GEORGIA 2017 St Davids College, Llandudno Georgia here we come! St David’s College Rugby Tour Established in 2012, Kemsley Tours is a family-run, boutique tour to Georgia company, dedicated to providing St David’s College from North Wales are the first Brit- bespoke, affordable, personalised ish school to bring a rugby tour to Georgia. They have tours in our favourite country- an action packed schedule beginning with their first Georgia. game against one of the Georgian Rugby Academy teams on Saturday 1st April at 11am at the Martkopi Kemsley Tours Georgia is a historic land of culture, Rugby Ground. They will also get chance to watch colour and diversity. Whether you some of the Big Ten sides play on Sunday followed by their own second game on Tuesday 4th April at 4pm at want to learn more about Georgia’s the Shevardeni Stadium. ancient heritage, climb mountains or experience Georgia’s legendary The team will be housed in the National Team’s training hospitality and gastronomy, Geor- facilities at Shevardeni and they are very honoured to gia has something for everyone. have National Coach, Milton Haig putting them through their paces in a training session on Monday morning. On the sporting front, the company Providing bespoke, affordable tours in Georgia Head of PE Daniel Lycett said “this is a great oppor- owners, husband and wife, Zura tunity for the boys to experience a trip of a lifetime to Dugladze and Pam Kemsley- St David’s College are primed and ready to take on a country very few people travel to, we are extremely Contact us at Dugladze share a love of rugby the might of Georgia, now kitted out in their tour kit privileged that the Georgian Rugby Union has been so hospitable to us”. [email protected] and so whether you want to come kindly donated by Pelagos Yachts. or through our facebook and watch the upcoming Under 20s Rugby World Cup, take part in They will also meet the British Ambassador and hear page: Kemsley Tours and St David’s will travel to Georgia for a two game more about the UK’s activities in Georgia, visit Social the annual Beach Rugby Festival let us help you create your tour and at the same time taking the mantle of the Café and gallery,” Rhea’s Squirrels” which supports or bring your team on a personal- first school team ever to play in the burgeoning local, disabled children and take part in a mixed Geor- own unique Georgian ized tour of Georgia we can help rugby nation. gian and British Quiz with students from Education and experience. you. Training International, ETI, to help them learn more The team will be housed in the National Teams about Georgia and for local Georgian students to learn training facilities and National Coach Milton Haig more about Britain. will be putting the students through their paces in a training session. Whilst recovering between games they will also have time to see the sights of Tbilisi and enjoy Georgian Head of PE Daniel Lycett said “this is a great food, music and culture. opportunity for the boys to experience a trip of a The tour is supported in Georgia by the Georgian lifetime to a country very few people travel to, we Rugby Federation, Kemsley Tours and Education and are extremely privileged that the Georgian Rugby Training International. Education and Training Union has been so hospitable to us”. The party of 25 will leave on Thursday the 30th. We invite Georgians and the local expatriate commu- International Ltd nity to come out and watch the rugby on Saturday and Tuesday. Education and Training International Ltd, ETI, is a privately owned British company which has been offering general, business and technical language tuition in a wide Please come and show them your support; the more the merrier. Any questions about match venue please variety of languages including English, Georgian, Azerbaijani and Russian since contact Pam Kemsley-Dugladze at [email protected] 1996. ETI operates in Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan and has a Head Office in London. ETI Ltd is also an accredited Cambridge Examination centre offering internationally I would like to thank the teachers and recognized Cambridge English language exams as well as Teacher Training courses students of St Davids College for al- lowing me to accompany them on their such as CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching for Adults.) wonderful tour to Georgia - it will live in the memory for ever. Contact us at [email protected] or visit our website Many thanks to all the companies and Gary Williams - 07713 514 375 www.eti.uk.com for more information. individuals who generously assisted in fund-raising for the tour www.ovalzone.co.uk The German sunshine had those Georgia here of us with the fairer skin wishing we Oh Tbilisi - you wonderful city! could get hold of our Factor 50 which we come... was stashed away in our suitcases somewhere in Munich airport. By Gary Williams Our stay in Munich was ended with A long time getting here to Tbilisi that great German dish, a lamb ke- but a cracking, action-packed rugby bab, in the airport before our four weekend awaits. Please follow the hour flight to the Georgian capital. daily blogs. From the bus window at night I must Wow, Friday morning as I tap this say that Tblisi looked spectacular out, sun beating through the window with majestic castles and monu- here in Tbilisi and I can’t believe that ments lit up and I can’t wait for our we’ve only been gone a day. Mind sightseeing tour later today (Friday). you, it was a 5am start for me from the locals, many of whom gave nods and smiles when they heard that we Welshpool on Thursday and 5am I got a bit worried when I found out were over to play rugby. Friday arriving here at the Fabrika that we were stopping in a hostel Hostel in the capital. on the first night, having never done Lunch was an experience in itself - this sort of thing before (what a snob a fantastic restaurant reserved just Meeting the team at Manchester air- I hear you shout!). Very pleasantly for us and joined by David from the port went OK, however five minutes surprised to find that this wasn’t just Georgian RU, Zura the Rhino Rugby after meeting up with a 24-strong a hostel, this was a boutique hostel Director in Georgia as well as coach party, I lost them! The boys must and the best in the city. Nothing but of the Georgian Academy and his have been thinking that Mr Lycett the best for this travelling band of that the officials for this game are all wife Pam, Director of the English size of these Georgian boys but the had taken me with them as part of a merry Gogs. Irish and I managed to have a chat Language Schools in Tblisi. Wonder- young Gogs didn’t seem particularly ‘care in the community’ project. with the World Rugby observer (also What a fantastic Friday and a big ful company and all rugby-mad! bothered and looked to be relishing Irish) at the airport last night and Friday morning up like a lark, sun thanks to Giogi, our guide, who gave the challenge. The plane ride was a great satisfac- shining, showered, covered in John- hopefully going to meet him again at us some fascinating details about The food was something else. Just tion to me, my 2017 diet had paid son’s baby powder and breakfast on the stadium. The TMO is Welsh so, Tblisis and its history. Our group when you thought you’d finished, After tea, a team talk and the chance off, I could actually get the tray table the horizon before a guided tour of fingers crossed, I’m going to get to certainly drew a few stares as we out popped another course and, be- to outline the itinerary for the next down to where it’s supposed to be the city. Not a bad way to spend a see inside the TMO office/caravan snaked around the main thorough- ing a bunch of growing young men couple of days and then all sent when the meals were served and not few days off work. or wherever they put the TMO over fares and back alleys of this lovely (not me, the rest of the party), all to bed for an early night... some have it on an angle with everything here in this part of the world. city. was received and partaken of, with chance! sliding off and even more satisfying, Must say that the boys have been relish. Bit of a worry as we tried to lift I could get the St Davids College very courteous to me considering I’m Enough for me for today, onwards The fella in the currency exchange ourselves off our seats was that our Another superb day on this ground- hoodie on which I was kindly provid- a total stranger in their midst snap- and upwards. Factor 50 at the ready, booth must have thought he’d won evening meal was only a few short breaking tour and can’t wait until to- ed with (probably so that I wouldn’t ping away with the camera at their camera in hand and ready to have a the lottery when he saw the queue hours away. Bang goes the diet for morrow! get lost again!). every move. look at this historic city.