Author: Jessica Scott
Ski trip bookings are in!
Nothing quite comes close to the February half-term build up. Why? Because it’s ski time! We’re thrilled to say ski is back with a bang in 2023 and we’re excited to be hosting 4 awesome groups as they head off in search of snow, sun and adventure. Putney High School are embarking on their second ski tour with MSG, returning to Marilleva 1400. They’ll make use of the ski-in-ski-out accommodation and the connectivity of this hidden gem as they hop on the cable car up to the larger resort of Madonna. Just across the valley, Eaton Square Mayfair will be spending their week in the picturesque Hotel Bezze and skiing the gentle slopes of Passo Tonale. It’s great to have them back with us after their travel plans were disrupted during the pandemic. As if we’d not already packed enough in to a busy February already, as Eaton Square and Putney are departing the UK, across in Asia, Haileybury Almaty will be departing Kazakhstan and flying to Tbilisi in Georgia. We’re accustomed to Delivering the Unexpected but even for us, this is a unique opportunity. Haileybury will spend the night in Tbilisi with their guide before heading over the Gudauri for 5 unforgettable days of skiing. There’ll be no time to rest on our laurels though as we then send long term friends of MSG Tours, The Chase School, off to Madonna di Campiglio. Staying at the iconic Hotel Catturani, they’ll be taking over 70 students in search of blue sky and the perfect powder in a resort that’s become known as the Pearl of the Dolomites. Winter is coming and at MSG, we’re ready! If you want to start planning your ski tour for 2024, now is the perfect time, so why not get in touch? #LetsGetTouring
RLC Rugby to France
RLC Rugby was among the exceptional touring groups that embarked on their own rugby tour whilst in France for Rugby…
St David’s Rugby tour to Gibraltar
Flying into Gibraltar, just south of Spain, St David’s College settled in for their 5-day rugby tour. After much deliberation, tour leader Mr Lycett settled on Gibraltar: “We like to tour places slightly off the beaten track with previous trips encompassing Georgia and the Basque region in Spain. (This) trip to Gibraltar we hope is the start of many trips to this hidden gem.” As well as absorbing Gibraltarian culture, it was important that the team had a distinct rugby experience. In their first fixture, St David’s lined up against a Gibraltar Select XV. After an impressive game, it was great for the team to get the tour off to a winning start. According to Mr Lycett, “The boys put on a real display of what they are capable of.” But it wasn’t all intense games and training, the next day they climbed The Rock, which Lycett described as “the mother of the Beast (skip leg day) walk.” The evening was spent exploring more of what Gibraltar had to offer. On a high from their first win, the group travelled across the border to neighbouring Spain for their second match, against Marbella Rugby Club. After a day of high-quality rugby and gracious hosts, they headed back to Gibraltar, ready for another day. Whilst spending their last day soaking up even more Gibraltarian history at the Kings Bastion, an ex-military fortress, Mr Lycett reflected on the meaning of this tour: “Getting back to the core of what makes school sport pretty darn special. Experiences, people, enjoyment, testing yourself in new environments.” Travel is officially back! What a week it has been.
Army Medical Services Tour 2022
Army Medical Services Football Tour to the Deep South A very warm welcome to the Army Medical Services who travel with MSG on their two-state military football tour to Nashville and Atlanta in September. This trip was set to depart in 2020 and postponed due to covid restrictions. Now travel is back, and they’re set to travel in September 2022. Last week, I caught up with the Tour Leader, Sgt. Jordan Page from the Queen Alexander Royal Army Nursing Corps on his career and the work he’s put in to get this tour off the ground. “I’m a bit different because of my Cap Badge, my trade within the army. The football team is the AMS, made up of 4 corps: the Royal Army Medical Corp – your combat medical technicians, doctors, paramedics who all fall under that cap badge. Then you’ve the Royal Army Dental Corp which does what it says on the tin. The Veterinary Corp (comprises of) vets, dog handlers and the likes. Then my cap badge is the Queen Alexander’s Royal Army Nurses Corp. So, I’m obviously a qualified nurse but within my Corp we’ve got nurses and healthcare assistants.” Jordan, like many of the team, has been essential in the Covid-19 response. He’s recently spent a few months in Scotland working in the high dependency units to cover staff shortages, and in vaccination centres around the country. Due to the nature of the Army, particularly in the AMS, they often get deployed overseas or around the country, which can make planning a tour and organising the troops difficult. However, this makes the tour and all the time spent as a team even more valuable. Army Sport “The Army puts a lot of emphasis on sport and rightly so,” said Jordan. “It brings out your natural leadership, communication skills and (is) a good way for people to decompress if they’ve been busy”. Due to this focus on sport within the military, they’ve been successful in getting funding from The Army Sports Lottery, The Berlin Infantry Memorial Fund, AMS Sports Union, and several private sponsorships to make this trip a success. None of this would be possible without sign off from the Army Sport Control Board. “I must have gone through a process of speaking to about 20 different companies getting a list of around 50 quotes. And, actually, your company, I hadn’t heard of until last minute when one of lads I know said I went on a tour with (MSG), might be worth contacting them.” Two years of communication later due to Covid and army restrictions, here we are. We are delighted that his hard work has paid off and this important trip is finally happening. The team will be playing three touring fixtures and receiving pro-coaching in both Atlanta and Nashville. The tour will be crucial for building the team’s morale and preparing them for the season ahead.
Uppingham School: Pre Season Rugby Tour to Snowdonia
This summer we’ve been putting the focus on our home turf, the beautiful, and often underestimated, island of Great Britain….
Bath City FC to the Midlands
Bath City FC’s u16s visited us in the Midlands this Easter for a football tour to remember. With their original…
REME Rugby to Washington
We spoke to Tour Leader and Captain Steve Blanks before they departed for Washington, who stated “after the two-year delay…
Dubai 7’s – First Tour Back!
After 20 months without travel, we flew our supporters out to the UAE for the Dubai 7’s. And what a trip it was! Soaking up the winter sunshine, rubbing shoulders with some of rugby’s greatest names with a beer in hand and watching the live action with fellow fans. What could be better? We caught up with Mr and Mrs Newby on their experience at the 7’s: “After two years of putting various travel plans on hold it felt so good to be back overseas. We knew we were in safe hands with MSG Tours who kept us up to date throughout the who the process with any Covid related changes. Dubai 7’s had a fantastic festival like atmosphere with so much to see and do, all of which was seamlessly organised. It was great to enjoy the rugby (and the winter sun!) with a cracking bunch of people.” It was a successful weekend for team GB who debuted this year after the amalgamation of home nations. GB’s women placed 10th whilst the men finished 5th on debut, beating Kenya and just edging Ireland in a thriller. Congratulations to South Africa Men’s team who beat Australia in the final and Australia Women who beat Fiji to secure their 5th Dubai 7’s win in 10 years. Results “After another tough year I couldn’t wait for some winter sun in one of my favourite places in the world. Naturally, there were some reservations considering recent news surrounding Covid however this did not stop the group and I having a weekend to remember! Dubai Sevens had been on my bucket list for a few years and it certainly did not disappoint! The extra year planning made for a flawless event with everything a sun loving rugby fan could want.” – MSG Tour Operator ‘The Emirates Dubai 7’s is about so much more than just what takes place on Pitch One. It’s about the young and the old; it’s about all three of our sports, be it on pitch, oval or court. It’s about community and sharing experiences about people from all over the world.’ – Tournament Director Tom Burwell We’re going back to Dubai for Dubai 7’s 2022, we hope to see you there!
