TWENTY-FIVE boys from the under- 14 team at Penryn Rugby Club are due to embark on a two-week rugby tour to Ontario, Canada, next Wednesday.

This trip of a lifetime has been in the planning stages for the past three years and has seen a tremendous amount of dedication from both the boys and their parents alike in raising the funds required.

The tour will encompass four games of rugby against sides from Toronto and Ottawa with a fifth game against an under 14s Ontario select XV.

Fundraising has taken the form of sponsored cycle rides, an Iron Man event, bag packing at Asda, producing calendars and holding horse racing evenings. In total over £40,000 has been raised.

“Had it not been for the local business community then this tour would not have been possible,” said organiser, John Dukes. “There have been some tremendous examples of generosity and sponsorship from companies such as Ocean Mini, who supplied the tour shirts, Park Vale Dentists, who supplied the tour shorts, Rowes, who supplied tour hoodies and playing socks, and Furgo Seacore supplying tour kit bags.

“Coastline Engineering have been as generous as ever by funding jackets. In addition the team are further indebted to Global Factor 2, who have embroidered all the apparel free of charge.”

The tour will start with a two-day visit to Niagara. Here the team will be able to experience the Falls at first hand. There will also be a team meal in the restaurant at the top of the world famous Syklon Tower, which overlooks the Falls.

The boys will then play Oakville RFC, Oshawa Vikings RFC, Barrharven RFC and Peterborough RFC over a few days as they visit tourist attractions in Canada as well.

These include a visit to Canada’s Wonderland, which boasts Canada’s largest rollercoaster, two days living in log cabins and partaking in activities such as white-water rafting, kayaking, rock climbing and mountain biking and a vsiti to the CN Tower, which overlooks the city of Toronto. The team then will play its final game against an Ontario Select XV at Fletchers fields where the Canadian national team plays and last year’s Churchill Cup was held.

At the heart of the organisation there has been a small dedicated tour committee who have driven this tour forward.

This consists of Mike Christopher (MC Sports), Colin Kruse (LARC Construction), John Gleadowe (Furgo-Seacore), Peter Hesketh (Booths Print) and John Dukes (Penryn police officer).