Paarl, 7646 TOUR MATCH #4: TORNADOS VS. PAARL BOYS HIGH @ 3PM The teams will enjoy food and drinks together before returning to the Guest House Breakfast at the Guest House. Transfer to the Canal Walk for optional shopping. July 27 Website: http://www.canalwalk.co.za/home.html Day 12 Lunch at a Canal Walk restaurant. Wednesday Early evening transfer to Schalk Burger and Sons Wine Estate for the final tour

dinner. We will return for our final evening at the Guest House.

Breakfast at the Guest House. July 28 Early Lunch – Paarl Mall Day 13 Transfer to Cape Town International, depart for Dubai International Airport Flight # Thursday EK 0771 – Emirates Airlines. CPT to DXB at 17:55

Arrive at Dubai International Airport 5:30AM and Depart for Chicago at 9:40AM. July 29 Arrive at Chicago O’Hare Airport Flight #UK 0235 – Emirates Airlines. DXB to ORD at 15:30 PACKING LIST ITEM Notes Cleats (clean) 2 pairs if you Customs can inspect to ensure no soil is coming in from abroad. own an extra. We may play in wet conditions. Mouth guards (2) Molded is best. Can’t afford to lose one, can’t afford to play without one. Bring two. Socks Write your name on all items that you would like to have washed clearly. *Rugby practice (2-3) * Leisure (5-8) Shorts It is winter in with unpredictable weather. Don’t pack too many pairs of shorts. *Rugby practice (2-3) Plastic trash bags (3) Your gear, cleats and shoes will get dirty. Doesn’t mean everything else has too. Multi use item. Towel Players are responsible for bringing their own towel for showering post-rugby matches. You are prohibited from taking Guest House towels. Consider purchasing an inexpensive one there to safe on packing space. Pants Lightweight track pants are great for everyday wear and easy to pack. Khaki pants (2) are good for the School day and other formal team events. Jeans (2) are great for everyday wear. Shoes: for running, leisure, Sneakers for running and day trips. Causal shoes for team events. hike and rain. Remember to pack your cleats. Shirts White button down for School day and other events. We are ambassadors of our country, state and need to represent it well. Sweatshirts It’s best to layer up for the Cape winters. Small Flashlight For midnight snacks or finding your way to the bathroom without disturbing your roomie. Notebook and Pen For writhing down information like meeting times, locations and phone numbers.

PACKING LIST – Tour Kit ITEM Notes Duffle Bag Use as your carry on. Pack your heavy items items in here. This is your match day kit bag. Black Polo Shirt For match day and other team events. Grey Polo Shirt For match day and other team events. Oxford Long Sleeve For match day and other team events. Performance T-shirt For practices – keep clean. Warm-up Top For match day and other team events. Warm-up Pants For match day and other team events. Hoodie For match day and other team events. Drawstring Sack Pack (2) Multi use item for day trips, practice sessions and Cotton T-Shirts (6) For day excursions and team events – trade item. Boonie Hat For a bad hair day or those sunny Safari Team Tie For formal team events. Beanie Hat For those cold Cape mornings or late Jersey Match jersey. You have one for 4 matches – take care of it. Shorts For matches – label or mark it with your name. Socks For matches – label or mark it with your name. Water Bottle For everywhere use – tap water is safe for consumption.

PACKING LIST – Personal Items ITEM Notes Passport Valid for 30 days after arrival. Birth Certificate Unabridged original document with names of parents and child. Affidavits (two) Notarized and from both parents with names as it is on the Birth Certificate. Toiletries Shampoo, toothpaste etc. Make sure you abide by TSA rules and regulations. Items can also be purchased when we arrive. Snacks Suggest packing some in your carry-on. Personal medications Inhalers, epi pens – please inform coaches of all medical needs. Personal rugby gear Shoulder pads, scrum cap, studs, braces, tape etc. Money Avoid carrying large amounts. Debit and Credit cards are accepted everywhere. Earplugs For the flight and your roommate might snore. Undergarments Bring enough to last between laundry days. Trade items All players enjoy rugby swag from somewhere else. Dryer Sheets To keep your clothes smelling clean and your kit bag fresh. Sharpie Pen To label your clothing items for laundry day. Chargers and Adaptors Pack this in your carry on or in your drawstring bag.

What will I need to enter South Africa? You will not need a Visa with an American or British passport. Children under the age of 18 years who travel into or out of South Africa need the consent of both their parents, and need to produce an unabridged birth certificate. All children under the age of 18 – both local and foreigners – must travel with a valid passport that is valid for more than 30 days. An unabridged (full) birth certificate stating both parents' names. If the child is travelling alone or with only one parent, they must also carry a notarized affidavit completed by the missing parent or parents.

Do I need any Vaccinations? We will not need vaccinations. But if you would like to take the extra precaution feel free to do so. Our flight will not originate, nor will it stop in a country designated to be at risk of yellow fever or another virus. We will not be in a malaria region of the country. Those mosquitos do not enjoy the Western Cape climate.

What should I wear? You will likely wear your tour kit clothing items most of the time, but we will also have days of leisure where you will be out at sea on a boat or at the top of a mountain. Be ready to get wet and experience a little cold. Cape Town’s weather patterns are nothing compared to Chicago, but something more than a t-shirt is recommended. Bring enough clothing but also keep in mind that we will be able to do laundry and you will likely purchase rugby swag on the tour.

Luggage – What can I bring? • Remember that you have to be able to carry everything you bring. • You may bring one small bag along with your kit bag. (the drawstring bag is ideal) • Your personal item must be able to fit under your seat. • You are allowed to check two 23kg bags – pack just one please, there is no need for a second. Pack light there will be opportunities to do laundry. • If your checked bag is over the weight limit additional fees will apply at your expense. One bag carry-on. No charge 55 cm 38 cm 20 cm (22” 15” 8”) 7 kg - 15 lbs.

One bag checked. No charge - 23 kg – 50 lbs.

One personal item. No charge 36” (length + width + height) 5kg – 11 lbs.

Guidelines for liquids:

The following items may be transported in carry-on baggage only if in a 3.4-oz container or smaller and transported in a one-quart clear, plastic, zip-top bag. Otherwise, these items must be packed in checked baggage.

• Toiletries – shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, perfume, shaving foam, aerosols, deodorant, eye care products

• Cosmetic products – perfume, hair spray/gel, lip gloss, mascara, nail polish, makeup removers/cleansers, foundation • Non-solid food items – soups, syrups, pressurized food containers (cheese or whipped cream), gelatin, pudding, yogurt

• Liquid soaps, sanitizers, bath oils, bubble bath

• Any creams, ointments or lotions

• All other liquids/gels not listed here

What will the Weather be like? Cape Town is known for its beautiful mountain ranges, where the weather can be very different from one side to the other. We will likely experience some coastal storms and rain. It is common to experience a few seasons in one day. Plan on the temperatures being in the low 50’s to mid- 60’s during the day and late 40’s at night. It does snow very rarely to the west of the Cape, but nothing more than an inch if it does. Some higher mountain tops to the far South might get a little more of a dusting. The month of July is mid-winter for South Africa and for Cape Town it means it is going to be wet. It is the perfect time to enjoy a safari, see the big 5, large whales, sharks and other marine life. It is the peak of the rugby season and the perfect time to visit.

Where will we be staying? We will be staying at the Montevideo Guesthouse in Wellington Tel: (+ 27) 21 873 4765 • Cell: (+27) 83 460 8060 Email: [email protected] Address: Monte Vidéo, Church Street, Wellington, 7654, 7654, South Africa The GPS Location: S -33º 38′ 18.0” E +19º 01′ 24.3 ​ Wellington is a town in the Western Cape Winelands, a 45-minute drive from Cape Town, with a population of approximately 62,000. Wellington's economy is centered on agriculture such as wine, table grapes, fruit and the brandy industry. Wellington is situated at the foot of the Groenberg on the banks of the Kromme Rivier (Dutch for Bent River) and forms the center of the Cape Winelands with its picturesque environment and numerous wineries. The town is at the base of one of the oldest mountain passes in Africa. The town is the home of the Boland Rugby Union and the professional rugby team the Boland Kavaliers. There were two attempts to name Wellington, but Sir George Napier suggested that the town should be named after ’England’s greatest soldier’. In 1840 the town of Wellington was proclaimed after the Duke who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. The erstwhile name of the 'dorp' (Dutch/ for village) was Wagenmakersvallei, meaning, Wagon makers' valley (Valley of the wagon makers), or Val du Charron as the French Huguenots called it. The area is rich in rugby history with many Springboks raining from this part of the world.

What about Money? It is important to notify your bank of the dates that you will be in South Africa. Banks will typically hold your funds if they see irregular foreign transactions without being notified. Don’t get stuck with a Credit or Debit card that you cannot use. You will be able to use your bank cards to purchase items at most commercial retailers. Current conversion rate is $1 = R15.63

Rands and cents • The rand is divided into 100 cents. • Coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5. • Notes come in denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200. • Money can be withdrawn at automated teller machines (ATM’s) for the best currency conversion rate. • Banking hours are generally 09h00-15h30 on weekdays and 08h30 - 11h00 on Saturdays. • All major credit cards are accepted in the country.

Give yourself a daily allowance for snacks, souvenirs and gifts to take home. It is best to use the ATM machine to get two or three days’ worth of cash to avoid racking up ATM fees. Travelers Checks will work at some locations, but smaller stores and restaurants may not accept that form of payment. If you would like to purchase South African Rands from your bank, make sure you do it within two weeks before departure. It will take them some time to get the currency.

Tip: Don’t do your exchange at the airport.

When shopping in South Africa foreign tourists can get a VAT refund on purchases. A tax invoice (receipt) must be requested from the vendor for the items purchased. The invoice must bear the seller's name and address, their VAT registration number, a description of the purchased goods, the cost of the goods in South African Rands, and the amount of VAT charged. VAT is levied at a rate of 14%. For purchases of more than R3000, the buyer's name and address must appear on the tax invoice.

Will we have a Travel Guide? We are fortunate to have Gary Savage with us who helped make all the arrangements for this tour. Gary will be our tour guide for the entire time, he is local to South Africa and is a wealth of knowledge.

Can we do Laundry? There will be a laundry service available, we will use the services of a laundromat as a team. Mark all your clothing items clearly with your name or number. They typically charge by the weight and not by piece. You may also bring washing powder to hand wash clothing as needed.

Do we have a Curfew? We will discuss it as a team and establish a reasonable curfew for match days to get enough rest to be at our best. We have to consider that we will be staying at a Guest House that may have other guests. We will be respectful and behave accordingly. What about the Meals? All meals are included. We will eat very well in South Africa, the country is known for its food with amazing meat cuts and variety of choices, thanks to the early settlers like the Dutch, Portuguese and French. A buffet style breakfast will be served every day at the Guest House. We will have good lunch options throughout at various different restaurants, a safari lodge and a packed lunch when we head up Table Mountain. Dinner is also included every day with good restaurant options on the days we don’t have matches. On match days we will enjoy dinner with our opposition teams. Those meals may include more traditional homemade style foods like a traditional “braai” (BBQ) or Boerewors roll. (South African style sausage in delicious sauce served on a French bun). The boys will not go hungry. There will be opportunities to purchase snack foods, fruits and drinks during our stay. We will be in the proximity of grocery stores, bakeries and delis to indulge in other local food options. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, not to worry you will have good food choices too.

What is the Drinking Age? The drinking age in South Africa is 18. It is culturally unacceptable for school students to participate in drinking activities. All restaurants have strict policies against underage drinking, violations of these laws are dealt with severely. We are going on a rugby tour, with a very full schedule. We trust that there will not be time for shenanigans. We expect the boys to respect the law, parents’ wishes, and our tour code of conduct. We will not refrain from sending a player home at a parent’s expense for unacceptable behavior.

How will we get around? After our flight to Cape Town International Airport we will be travelling in a Private Luxury Coach. We will have access to it for the whole duration of our stay. There will not be a need for a taxi or other means of transportation.

Will my cell phone work? Yes, your cell phone will work in South Africa. But we highly recommend that you limit your use in making phone calls or surfing the net. The better option would be to purchase a cheap phone in South Africa or if your phone is unlocked you can purchase a sim card for roughly $10- $15. Using your phone for international phone calls or to have it roaming is a very bad idea, you will end up with an ugly phone bill when you return home. Wi-Fi will be available to use applications like Skype, WhatsApp and others. You can also purchase an International package through your cell phone provider.

Useful information on dialing codes:

• For outgoing international calls, dial 00 plus the country and area codes of the destination concerned. USA is +1 • For incoming international calls, the code is +27 followed by the city code or cellphone code, disregarding the first 0. • O8 numbers are free to the caller; 0860 numbers are charged at local rates; 0861 numbers are charged at a flat rate. • City code for Cape Town is 021

How will parents be able to communicate with us in SA? We will have access to the internet and phone service at the Guest House. Montevideo can be contacted at Tel: (+ 27) 21 873 4765 • Cell: (+27) 83 460 8060 We will have a Travel Guide and Coach with a local cell phone. The number will be made available to you upon arrival. Please use this for emergencies only. Coaches will post match and daily updates on our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/IllinoisTornados/

Travel Guide - [email protected]

Coach Lou – [email protected] Coach Ryan – [email protected] Coach Thys – [email protected] ​ Coach Jen – [email protected] Coach Chevy – [email protected] Coach Kevin – [email protected]

Will my electronics work? The South African electricity supply is 220/230 volts AC 50 HZ. Most plugs/outlets are 15 amp 3-prong or 5 amp 2-prong, with round pins. If an adaptor is called for, consider bringing one with you, although they can be purchased locally. Some US-made appliances may need a converter. Most smartphones, tablets and notebooks have built-in converters and are safe to use.

What about Medical Facilities, Healthcare and Insurance? We recommend that you bring all necessary medications with you to South Africa. The pharmacies there have very strict rules and regulations about providing medication, especial prescription drugs. Some easily purchased medications in the USA are considered prescription drugs there, Sudafed and Ibuprofen for example. Please inform the coaches of any medications, allergies or medical needs. Medical treatment at games: It is compulsory at every School Game in South Africa for a First Aid/Trainer to be provided, including the services of an ambulance. The coaches will have a medical kit bag for minor treatment. If you require special taping or strapping, you are welcome to bring it with you. Hospital treatment: If there is a serious injury or illness to a player, he will be taken to the nearest Medi Clinic. In most cases the players will need to pay upfront and then claim back from their travel or medical insurance when they return to the USA. There are some direct travel medical insurances which do not require payment up front. We recommend that you check locally with your insurer to see what their policies are.

What will we do, besides play rugby matches? We will have a full rugby schedule, but there will be time to explore the Western Province of South Africa. We start our tour by visiting the Newlands Stadium to watch the Southern Kings take on the Stormers in a Super 18 rugby clash. We’ll visit Table Mountain and travel up the famous cable carts or hike up if it is a nice day. The players will enjoy a training session with professional coaches at the Stellenbosch Rugby Academy, this is the venue where the Springboks practice and prepare for test matches. The team will also have two additional sessions with celebrity coaches in Paarl. We will soak up some rugby culture by touring the Newlands grounds, the Rugby Museum and the Sports Science Institute. We will visit the V&A Waterfront near Greenpoint and spend downtime at beautiful beach towns like and Hout Bay to try the famous fish and chips. We will enjoy a full day at Cape Point, the very tip of Africa. A safari drive at the Aquila Game Reserve is also included for a chance to spot South Africa’s big 5. The team will attend classes at Paarl Boys High School where they will get an opportunity to experience a typical school day and will also practice with the First rugby team. There is a full day excursion to visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela went to prison. For the adrenaline junkies in the group you will be able to do a Shark Cage dive and jump on the longest Zipline in Africa which is located in the beautiful winelands of mountain ranges of Ceres. We’ll conclude our tour with a farewell dinner at Schalk Burger Senior’s wine estate and shop at the famous Canal Walk in Cape Town.

Who is going on the Tour? ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 1. Backe/Joseph Manuel Neuqua Wildcats ​ ​ ​Forward 2. Chevalier/Nicholas Charles Neuqua Wildcats ​ ​ ​Back 3. Chevalier/Will Neuqua Wildcats ​ ​ ​Back 4. Donovan/Lucas Vernon Palatine Barbarians ​ ​Back 5. Fasolo/Joseph Arlington Stallions ​ ​ ​Forward 6. Goeppner/Jacob South Suburban Cobras ​ ​Back 7. Gonzalez/Luis Fox Valley Chiefs ​ ​ ​Back 8. Gountanis/Alex J Arlington Stallions ​ ​Back 9. Gupta/Ayan Fox Valley Chiefs ​ ​ ​Forward 10. Gustafson/Cody Gus Neuqua Wildcats ​ ​ ​Back 11. Howard/Daniel John Brother Rice ​ ​ ​Back 12. James/Ian Palatine Barbarians ​ ​Back 13. Janowick/Gregory A Barrington Broncos ​Forward 14. Kim/Alan Fox Valley Chiefs ​ ​ ​Back 15. Laskowski/Sebastian Neuqua Wildcats ​ ​ ​Forward 16. Lindgren/Nicholas Alexander Blaze Academy ​ ​ ​Forward 17. McDonnell/Austin Robert Neuqua Wildcats ​ ​ ​Back 18. Mc Taggart/Evan Alexander Glen Ellyn Ducks ​ ​ ​Forward 19. Mondesir/Josh Fox Valley Chiefs ​ ​ ​Forward 20. Moroniak/Matthew Michael Arlington Stallions ​ ​ ​Forward 21. Russell/Jamie Peter William Glen Ellyn Ducks ​ ​ ​Forward 22. Chitwood/Remington Joeseph Lake Forest Harriers ​ ​Back 23. Guerra/Andrew Mt Carmel ​ ​ ​ ​Forward 24. Gunst/Campbell West Suburban Bulls ​ ​Forward 25. Martinez/Leopoldo Elgin River Rats ​ ​ ​Back 26. Reinhardt/Lucas Arlington Stallions ​ ​ ​Forward 27. Stimpson/Charlie New Trier Trevians ​ ​Back 28. Balis/Yanni Lake Forest Harriers ​ ​Forward 29. Delgado/Ivan Morton Mustangs ​ ​ ​Forward

30. Garcia/Julio Morton Mustangs ​ ​ ​Back 31. Raymond/Louis J Tornado Head ​ ​ ​Forwards 32. Stoddard/Ryan Daniel Assistant Coach ​ ​ ​Forwards 33. Chevalier/John Christopher Assistant Coach ​ ​ ​Backs 34. Lydon/Kevin Assistant Coach ​ ​ ​Backs 35. Hart/Jennifer Marie Assistant Coach ​ ​Manager 36. Wallace/Thys Assistant Coach ​ ​ ​Backs