Gateshead RFC running out with Rugby Colorno ahead of a final tour fixture in Parma with The Rugby Tour Specialists. Sky High Sports is a Rugby Specialist Tour Operator which excels at combining Rugby and Travel to provide once in a lifetime experiences for good Rugby people across the world. Our commitment to offering innovative, exciting and bespoke tours along with our client focused, personal and dedicated approach has allowed us to build a global portfolio of clients and earn a reputation of excellence in our field. Our team is made up of passionate rugby playing people & travel experts who take pride in introducing you to the vast rugby cultures of Europe through the great tradition of touring. Every one of our Rugby Tour itineraries has been developed from our own individual and professional experiences, alongside some superb rugby people which gives every trip a personal approach that we take a lot of pleasure in sharing with you. Sky High Sports are the Rugby Tour Specialists. Hello & Welcome to Sky High Sports. Now that the world seems to be returning slowly towards a brighter future, we are certainly casting more than a keen eye to when we can all hop on Tour Buses and get our touring careers back on track sooner rather than later. We were not alone in facing the challenges that recent months presented, it has however given us a bonus opportunity to adapt and further improve our business from top to bottom. We have to evolve into the future & we have taken this one-off chance to come back better than ever. The experiences our team have gone through in securing our clients interests & moneys in recent months has been tough, but we’re all infinitely better, stronger & more knowledgeable than ever. We can’t wait to get to work and show those who trusted us in 2020 what we can do into the new season. Within this brochure, you’ll find some exciting new destinations alongside some old favourites. It is within the nuts and bolts of our offering where you’ll see the changes into 2021. This summer, we’re expanding our operation & in addition to our HQ in Northumberland, we’ll have a satellite office in Sussex. Since the day I founded the company back in 2009, we’ve always made every effort to meet clients before or during their tours. It is always our aim to retain many of the values of our sport within our service & building relationships which can be part of the annual cycle of your club is key to this. As our operation expands across the UK, this will enable us to get out from in front of our telephones and email addresses & hopefully show you exactly who we are and what we can offer. I’ve always found the rugby community to be resilient, optimistic and progressive. I am sure that if there is a sport which will survive this crisis, it is our game & we’re committed to playing our small part in it. Yours In Rugby, Richie Gledson Director The number #1 rugby destination for 2021, the epic Welsh battles of the past are the stuff of Rugby Legend. Write your own story & play your tour match on the main pitch at the iconic Cardiff Arms Park. Surround this with White Water Rafting, a visit to the Principality Stadium, catch The Blues in action & stay at GB’s first 5* Youth Hostel. In recent seasons, the success of our tours to the Italian Rugby hotbed of Emilia-Romagna has rocketed it to the top of our recommendations. In-depth Rugby Experiences with Zebre Rugby, superb local host clubs, a swish Hotel in the city-centre and many immense activities make this an Italian Tour without compare. Arguably the greatest city on earth. You'll not be surprised to hear Newcastle is our home patch. We live, work and play our rugby in the city & have hosted more tours here than in any other location, so you can always look forward to a tremendous experience in The Toon. Rugby in Spain is growing at a remarkable pace & nowhere is this more evident than in Barcelona and Catalonia. What was once a pleasant location for a low-key end of season celebration, is now a legitimate destination to compete with quality opposition in a magnificent destination. Exceptional Edinburgh has and always will be, one of our favourites. The city is as exciting as it is beautiful, and offers rugby teams of all ages highlight after highlight The Rugby Experience available with Sky High Sports in this world-class city is second to none. Introducing Sky High Sports 2 Welcome from the Director 3 Meet the Team 4 Destination Map 5 6 Top Five Tours for 2019 10 Scotland 19 England & Wales 43 Ireland 53 Netherlands 60 Belgium 64 Germany 70 Czech Republic 73 France 89 99 Italy Spain & Portugal 112 114 The Roll of Honour 115 How to Book your Tour 116 Meet the Sky High Sports Team 118 Tour Kit 120 Our Guide to Booking Flights Terms & Conditions Looking back, there are so many highlights and I can’t thank Sky High Sports enough. The team have made relationships that will last a lifetime. Rob Lee | OSDSS (CAN) | Scotland Tour Of all our destinations, pre-match prep, Hamish Watson, Edinburgh is the city in which Scotland Star & Sky High Sports we have worked most often. As ambassador will be on hand to unique as Venice and as opulent deliver. If it is tickets to a as Paris, the city is one of match at Murrayfield or a Europe’s most magnificent, but session at Scottish Rugby’s this is no secret. Edinburgh special ‘Oriam’ training HQ, the will always feature heavily on rugby experience here sits our must-tour list, let us alongside any. explain why. Off the field, treat your team From your brilliant base in the to your own Highland Games heart of the city, a cabre toss Championship, visit the from the world-famous Royal forgotten old-town on an after- Mile, you can pack the itinerary dark tour & fill the bellies at with spectacular experiences on Edinburgh’s coolest eateries. and off the field. Whether it be Edinburgh is exceptional, so a Breakfast Q&A, a high-quality haste ye back! coaching clinic or leading your During their 2017 Tour to Europe, Rugby Club San Martin from Buenos Aires played Watsonian FC at their famous Myreside Stadium on a chilly February night in Edinburgh. A full-blooded affair ensued, with the tourists edging the game with a last minute penalty to win 18-16. There is nothing like a close win on tour. Above Left: The historic City of Edinburgh. Above Right: Lamorinda Rugby (USA) during their tour match with Murrayfield Wanderers with the back drop of the iconic stadium. Below Left: USA Tourists Long Beach State during a pro- coaching clinic at the Scottish High performance centre with Hamish Watson. Below Right: Owen Sound District (CAN) at Edinburgh Castle. On behalf of everyone involved with Darlington RFC U13s, I'd like to that Sky High Sports, for organising our fantastic tour to Edinburgh. Tom de la Motte | Darlington RFC | Edinburgh Tour Safestay Hostel Arrival & Check-In Edinburgh Squad Assemble at the ~ Rugby Club Tickets to see Training with Scotland ~ Edinburgh Rugby in the Buffet Lunch star Hamish Watson at Board the Tour Bus & Guinness Pro14 the Scottish Rugby Transfer to Edinburgh Training Base Safestay Hostel Transfer to Transfer to a local Edinburgh Hopetoun House Scottish Breakfast Rugby Club ~ ~ ~ Guided Ghost Walk of Mini Highland Games Post Match Lunch TOUR MATCH ONE Edinburgh Old Town ~ ~ ~ Toss the Caber, Tug o’ Fish ‘n’ Chip Dinner Third Half War & Heave the Ben. Transfer to a local Rugby Club Start the journey home Scottish Breakfast ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ TOUR MATCH TWO End of Tour Post Match Lunch ~ Third Half Price based on a minimum of 30 tourists. Tour to consist of two nights Bed & Breakfast Accommodation, Coach Transport & two Rugby Fixtures. Travel on the LNER Train to Edinburgh from London Single & Twin Rooms are available at the Hostel Upgrade to a 3* Hotel in Edinburgh Lunch & Dinner Reservations at Group Friendly Restaurants. Four & Five Day Tour Packages available. Q&A Sessions with Scotland Internationals Tickets to Six Nations Matches at Murrayfield Guided Tour of Murrayfield Stadium Top: OSDSS tourists with Edinburgh players John Barclay & Sam Hidalgo-Clyne following a pro-coaching clinic. Paintball, White Water Rafting, Quad Biking & Zorb Football Bottom: Rugby Club San Martin of Buenos Aires started their 2017 Tour of Europe in Edin- burgh. Here is the tour party posing for a memorable team photo at Edinburgh Castle. It was a great tour, it had everything a rugby-tour needs to have. The girls are still talking about it. Bianka Laan | RC Waterland (NED) | Glasgow Tour Glasgow is regenerating and bears a proud Rugby heritage. evolving at a dizzying pace – The Glasgow Warriors are one- the once industrial and dingy time champions of the Guinness city is edgy, modern and Pro 14 Championship and will be exciting. an exiting team to watch this During the past few decades coming season. With some of the Glasgow, the UK's fourth largest finest players in Europe on city, has re-invented itself show, this is definitely worth a from a rather economically watch. depressed post-war industrial Away from the Rugby Field why centre to a modern metropolis not look to settle a score and with a thriving art and culture include an afternoon out either scene.